Posted on May 7, 2022
Opinion: For comedians, safety is a growing concern
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https://www.npr.org/2022/05/07/ [login to see] /opinion-for-comedians-safety-is-a-growing-concern
"My father, who was a comedian, used to advise me when I was in a school play, "Don't worry if the audience walks out on you. Just if they start coming toward you."
In March, Will Smith slapped Chris Rock before an audience of millions at the Oscars, after Chris Rock made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith, his wife.
And this week, Dave Chappelle was tackled onstage at the Hollywood Bowl by a man with a knife inside a replica gun. Security guards chased down the attacker and pulled him offstage. The Los Angeles city attorney's office has filed charges.
Dave Chappelle has been criticized for transphobic jokes in his standup sets and Netflix specials. He returned to that theme after the Hollywood Bowl incident, joking that his attacker was a trans man.
Chris Rock also happened to be on the bill, and came onstage when the assailant had been subdued, to ask, "Is that Will Smith?"
"My father, who was a comedian, used to advise me when I was in a school play, "Don't worry if the audience walks out on you. Just if they start coming toward you."
In March, Will Smith slapped Chris Rock before an audience of millions at the Oscars, after Chris Rock made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith, his wife.
And this week, Dave Chappelle was tackled onstage at the Hollywood Bowl by a man with a knife inside a replica gun. Security guards chased down the attacker and pulled him offstage. The Los Angeles city attorney's office has filed charges.
Dave Chappelle has been criticized for transphobic jokes in his standup sets and Netflix specials. He returned to that theme after the Hollywood Bowl incident, joking that his attacker was a trans man.
Chris Rock also happened to be on the bill, and came onstage when the assailant had been subdued, to ask, "Is that Will Smith?"
Opinion: For comedians, safety is a growing concern
Posted from npr.org
Humor
Safety
Edited 2 y ago
Posted 2 y ago
Responses: 7
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."Comedy can often challenge our views, or cement them. Jokes can make us grimace and squirm as we laugh...or don't. These days, anyone who objects to a routine can tweet a response, put a little scowling face on Facebook or post a 5000-word essay on Medium.
People in an audience can boo. Or just walk out, without committing assault.
Matt Walsh, the comic actor and founding member of the Upright Citizens Brigade told us, "Even when Romans watched martyrs battle lions, they didn't jump in the arena to slap or stab the Christians for poor combat technique. If they were bored, they would leave early and tell their friends to meet up later at the vomitorium. Or as Cicero once wrote, 'Just shut your mouth and watch the show.'"
I'm not sure about his history, but I get the joke."
..."Comedy can often challenge our views, or cement them. Jokes can make us grimace and squirm as we laugh...or don't. These days, anyone who objects to a routine can tweet a response, put a little scowling face on Facebook or post a 5000-word essay on Medium.
People in an audience can boo. Or just walk out, without committing assault.
Matt Walsh, the comic actor and founding member of the Upright Citizens Brigade told us, "Even when Romans watched martyrs battle lions, they didn't jump in the arena to slap or stab the Christians for poor combat technique. If they were bored, they would leave early and tell their friends to meet up later at the vomitorium. Or as Cicero once wrote, 'Just shut your mouth and watch the show.'"
I'm not sure about his history, but I get the joke."
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SGT (Join to see)
MSG Roy Cheever - thanks... actually it was a part of the article that I shared. I do this to encourage others to read the entire article.
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Excellent topic, however we live in a twisted society these days, in my view, PO1 William "Chip" Nagel... Gone are the days of fun, laughter, joking and all just to get a laugh out of life and indeed laugh at life... The likes of a Johnny Carson, Bob Hope, George Carlin, Richard Pryor. (No other performer courted controversy with comedy and courage like Richard Pryor did.), and here is a list of others whom we loved to hear spout their comedy and made us giggle and laugh boisterously:
Robin Williams! Lenny Bruce! Bill Cosby! Jerry Seinfeld! Don Rickles! Bob Newhart! Steve Martin! Jonathan Winters! Jonathan Winters! Joan Rivers! Rodney Dangerfield! Jay Leno! Foster Brooks, and the list goes on and on...
We cannot, seemingly, laugh anymore for fear of hurting someone's feelings! Now everything seems to be based on hate, distrust, fear and fear mongering... What in Hell has happened to us as fun loving people, who just want to enjoy life and just laugh at it sometimes...
I know I am rambling on, but just think back folks...it was not that long ago! It is time to change our ways and bring it all back again...
Kerry
Robin Williams! Lenny Bruce! Bill Cosby! Jerry Seinfeld! Don Rickles! Bob Newhart! Steve Martin! Jonathan Winters! Jonathan Winters! Joan Rivers! Rodney Dangerfield! Jay Leno! Foster Brooks, and the list goes on and on...
We cannot, seemingly, laugh anymore for fear of hurting someone's feelings! Now everything seems to be based on hate, distrust, fear and fear mongering... What in Hell has happened to us as fun loving people, who just want to enjoy life and just laugh at it sometimes...
I know I am rambling on, but just think back folks...it was not that long ago! It is time to change our ways and bring it all back again...
Kerry
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Sgt (Join to see)
MSG Roy Cheever - That he did, but everyone knew that it was all in fun, laughed and accepted it! Nothing was taken seriously as it is in today's environment... Bring me back to the good ol' days! LOL!
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