Comment Policy Update (3/1): For those of you (especially on discussion boards) wondering why I closed comments on this post, here’s my answer. It gives me the right to blog. It doesn’t give you the right to comment. The government may not prohibit your right to express yourself, but I can. On my blog. If you have something to say about this post, say it on your own blog. If I’m in a good mood, I’ll even let you trackback. If you don’t have a blog, I suggest you start one. The only free speech protected at this domain is MINE. Got it?
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What happened to class and civility?
Chris Rock said, “Sit your a**** down!” And people laughed? This passes for comedy these days. Rock is his own man and what he says or does is no reflection on me. But I’m embarrassed by his behavior, his very persona, nonetheless. His antics are the sort that should make a mother bow her head in shame that she’d raised such a fool.
Ignorant and vulgar men are considered funny in some circles. Not mine.
This is my first and last comment on the Oscars because I think the whole thing is a monumental waste of space and time. Hollywood’s godless tripe is all the rage, and I’m shocked that conservative bloggers were watching and “live-blogging” this garbage. To each his own, I suppose. Check out Rock’s “comedy”:
We have, like, four black nominees. It’s kinda like the Def Oscar Jam tonight,” he enthused, in a reference to the HBO comedy series “Def Comedy Jam,” a springboard for many black performers.While flirting with network censors in his choice of words as he urged the star-studded studio audience to take their seats, the opening minutes of the broadcast bore no signs that ABC was forced to bleep put any of his remarks….
Turning again to race for laughs, Rock complained that Hollywood makes movies “for white people to enjoy — real movies, with plots, with actors, not rappers, with real names, like, ‘Catch Me If You Can,’ like ‘Saving Private Ryan.’
“Black movies don’t have real names,” Rock continued. “They get names like ‘Barbershop.’ That’s not a name. That’s just a location. ‘Barbershop,’ ‘Cookout,’ ‘Carwash,’ … you know ‘Laundromat’s’ coming soon, and after that, ‘Check-Cashing Place.”‘
Read more about the comedic genius. A New York Post writer says Rock used the word a** a lot. Smooth, Chris.
Under Hollywood’s de facto affirmative action policy, this is what they come up with. Such behavior would be unacceptable for anyone else, but when a black big-mouth does it, people snicker. They’re not really laughing with him; they’re laughing at him, but he’s too busy clowning to the know the difference.
They couldn’t find a dignified black person, one who exuded grace and charm, for the occasion? Or one who wouldn’t dream of playing to the stereotype of the ignorant Negro in a monkey suit, loud and obnoxious, profanity spewing out of his mouth?
How fortunate we are that better men built this country and better men keep it going.
Update: FYI, I didn’t watch the show. Haven’t in years.
Update II: The schtick worked. God bless America!
Trackbacks will remain open, but commenting is closed.
Update III: For every one derogatory comment or e-mail I receive, I get several uplifting comments and e-mails that really make my day. Thank you.
Update IV (3/1): I have a message for those squawking, “But she didn’t even watch the awards show. How can she judge?”
You can’t really be that obtuse, can you? If anybody’s seen Chris Rock’s stand-up just once, you know all you need to know, and I’ve seen and heard his act before. And I can read. Knowing what he does and how he sounds, combined with news reports about what he said, I was able to form an opinion.
If the new standard (or the one just for me) is that we must actually witness an event in order to make comments or draw conclusions about it rather than rely on common sense, other witnesses’ accounts and the ability to read news stories, will someone please let me know?
By the same inane logic, none of us should be talking or writing about events we didn’t witness, such as WWII. I certainly wasn’t around, but if I’ve read books on the subject and seen documentaries, I have an adequate basis from which to draw conclusions about WWII.
To my regular readers and friends, I apologize for insulting your intelligence, but this update, unfortunately, is necessary.
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Thanks for being refreshingly blunt–we need more of it in our culture.
I didn’t watch. If I want to hear a lot of Republican bashing I can get in an argument with one of my liberal friends. I quit watching “West Wing” for the same reason.
If you look at comedy today as opposed to a while ago, there is no comparison.
One of my personal favorites was Gracie Allen, when teamed with George Burns they were unbeatable.
But the comedy today it is all filth it sort of points to the direction the country has slipped in its ever downward spiral. It is not just Chris Rock, Lenny Bruce started this in the 50s & 60s and it has progress downward ever since. They have somehow come to believe that in order to get to an audience they have to insult them, insult their intelligence and single people out for insult to get a laugh. Is this comedy or ridicule. All this from the party of tolerance.
