Agree, JL. Not only would those have never been made, but neither would many episodes of Seinfeld, Cheers, and Friends. I doubt older episodes of GOT would have been approved. I think much of our favorite entertainment wouldn't never have gotten approval in these overly sensitive PC times we are living in.
Would Billy Crystal have been able to do his (pretty great) Sammy Davis Jr impression on SNL? Maybe, maybe not, it wasn't THAT long ago that Fred Armisen was impersonating blind black NY governor David Paterson on the show (which was hilarious, but because of the physical comedy aspect of it, much like Crystal's impression worked because of Sammy's loungey Vegas schtick that he got down pat.)
I guess it depends on whether people feel the medium serving up the product serves their best interest overall. It also seems that it's dependent on how you frame it. It's still happening here and there, cringey as it is.
Actually, RDJ's Tropic Thunder performance not only *didn't* catch shit, it was largely accepted and for the most part well received, because audiences were made to understand that he wasn't playing a black person, but a pretentious arrogant method actor douche who thought he could play a black man.
RDJ did not get shit for anything when tropic thunder was released. The nuances of how the character was written and RDJ's amazing comedic timing and acting carried the movie. Amazingly good amount of satire and wit. Tropic Thunder has a huge african american fan following. RDJ won a fucking award and there were no protests or news scandal. Black people would see a sequel,if it mainly focused on RDJ's character and skipped Stiller's character.
Funny this should come up, because I was just trying to explain the TV series "Three's Company" to a teenager today.
(A RuPaul's Drag Race contestant made a joke about "Mrs. Roper" that made no sense to her.)
I explained that it was about a man who wanted to share an apartment with two women, which the landlord wouldn't allow ("Why?" she said) so he would pretend to be stereotypically gay when the landlord was around, but pursue women when the landlord went away.
On the other hand, "Family Guy," on a weekly basis, engages in every single stereotype/racial caricature that's ever been thrown at blacks, Hispanics, Middle Easterners, Asians, Jews, and gays. It appears it's all in how you frame it.
@Do Tell - You are correct. It is all in how you say it. Family Guy takes a lot of swings at Italian Americans as well. Like a lot. Seth being Irish American, you think the there would be an issue with whatever organization represents Italians in the US. As a Chicagoan that grew up going to catholic school, I always laughed at the side eyes being thrown around on Saint Pat's or Saint Joe's day. The green and red jackets that were worn with pride on those respective days were so stupid. High school kids acting as if it was still the prohibition era and not the late 90s. idiots.
@Do tell - There are a lot of Latin people who are of African descent. The Spanish and the Portuguese were slave traders too. Stating Armisen's parents are part Venezuelan does not mean they can't be part black. A lot of Latin blacks are ashamed of their dark skin and thick curly hair and try to down play their blackness. Look at Sammy Sosa.
I heard they are doing a live all in the family remake w/ woody harrelson playing Archie. I dont know how that could be any good in todays climate. Cant even make fun of Meathead da polok, much less cullidz and jewes. And how about how acceptable is was to refer to Edith as Dingbat? I think the use of terlet is the only bit they can re use.
Well it might be considered insensitive to transracial people if they didn't handle the subject of changing races with enough respect. On the other hand... Sure they could do it with a Rachel Dolezal or Shaun King biopic! If they wanted to go in a Native American direction they could do Elizabeth Warren's story, that more closely resembles the Soul Man plot. Like seriously, she's got less Native American DNA that most Caucasian Americans.
Super Comic Fun Time, I am aware of the Lois Lane story "I Am Curious(Black)" in fact I own a copy. True seventies kitch. This is a riff on a sincere sixties book on racism called "Black Like Me" about a white journalist who goes in black make-up to the deep south and experiences prejudice. It was trying to educate white youth.
FYI: Fred Armisen was one of the guests on "Finding Your Roots" with Skip Gates on PBS (2017) - "Unfamiliar Kin" episode with Carly Simon and Christopher Walken.
His lineage is Venezuelan (mom), Saxony German (dad); paternal grandfather was Korean (not Japanese as Fred had been led to believe), who worked as a spy for Japan in Nazi Germany.
Don't think so. And I don't think Watermelon Man could be either.
ReplyDeleteNo, because it is a stupid and shitty movie.
ReplyDeleteEven though RDJ got shit for it at the time. Tropic Thunder might not get greenlit either if it was written today.
ReplyDeleteI remember when it came out and I don't think it was well received. I think Soul Man stole it's plot from the Lois Lane story, "I Am Curious(Black)."
ReplyDeleteWhy not include the movie White Chicks in the question?
ReplyDeleteBecause Iggy Azelea is busy trying to revive her music career and doesn't have time for filming
DeleteAgree, JL. Not only would those have never been made, but neither would many episodes of Seinfeld, Cheers, and Friends. I doubt older episodes of GOT would have been approved. I think much of our favorite entertainment wouldn't never have gotten approval in these overly sensitive PC times we are living in.
ReplyDeleteNope but unfortunately someone would think the reverse is acceptable too. I. E white chicks
ReplyDeleteSure, it could be released on Youtube, then everyone involved with it would be deplatformed across all of social media.
ReplyDeleteWould Billy Crystal have been able to do his (pretty great) Sammy Davis Jr impression on SNL? Maybe, maybe not, it wasn't THAT long ago that Fred Armisen was impersonating blind black NY governor David Paterson on the show (which was hilarious, but because of the physical comedy aspect of it, much like Crystal's impression worked because of Sammy's loungey Vegas schtick that he got down pat.)
