Operating on the theory that comedy = tragedy + time, I guess. But that rule only works if you also apply the “only punch up” principle IMO.
I’m skirting the line here, so I’ll just say probably the same thing they’re thinking when they endow me as a pimp or a drug dealer in a scene.
Ow
This is very generous of you. Incorrect, but generous. Improv is very white and many of those white improvisers think their racism is funny. For comedy to equal tragedy + time, you have to care about somebody else’s tragedy.
They operate on the theory that “If I say it was a joke, no one can do anything”.
Oh, yeah, ‘You can’t take a joke’. The last defense of bullies everywhere.
QFT
I once attended a class performance at a theater I performed at and one of the scenes were two white guys playing characters who were “street”. You can imagine how they talked, what they said.
I had to go talk to their teacher.
There are people who are used to being the majority and become emboldened, especially, when they look out in the crowd and see only faces that look like theirs. So they don’t think about it at all. Why would they. “My friends laugh at this stuff and they look like me, what’s the big deal!”
EDIT: Instead of making another post, I’ll add that at the same theater, the person who ran their conservatory, in a conversation about “diversity”, said that people of color have to “come to us”. The context was outreach is too hard. If you minorities want to do make 'em ups, you have to come tell us. To improv theaters, diversity is a white woman with glasses. And for your Rod Serling twist, the person who said that? Who this theater entrusted to run their classes? Same person who made that L.A. Riots “joke”.
But this isn’t just a small market issue. I took classes at UCB in NYC(They were only in NYC then) and I really had to decide if this is what I wanted to do, the “jokey racism” was so bad.
Only one thing to do then:
Throw a bunch of bad movies from the various Wish Lists/Dream Seasons on here into a hat. Mods pick one a week, and we all watch along and provide the riffs. (So long as it’s available to view, of course.)
(And then send the strikers some nice hot dish and maybe a Bundt cake or two.)
P.S. – And alright dammit if we’re doing this I’ll finally build a workshop onto the side of the house and ready my own robo-puppet for the big DIY event!
Good to hear.
Yeah. That sums up Chris Rock’s failed joke at the Oscars. BTW. That G.I. Jane reference was way past its sell-by-date.
Well, I recently got “casual and ironic” Anti-Semitism from some other fans who really should’ve known better. So sure. Sign me up.
Trust me, for my TED Talk, it’s more appropriate to sign them up.
There are a few reasons I wouldn’t lump what Rock did with what I’m talking about.
The number one being Rock got the kind of, let’s say, instant critique that I wish the people I’m talking about would.
Final, huh? Let’s see you do pilot season without writers.
Yeah, “This is our final offer.” If they reject this, the film industry comes to an end forever.
Gotta work on your bluffing skills, guys.