I believe it was Red Skelton who put on a show for the UN and the majority of the audience did NOT understand English, he had the whole place in stitches without a word spoken, Now that’s comedy.
Maybe the whole problem is nobody watches the RADIO anymore.
Mark
Well said, as always. Thank you.
Great post (as always)
It’s called “lowering the bar” and before you single out Chris Rock include the two guys who started it all, Richard Pryor and Eddie Murphy.
These are the people responsible for the new Black English you’re talking about. Cocaine addict Pryor grew up in a whore house. Eddie Murphy patterned himself after Pryor and the notorious foul-mouth of them all Red Fox.
All pretty hopeless if you ask me.
ric landers
While I am certainly aware of those who came before him, Chris Rock is singled out for this post. Must I include all the vulgar men in the world? I’d be writing for days.
And I’m talking about more than just “black English.” Perhaps you should read the post again.
When I heard that Chris Rock was going to be the MC of the Oscars, I thought to myself “Good that you decided not to watch it - That would really be a waste of time now!…what with Chris’s known political leanings.”
And so it was, I am told….not only by your insightful post, but by several others as well. The Oscars, of late, have become a blatant awards show for approved political correctness, and not for any excellence in the craft of film making. Once they awarded Michael Moore an Oscar for an obvious work of fiction in the ‘Documentary’ category, it was pretty obvious what was happening, and hence I tuned out and turned off. The Academy, not unlike the Terrorist Supporting Media (TSM), has also lost their credibility as well. Chris Rock was the final nail.
Well, I thought he was funny. But I know I’m in the minority here.
Your comments and the comments of other bloggers on the vulgarity and vapidity of Oscar night pretty much covers the subject of humor on television and in the movies. There was no humor last night and there is very little on TV or in the movies. I’m not sure why, but vulgarity won out over wit.
What bothers me the most about the entertainment media is that a powerful educational opportunity is being wasted. People don’t learn anything by watching TV or going to the movies. Coming from an immigrant home and not speaking English until I went to school, movies taught me how to speak correctly, what moral values were universally accepted, how people conducted themselves in society, etiquette and good manners. All of which served me well and allowed me to enter into the main stream of American life seamlessly.
Now even native born speakers of English have no idea how to speak correctly or behave like adults by showing common courtesy to others. It’s too bad that an industry that could do so much good while at the same time entertaining and amusing us has allowed itself to sink to the very lowest common denominator.
As you probably know, Chris Rock is not a product of the ghetto. He comes from an ordinary middle class family who, I don’t doubt, are appalled by his schtick.
MauMauing the flack catchers still pays good.
“Or one who wouldn’t dream of playing to the stereotype of the ignorant Negro in a monkey suit, loud and obnoxious, profanity spewing out of his mouth? ”
I hadn’t thought of it like that! Eddie Murphy would be another one. Of course, Robin Williams isn’t a whole lot better sometimes.
I’m a movie buff, so I usually watch at least part of the Oscars. Not this year. In a year when “The Passion of the Christ” is almost completely ignored, while a movie that is essentially a commercial for assisted suicide is glorified, I said “Forget it.” Now I’m glad I didn’t waste my time.
I preferred to watch Col. Ollie North’s coverage of India Company’s battle in Fallujah. Far more class to watch there, than the tripe on the Oscars.
La Shawn, I really wish I could get you to research and write about Vernon Robinson and Myrah Kirkwood, and what they went through in their campaigns, respectively. You are the only one who could do justice to their stories. I e-mailed you about them, but did not hear back.
Joseph Marshall’s comment was correct; you cornered the market on class!
In order to be a TRUE liberal one must own many “filters”.
To judge wether a joke is funny, first one must consider the
race of the teller. Chris R. can say the N. word all he wants
because he is black. Next it’s the sex or sexual “oreintation”
of the jokester. Only comics with “gender issues” can say Fag!
Anyone else saying that would be crucified as a HATER!
I like to imagine a world where a “joke” is judged by it’s merit
instead of the ability of it’s listeners to don the appropriate filter.
LaShawn!
Long-time reader, first-time commentor.
Rock said he wasn’t gonna bash Bush, then proceeded to do just that.
It was at exactly this point I turned off the show.
After an hour of sulking, I decided to turn it back on to watch Clint win for Million$ Baby. So what happa…? CRock introduces P. Diddy (I’d figured he’d be there, with all the movies he’s made) (????), and he introduces a song by saying “With all the negative things going on in the world–”
*CLICK* Done.
Yeah, Diddy. Having 8 million Iraqis vote in free elections really turns my stomach. Now go make your bodyguard shoot up the place–FOR BIGGIE!