ReplyDeleteI guess it depends on whether people feel the medium serving up the product serves their best interest overall. It also seems that it's dependent on how you frame it. It's still happening here and there, cringey as it is.
Armisen is part black. BC did an awesome Ali impression and that was his close friend. Comedy can be insulting but these two were not.
DeleteActually, RDJ's Tropic Thunder performance not only *didn't* catch shit, it was largely accepted and for the most part well received, because audiences were made to understand that he wasn't playing a black person, but a pretentious arrogant method actor douche who thought he could play a black man.
ReplyDeleteRDJ did not get shit for anything when tropic thunder was released. The nuances of how the character was written and RDJ's amazing comedic timing and acting carried the movie. Amazingly good amount of satire and wit. Tropic Thunder has a huge african american fan following. RDJ won a fucking award and there were no protests or news scandal. Black people would see a sequel,if it mainly focused on RDJ's character and skipped Stiller's character.
ReplyDeleteFunny this should come up, because I was just trying to explain the TV series "Three's Company" to a teenager today.
ReplyDelete(A RuPaul's Drag Race contestant made a joke about "Mrs. Roper" that made no sense to her.)
I explained that it was about a man who wanted to share an apartment with two women, which the landlord wouldn't allow ("Why?" she said) so he would pretend to be stereotypically gay when the landlord was around, but pursue women when the landlord went away.
Yes, eight seasons of that.
"They wouldn't make that today, " she said.
"Blazing Saddles" wouldn't be made today, either.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, "Family Guy," on a weekly basis, engages in every single stereotype/racial caricature that's ever been thrown at blacks, Hispanics, Middle Easterners, Asians, Jews, and gays. It appears it's all in how you frame it.
ReplyDeleteThe Swim cartoon the Boondocks ...well its not for everyone but calling rappers gay was pretty funny.
ReplyDeleteFred Armisen is not part black. He is 25% Korean, part German and part Venezuelan. Neither one of his parents is black.
ReplyDeleteArmisen also has 0 % funny in him.
Delete@Do Tell - You are correct. It is all in how you say it. Family Guy takes a lot of swings at Italian Americans as well. Like a lot. Seth being Irish American, you think the there would be an issue with whatever organization represents Italians in the US. As a Chicagoan that grew up going to catholic school, I always laughed at the side eyes being thrown around on Saint Pat's or Saint Joe's day. The green and red jackets that were worn with pride on those respective days were so stupid. High school kids acting as if it was still the prohibition era and not the late 90s. idiots.
ReplyDelete@Do tell - There are a lot of Latin people who are of African descent. The Spanish and the Portuguese were slave traders too. Stating Armisen's parents are part Venezuelan does not mean they can't be part black. A lot of Latin blacks are ashamed of their dark skin and thick curly hair and try to down play their blackness. Look at Sammy Sosa.
ReplyDeleteExactly @JT. Sosa is a great example too.
DeleteNo way. A lot movies from the past would definitely not get made today.
ReplyDeleteNope. No one is allowed to have a sense of humor anymore....Its a joke not a dick don't take it so hard pussy.
ReplyDeleteOnly 1 man had a pass at black face ...RDJ in Tropic Thunder. Funny how that goes.
ReplyDeleteWell Nick Cannon too we still pretend hes black.
DeleteI heard they are doing a live all in the family remake w/ woody harrelson playing Archie. I dont know how that could be any good in todays climate. Cant even make fun of Meathead da polok, much less cullidz and jewes. And how about how acceptable is was to refer to Edith as Dingbat? I think the use of terlet is the only bit they can re use.
ReplyDeleteWell it might be considered insensitive to transracial people if they didn't handle the subject of changing races with enough respect.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand...
Sure they could do it with a Rachel Dolezal or Shaun King biopic! If they wanted to go in a Native American direction they could do Elizabeth Warren's story, that more closely resembles the Soul Man plot. Like seriously, she's got less Native American DNA that most Caucasian Americans.
JT, I understand Venezuelans can be black, so can Italians or Germans or any nationality. That said, Armisen's Venezuelan mother is not black.
ReplyDeleteCertainly not and not with C Thomas Howell. The Watermelon dinner scene would be axed immediately.
ReplyDeleteSuper Comic Fun Time, I am aware of the Lois Lane story "I Am Curious(Black)" in fact I own a copy. True seventies kitch. This is a riff on a sincere sixties book on racism called "Black Like Me" about a white journalist who goes in black make-up to the deep south and experiences prejudice. It was trying to educate white youth.
ReplyDeleteI watched Soul Man a couple of years back and honestly it was pretty funny
ReplyDeleteModern liberalism is the death of comedy and the arts as a whole.
ReplyDeleteAlso: death of innovation, progress, common sense and freedom.
They have already started racial segregation, soon they'll be burning books.
The only thing they excel at is hypocritical irony.
FYI: Fred Armisen was one of the guests on "Finding Your Roots" with Skip Gates on PBS (2017) - "Unfamiliar Kin" episode with Carly Simon and Christopher Walken.
ReplyDeleteHis lineage is Venezuelan (mom), Saxony German (dad); paternal grandfather was Korean (not Japanese as Fred had been led to believe), who worked as a spy for Japan in Nazi Germany.
Fat chicks are off limits right now. Every type gets the "satirical" treatment at some point, except, of course, the Christ Killers.
ReplyDelete