Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Dirty Comedy
Dirty Comedy
“Should I work clean? Will I get work if I’m working “Blue.””
If you want to work corporate meetings, colleges, cruise ships, or for any organization that has the word, "Christian" in it - you have to work clean. And I mean squeaky, Opie Mayberry clean. When I started working corporates, I didn't even know that "Hell" or "Pissed off" were questionable. Office staff have been to so many HR “Corporate Appropriate” training programs that they will not laugh at a racy joke because that laugh might cause them to lose their jobs.
Network television has become just as restrictive. A comic says a dirty word, gets edgy about race, gays, or religion and all of the sudden, they lose their sponsors. Even Comedy Central censored the image of Mohammad on an episode of “South Park.”
So, what does a comic do? Follow guidelines or let it rip?
In the end, you’ve got to be true to yourself. It wasn’t that long ago that “dirty” words would not only make a comic lose a gig, but also get his ass thrown into jail. Let us not forget that Lenny Bruce went to jail to defend a comic’s right for free speech, or George Carlin being sued for the “Seven Dirty Words.” After 9-11, Bill Mahr got fired from ABC for being exactly what the title of his show implied, “Politically Incorrect.” The free airwaves are losing talent, as Howard Stern and others find homes where they can talk freely.
Now, I’m not a fan of foul mouth amateur comics who swear as a substitute for having material. No punch line? Just add a 4-letter word at end of a weak joke. Listening to a comic go, "Mo'Fo"" 10 times a minute is boring. And it’s often not authentic. I had a student who was talking ghetto and I had to tell him, “Shut up! You’re a Jew from the Valley.” But we all need to resist this notion of “Clean Comedy,” because at it’s core, it’s censorship. At it’s best, comedy is messy and dirty. It’s edgy and shocking – it stirs the pot. So, do we give in and wash out our mouths with soup? I say, “Fuck it!"
“Should I work clean? Will I get work if I’m working “Blue.””
If you want to work corporate meetings, colleges, cruise ships, or for any organization that has the word, "Christian" in it - you have to work clean. And I mean squeaky, Opie Mayberry clean. When I started working corporates, I didn't even know that "Hell" or "Pissed off" were questionable. Office staff have been to so many HR “Corporate Appropriate” training programs that they will not laugh at a racy joke because that laugh might cause them to lose their jobs.
Network television has become just as restrictive. A comic says a dirty word, gets edgy about race, gays, or religion and all of the sudden, they lose their sponsors. Even Comedy Central censored the image of Mohammad on an episode of “South Park.”
So, what does a comic do? Follow guidelines or let it rip?
In the end, you’ve got to be true to yourself. It wasn’t that long ago that “dirty” words would not only make a comic lose a gig, but also get his ass thrown into jail. Let us not forget that Lenny Bruce went to jail to defend a comic’s right for free speech, or George Carlin being sued for the “Seven Dirty Words.” After 9-11, Bill Mahr got fired from ABC for being exactly what the title of his show implied, “Politically Incorrect.” The free airwaves are losing talent, as Howard Stern and others find homes where they can talk freely.
Now, I’m not a fan of foul mouth amateur comics who swear as a substitute for having material. No punch line? Just add a 4-letter word at end of a weak joke. Listening to a comic go, "Mo'Fo"" 10 times a minute is boring. And it’s often not authentic. I had a student who was talking ghetto and I had to tell him, “Shut up! You’re a Jew from the Valley.” But we all need to resist this notion of “Clean Comedy,” because at it’s core, it’s censorship. At it’s best, comedy is messy and dirty. It’s edgy and shocking – it stirs the pot. So, do we give in and wash out our mouths with soup? I say, “Fuck it!"
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I couldn't agree more about people in corporations losing their jobs because they're perceived as being the slightest 'non-p.c.'
A couple of months ago, a group of people at my job were awarded a free trip to the movies on company time. I said that I was going to call the theater and say that they were going to sneak a bunch of people into the theater through one of the exit doors. I got written up for 'creating a hostile work environment.'
Last month, I told management that I was tired of hearing them use the words 'faggot'and 'fudgepacker' to describe gay men. Three days later, I was terminated from the company.
The moral here? When dealing with corporations, make sure your humor is beyond reproach. Some of the people are so repressed; i.e., tight-asses, that just about everything offends them.
A couple of months ago, a group of people at my job were awarded a free trip to the movies on company time. I said that I was going to call the theater and say that they were going to sneak a bunch of people into the theater through one of the exit doors. I got written up for 'creating a hostile work environment.'
Last month, I told management that I was tired of hearing them use the words 'faggot'and 'fudgepacker' to describe gay men. Three days later, I was terminated from the company.
The moral here? When dealing with corporations, make sure your humor is beyond reproach. Some of the people are so repressed; i.e., tight-asses, that just about everything offends them.
Corporate people need to be woken up and realize that the world isn't all white. There are real people out there with real problems and someone needs to address how the world is and what is wrong with it. That is why I feel dirty isn't bad. I agree just saying F#$% doesn't make you dirty or funny it just makes you a douche bag. Carlin and Lenny Bruce never used those words just to use them, they used those words for a reason.
I disagree that "clean comedy" is censorship. I am a comedian who works clean, because that is who I am. I work clean because I want my kids to be able to listen to my set. Clean comedy has its place, just like dirty comedy..If you are hired to do a gig, the employer has the right to set the limits of the job...
I'm not a comedian but I wanna be! I have to admit I loved comedy years ago when I used to listen to Richard Pryor every single day. I became pretty foul-mouthed after a few weeks. I didn't really pay attention to his method or style. I was young and laughed at the dirty stuff. Today, I'm the opposite. If it's not funny, saying "MOFO" a hundred times a minute won't make you any better in my book. I noticed that "Last comic standing" suddenly appeared on NBC again this year. I thought it was canned! It seems to be a little scripted to me but at the same time a lot of the comedians are pretty edgy themselves. It's great to watch young, starting comedians trip and fall, get up and start over. Some blurt out whatever they feel. I'm not sure what the network rule is there but I think it's being stretched a little. I'm sure NBC has a purpose. It's great to see the show back. I love comedy but hearing beeps instead of "Shit" makes me loose my concentration sometimes. I'd rather hear the dirty word and decide for myself if I think it's a bad or dirty idea. I don't mind dirty words, it's the intemate details sometimes I can't handle. I couldn't face an audience and explain sexual details or sensitive body functions. I've yet to even face my first audience!
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