It’s a shame they have to get so political; some of Rock’s jokes were truly funny.
I wonder if anybody would produce a show where politicians give their opinions about the latest movies….?
Love you, LaShawn!
La Shawn:
How can any conservatvie have any credibility in a group that gave Michael Moore’s “Bowling for Columbine” - a fictional comedy - an award for “Best Documentary?”
The Academy is too busy with self-indulgence to care for its audience.
“Read more about the comedic genius. ”
He also made michael moore is fat joke. Boooring.
LaShawn,
As you know, the apostle Paul in describing the ungodliness of mankind says in Romans 3: 13-14; “their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips. Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.” And WHY? because he concludes in verse 18: “THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES.”
I think that a group of very white and very liberal Academy members did what all whites in media do: pick a black person who they think represents all, or most, black people; meaning “ghetto blacks” with foul mouths, an in your face racial hostility, and no real deep thinking. This is why Al Sharpton, a pathetic example of brains and ability, is on FOX almost every other week, on Imus at least once a month, and other white outlets. Same with Jessie Jackson. Pick a black man who will cause outrage among many whites and your “civil rights” street cred is established. The only place a person can see black men with real ability on a regular basis is on “Tony Brown’s Journal” presented in LA at a time when nobody is watching, sort of like they do with Austin City Limits.
Frank Zavisca: “The Academy is too busy with self-indulgence to care for its audience.”
And because of that, based upon recent TV ratings for the Oscars, “it’s audience” has quietly disappeared. The Academy has become deservedly irrelevant….and one of these days, they may even notice.
On the other hand, I thought the acceptance speech by Jamie Foxx was exceptional, as was his performance in “Ray”. Now there is a bright and classy man.
Frank Zavisca: “The Academy is too busy with self-indulgence to care for its audience.â€
Exactly. Actors giving awards to other actors. It’s the ultimate self-licking icecream cone.
Our idiot newspaper, the Houston McChronicle, covered the Oscars with the top of the front page this morning.
Why would a newspaper do that?
Of course, this is the newspaper that buries all the stories about the Houston light rail project, called the “Wham Bahm Trahm,” which Metro built down the middle of the street, and so it has had 80 wrecks since it opened last year.
Something to do with bread and circuses.
I agree with what Roger said above. After watching Rock’s work on the show, Jamie Foxx was a breath of fresh air. I’m still trying to get over his sudden change from “goofy funny guy” to “oh yeah, he won the Academy Award for Best Actor this year.”
Although mostly yawn-inducing and just unfunny, Rock did a couple of nails right on the proverbial heads.
About Hollywood’s favorite propaganda pusher: “Michael Moore did not get nominated for an Oscar. Right now Michael Moore is wondering, ‘I should have made SUPER SIZE ME. I’ve done the research.’”
About Tinsel Town’s ill-fated 2004 presidential pick: “Oprah is so rich, I saw John Kerry proposing to her an hour ago.”
Now THAT was funny stuff!
Jeff C.
New York City
I must admit that I find Chris Rock funny. I find Dennis Miller funny, too, but neither he nor Rock are the best choices for emceeing the Oscars. Rock is funny in the context he chooses. However, he didn’t choose this context.
Given that much of the show’s comedy is scripted anyway, why not go with someone who could straddle the fence of being humorous and also semi-graceful. I’m no huge fan of Oprah Winfrey, but wouldn’t she be a good host considering how well she handles her own show?
La Shawn, I too am a longtime reader (and admirer) and first-time commenter –
I thought Jamie Foxx’s graceful performance more than outweighed Chris Rock’s wallow in the trough.
Please, please keep up the good work
We had the Oscars on for a grand total of about three minutes. I don’t even know what Rock said in that time–I just turned it off because he was YELLING. Nothing more irritating than an adult who can’t speak in an indoor voice.
“They’re not really laughing with him; they’re laughing at him, but he’s too busy clowning to the know the difference.”
Actually, the people laughing are more than likely laughing simply at the shock value associated with these words. The reason for the shock value? Alot of people are a bit too tightly wound. Why does everyone here have such a problem with other people using words you wouldn’t? Why does it make them less in some value of humanity? They’re laughing at the discomfort it causes people that are gonne get upset with the words. I thought the “left” were supposed to be the poeple that were intollerantly PC.
“Thanks for being refreshingly blunt–we need more of it in our culture.”
So lemme get this straight:
Rock blunt - BAD BAD VULGAR MAN
La Shawn blunt - You’re doing the world a service
Hmmmm, ok. Rather a skewed view, but I think you can sorta see what I’m saying. I hope.
