I'm All Shook Up

Yeah, take what THIS GUY says seriously...

I have always assumed that comedy was the one sacred thing that all Americans, nay, all HUMANS still held sacred. In a world belabored with "political correctness," "mis-speaking," "cultural sensitivity," it's always been comforting to me to have comedians and comedy shows be a place to cut loose, say what's on everybody's mind, and have a good laugh at ourselves and our ignorance. I assumed this was the case because I've heard things said in TV, movies, and stand-up comedy acts that I wanted to say in real life, not because I really believe them, but because IT'S FUNNY. I heard them, laughed, and thought, "comedy allows you to say whatever you want SO LONG AS SOMEONE THINKS IT'S FUNNY." So you can imagine how upset I was when I read something that undermined this, my dearly held assumption....

I read that Tracy Morgan had to apologize for anti-gay remarks he made during a performance... AS A COMEDIAN. Excuse me, he CHOSE to apologize for offensive remarks. No one made him do anything. He caught some grief for saying that if he found out one of his sons were gay that he would "pull out a knife and stab him." When I play this line in my head using Tracy Morgan's voice and inflection.... it makes me laugh. It's SOOOOO obviously a joke. A good one. It's hyperbole. It's honest in that it addresses how upsetting that can be for some parents. And mostly it's funny cause it makes fun of ignorance. It's not funny cause he was serious. It's funny cause he was totally NOT serious. His stage performance is an act. Whether or not Tracy Morgan is a violent homophobe or not is beside the point. He's a comedian, g*dammit.

And all the queer folks were all upset about him promoting violence towards homosexuals. Yeah... you people need to settle down and think this one through. And yes, I did say "you people." Deal with it. You're telling me that you're afraid someone watching TRACY EFFING MORGAN the well known COMEDIAN is going to hear him say that and think, "Great point, Tracy! My son/brother/friend is gay and that's a great idea, I'm gonna go stab that son of a bit*h!"

I'm not supporting violence towards anybody, especially against gaylords, cause lord knows they're so very weak and helpless. I'm saying I don't think a comedian has to apologize for anything he says, UNLESS it doesn't get a laugh. Your job is to make people laugh. If you fail at that.... then by all means you owe the world an apology. We listened to you in good faith and now our time has been wasted. But if we laugh, fair play. It was relatable and ridculous and clever and entertaining.

If comedians can't make fun of anyone and everyone... then what good is comedy? What would happen if George Carlin, Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphy, Chris Rock, or Louis C.K. had to apologize for offensive things they said in their routines? Their apologies would last twice as long as their acts!

This is a problem people.... this is a problem. Comedians apologizing, politicians taking pictures of their crotches... what next? Nerdiness suddenly being considered cool?! Oh wait, we're there. Next stop, the effing Apocalypse. If gay people think they have it bad NOW...

P.S. The obviously ignorant terms for LGBT peeps is sprinkled throughout this post for comedic effect..... see it's funny because here I am saying that it's not about hating gay folks an yet I'm using derogatory terms. The IGNORANCE is what's funny. Archie Bunker, people. Archie motherf**king Bunker.