
Jezebel compares the current grumblings about The Donald’s upcoming SNL appearance with the Andrew Dice Clay episode from a quarter century ago. I wasn’t a fan of Dice’s ultra-gross humor at the time, but I always thought Nora Dunn was a wet blanket for refusing to do the show. Her quote makes me reconsider
He’s a man who gets up and says that a woman is a receptacle, that a man has a right to have sex with his daughter because he pays her tuition, and Lorne is going to make him look like he’s the Fonz,” she said, referring to the Henry Winkler character on Happy Days. “Take the word ‘woman’ and replace it with the word ‘Jew,’ and ask: would he book this person? I don’t know why sexism doesn’t fall into the same category
OK. I get it. But, let’s accept that Mr. Clay wasn’t advocating as a public servant, community leader, or businessman. When we agree with an entertainer (musician, comedian, actor, whatever) that we’re entering into this space where they can create, we have a social contract that says they can say and do things without being truly responsible for the ultimate outcome. It’s art. The person is allowed the space to create and we suspend our conscience according to our own beliefs. That magician isn’t really saying you should saw women in half. Neither Bob Marley nor Eric Clapton were advocating violence towards cops (Ice-T and NWA on the other hand…I’ll let you decide)
Ultimately, the irony here is that the evolution of standup comedy is such that Amy Schumer and other female comics now describe their own sexuality in ways that, if they were done by Dice, would be deemed offensive. But, that’s the EMPOWERMENT of this oft-ridiculed thing called feminism: It’s THEIRS to exploit as they wish. Instead of having men get paid for talking about women being sluts, WOMEN can get paid for calling themselves sluts
A little simplistic, but you get the point
So, we are left with our friend Donald. I won’t speak to the legality of In-Kind Campaign Contributions, as I am not a lawyer nor do I wish to be one. One of the hosts of the popular Brad & Britt Podcast expressed exasperation that Lorne Michaels had signed up for an effort that would ultimately “humanize” Trump
Maybe he was able to give David Spade a career, but, even Lorne Michaels isn’t that good
Certainly, Donald Trump has blurred the lines between entertainer, businessman, and politician. It’s fair to say that’s there isn’t any comedy in his remarks about deporting millions of people in a manner that evokes memories of frightening, fascistic regimes. But, comedy has always been a powerful weapon, able to shine a cleansing light where other things fail. It’s up to an incredibly gifted staff of writers, producers, and performers to unmask this guy. Will they be able to do it? I wouldn’t bet against them. In all honesty, when they’re done sweeping the stage, most people who liked him will continue to do so and those who didn’t, will continue to do that, too
But, I look at that picture at the top and I can’t help but think that the immensely talented Cecily Strong might be being used as a prop
Thank God she has the ability to make up her own mind abut such things