“while a movie that is essentially a commercial for assisted suicide is glorified”
Ok, admittedly, I haven’t seen the movie, but from what I’ve heard, the assisted suicide stuff comes towards the end of the movie. You can’t view the movie on it’s overall quality without taking into account your philisophical difference with one element of the movie?
Actors giving awards to other actors. It’s the ultimate self-licking icecream cone.
LOL!!! Bucky, you had me rolling on the floor with that line. That is awesome.
And you’re exactly right.
Losing Faith (how appropriate):
So lemme get this straight:
Rock blunt - BAD BAD VULGAR MAN
La Shawn blunt - You’re doing the world a service
I HOPE you’re not comparing me to Chris Rock. Bluntly criticizing someone for vulgar excesses and being a blunt vulgarian are not the same in ANY way, and I resent the implication.
I amused myself watching PBS’ “Goodby Mr. Chips” (or something like that).
Would anyone care to explain the difference between the NAACP’s outrage over old acts like Amos & Andy which purportedly produced comedy at the expense of black dignity, and modern acts like R.Kelly & Rock which recieve honors & awards for entertainment at the expense of of black dignity?
IOW, in the old days, our entertainment role models were “dimwitted” jivin’ & shuckin’ po’ boys, nowadays, we get, erm, jivin’ & shuckin’ ebonics. So what’s the difference?
Seems to me that black preachers aren’t steppin’ -n- fetchin’ enough to preach against the community’s glamorization of entertainment whore$.
At least get the insults right… tightwad = unwilling to part with money.
Matthew 7:1-2
I heard there was an important awards show of some sort on TV last night, but I missed it due to much more pressing matters, like clipping my toenails and sorting my sock drawer. Priorities, you know.
Some really excellent comments to this post. I agree entirely with you. “They couldn’t find a dignified black prson, one who exuded grace & charm, for the occasion?” I guess they ‘couldn’t’. Too bad & soooo sad.
Phil, thanks a lot for evoking the same passage unbelievers always do when it comes to Christians criticizing other people. Very disappointing.
If I can’t call it as I see, what is the point of criticizing anyone or anything ever? Because I am also a sinner, that makes a vulgarian NOT a vulgarian? Show me a sinless man. That, I would LOVE to see.
It seems I’m catching from the believer and unbeliever alike today. True diversity.
I guess nobody will be surprised to know that I couldn’t care less.
“What is that about? I guess it doesn’t matter. No one really cares right? It’s odd. Just like the pasty-face Michael Jackson.”
Ha! This is the jury O.J. Simpson should’ve had. Instead of playing golf and searching for the “real killer,” he’d be pushing up daisies right now.
Maybe not vulgar, but not very Christ like. Matthew 7:3
Phil, if you want to discuss this with me, don’t do it on my blog. I don’t preach to other Christians on their blogs, and I don’t want to be preached to on mine. You have my e-mail address. - Admin
LaShawn
I was listening to Dennis Prager’s comments earlier on this. The Academy knew exactly what they were getting when they hired Chris Rock … and it really goes to the soft bigory of the Left/Liberals in Hollywood that they expect no better from blacks. Could you see them hiring Bobcat Goldwaithe to host the Oscars? Or George Carlin? But what possessed them to hire Chris rather than say, Oprah or Cosby?
I didn’t watch the Oscars last night, but I heard Chris’ opening schtick later.
Good lord, I miss Johnny Carson.
Some of us conservatives take ourselves wayyyy too seriously. It really ain’t this serious.
I thought his joke re the titles of black movies was hee-larious!
I don’t see it as taking ourselves too seriously. I’ve been known to laugh at a few raunchy jokes, but I don’t appreciate this on prime time television. The Academy opted for coarseness rather than refinement. Seems like a microcosm of society as a whole, demonstrating a definite downward spiral in both expectations and fulfilment of anything uplifting to the human spirit.
Chris Rock makes Amos and Andy look progressive.
Dear Losing Faith,
I saw Million Dollar Baby and thought it stank even before the euthanasia stuff came on screen. Mystic River was a lot, lot better cinema-wise. Old Clint kind of stumbles in this one.
Dear Phil,
Is it Christ-like to go around accusing fellow believers who are trying to do their best of being un-Christlike?
By your standard, we should accuse Paul of being un-Christlike, too. He gets pretty nasty in Rom 1—and that’s just the beginning of the Pauline corpus.
Dear Andy,
Bingo.
Dear La Shawn,
Thanks a million.
Adrian
Thank you, Adrian.
I think it’s time to close this thread.
Comments on this entry are closed.