I heard Daniel Tosh’s name getting slaughtered on Fox News and wasn’t sure if they were trying to be ironic. Apparently the world’s highest grossing shock comic is getting flack for telling a “rape joke”. More specifically, some inconsiderate bitch was yelling at him, ruining the show for other paying audience members, and he shut her up. Sorry, Sensitive Sallies, that’s what a good comic does.
You may wander into an open mic and experience some local yokels who are dying to have a conversation with you, but a professional comic has his material carefully written, perfected and planned and it is WAY funnier than some unrehearsed exchange with a random sloppy drunk slut. Why am I so inclined to believe an uglier version of what this girl states? Because her story has holes in it.
This girl’s blog stated that she didn’t know who Daniel Tosh was? Please. Anyone who has been to Laugh Factory or any decent comedy show for that matter knows that comics don’t just wander out on stage sans introduction. Unless she was REALLY wasted and texting furiously about how AMAZING Dane Cook was, she knew Daniel Tosh was on stage and she wanted some interaction with him. In other words, that attention whore was asking for it.
I honestly don’t understand how comics ever get in trouble for saying anything on stage. It’s a joke. If you come to a comedy show, expect to hear them. You wouldn’t go to a boxing match and then freak out because things got too violent for your taste, would you? Or how about a burlesque show and then ask for your money back because you didn’t realize the dancers were going to get down to their pasties? It’s ridiculous. It’s entertainment. If you don’t like it leave but don’t ruin it for everyone else.
And what makes “rape” so much worse than everything else? Comics tell jokes that humiliate every race and religion, perpetuate negative stereotypes, and no one bats an eyelash. But we’re supposed to protect a topic some women are sensitive about? Why? We exploit it for dramatic entertainment purposes in crime tv shows; but we can’t try to spin it so it gets a laugh? Why not?
Personally, the reason I love comedy so much is because it allows me to take the bad things in my life and the world around me and look at it in such a way that I don’t feel bad about it anymore. It stops being what happened to me – a negative thing and starts being how I react to it – in a positive way.
Finally, I’d like to say that I think the only offensive thing about this whole situation is the use of the word “gang-bang”. I think that word is absolutely disgusting. To suggest that gangsters don’t get plenty of voluntary pussy is just plain vulgar. The implication of the word “gang-bang” -- that a whole crew of gangsters regularly share one unwilling vajay -- well, that’s a gangster stereotype that I, for one, hope progressive folks realize the ludicrousness of and drop this offensive term from their vocabulary.
If you found this blog to be AWESOME or AWFUL feel free to comment, or tell me to my face tomorrow night -- I'll be doing stand-up at Maison on Frenchmen 8:30ish, it's a free show.
You can also follow me on twitter: @prettywittyandi
His joked sucked. That's what did him in. Sorry, but he's just not funny to me. We should be able to joke about anything, but his joke was terrible so there ya go. "Your joke was bad and you should feel bad!" (wink)
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment, but unless you were there personally you don't know what his joke was.
DeleteI've seen Daniel Tosh live and he's a super funny, quick on his feet dude.
And, to re-state my former point, if he's not your cup of tea don't go to the show -- and seriously don't go and then heckle him, ruining the show for people who DO like him.
I completely agree with your take on this situation. Don't try and make yourself a part of the act and then complain when it happens. Did she expect him to stop his act and apologize to her, or even move on like nothing happened? People need to realize that if you go to a stand-up show, things are going to be said that will make you cringe at some point. Everything is subjective, so even if you don't think rape is funny, the guy three seats down for you could be having the time of his life. It's selfish of you to try and push your own agenda to try and ruin it for everyone else.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, rape jokes can be funny. Any subject matter can be funny in the hands of a good comedian, and Daniel Tosh is a damn fine comedian.
Thanks for the compliment! Nice to see someone who knows how to be a great audience member. And I agree, Daniel Tosh is super funny. I hope this whole thing doesn't stop him from pushing boundries.
DeleteAgreed. Either everything is sacred or nothing is. Whether or not his joke was funny or not is subjective. If you react negatively its your personal sensibilities that are the issue not the subject matter. Being offended is completely fine, demanding outrage and vilifying the comedian is ridiculous. Suggesting that his joke was a real threat, and that he or that anyone listening, would be laughing if the very real and heinous act of rape occurred there suddenly is childish insecurity.
ReplyDeleteThanks. I wish people who were in Entertainment would help get this message out to people. But then again maybe that would take away the fun for the masses -- knowing everything comics say is a planned joke.
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