Funny, because he has that exact phrase trademarked. And for only $19.99, you can have it too: hand-embroidered on a THAT-REDNECK-GUY-THAT'S-NOT-FUNNY (TM) Rebel Advantage Classic Hat (Camo). The combination of realistic leaves, three dimensional limbs and open spaces is hard to beat in most hunting situations. "A Favorite of Larry's Since 1994." Low comedy: Larry the Cable Guy High comedy: Advertising a "rebel" cap adorned with the symbol of the Confederacy with the patriotic calling: "Made in the USA."
To me, the main difference between the two is that when I laugh at Larry the Cable Guy, I kind of feel dirty and ashamed. No so with Cross. Hell, I'd rather watch Dave Chappelle, Mitch Hedberg, Lewis Black, Dave Attelle or any number of other comics than either of these guys anyway.
Guys, guys, guys. I know the temptation is there and the pull is very strong. By saying either A) Larry the Cable guy is not funny (or sexing up how ignorant he is with big SAT words to show off your vocabulary...oh man I was so tempted to say lexicon or B) glorifying the works of David Cross...you are not coming across as smarter or classier or any of that. So knock it off. The same goes for all of you that claim to like the book better than the movie and 'prefer the sound of vinyl'. It is so fake. Larry the Cable Guy is funny. David Cross is funny. DC's bit about 'why are redneck accents the same wherever you go' might be the funniest stand up routine ever. But its hard to put it over LtCG's bit about his brand new computer 'might as well be a two thousand dollar deck 'uh cards'. Or Ron White asking the guy at Sunglass Hut 'How the Eff do you sleep at night'? or Stephen Wright mistaking his car key for his apartment key and starting up the whole building or Foxworthy's ENTIRE 'here's you sign/you might be a redneck' collection of Carlin's 'place for my stuff'!!!!! It's comedy. Raven...you are so right.
Is pretentious a "big SAT word" ? Because you could have just told people to stop being pretentious rather than write that whole paragraph. While we are on the subject, you know what I hate? Well, I'll tell you. I hate when people use wax as a verb, like "Im going to wax philosophic." Drives me crazy... But I agree with your point about people trying to appear more intellectually hip by saying certain things. About David Cross and Larry the Cable Guy... I think Cross is pretty funny, but I prefer a lot of other comedians ( Jim Gaffigan, Zach Galifinakis, Harlan Williams, etc.) but I guess it's because I like a different type of comedy. As for Larry the Cable Guy... I saw one of his shows on Comedy Central one time and it was racist. I've seen a lot of comics make jokes with race, but the thing is , in that act he didnt. It was like he was just giving a speech about illegal immigrants ( how they work at fast food restaurants and none of them know how to speak english) and the mainly white crowd was cheering... When people are applauding and yelling rather than laughing than you are no longer in the realm of comedy, you are doing something else. I think thats why sometimes Jon Stewart gets that look on his face when people start cheering a joke for the political context rather than laugh at the humor behind it. Larry the Cable Guy plays to the stereotype of the racist redneck who can get away with it "he dont know any better" and maybe thats what Cross was talking about. I dont know.
Chance, First of all, these are at least LSAT-level big words I'm typing. Obviously, I find it essential for you to recognize such a glaring omission. Pointing out perceived snobbery where none exists, implicitly suggesting I "knock it off" with such cityfied speechifying, in a civil discussion largely concerning the mass appeal of "anti-intellectual pride" humor (He misspells on purpose. WTF?), clearly makes you the smartest and classiest of all. Secondly, the reason to make the distinctions among just "comedy" is that only one of the comics you mention blithely and unironically attires himself in the colors of the Confederacy to shamelessly move additional product (Brother versus brother). And, as Cross noted in the opening link, his comedy calls for the subjugation of the practitioners of the world's second-most popular religion (if you start subdividing among the many schisms of Christianity versus the divisions of Islam, arguably the most popular). If you find easy humor humorous, be my guest. Again, quoting Cross: But a lot of the Cable Guy's shtick isn't just pathetically unfunny, it's straight racist. And, in keeping with the bathroom humor theme, that [redacted] just ain't funny.
Chance, Chance, Chance HE SUCKS. Just because he is a comedian it doesn't make him funny. He is funny to the same people who thought Bob Saget on America Home Videos was funny (even though Saget is funny just not on his tv shows). What he does is make jokes for what he knows people think is funny, rather than just be funny. It's fake and stupid. It is pandering to morons. It's Wal-Mart funny. It's American Idol funny. Even Tim Conway as Dorf is a lot funnier than that. And do you know what else wasn't funny? That TV show Full House. I know you own all the dvds, but those little Olsen kids really were not that funny. Joey's Popeye impression didn't "bring the house down". The Tanner family wasn't a laugh riot. I'm sorry.
It isn't if that is what people's interest or professions are. That's like saying disecting the play of Rockets rookies, or daily reports about a player's injury is taking it too seriously because it is just a game. But if that is something people are passionate about then dissecting and analyzing that kind of thing is only natural. This is kind of my mind wandering, and babbling, but a pet peeve of mine is that there isn't more discussion about the intricacies of comedy. There is endless discussion about monumental dramatic films, and plays, and comedy is always kind of dismissed as something amusing. But it is an artform to itself, or it can be, though it doesn't get the recognition it deserves.
You're absolutely right that this feud is a good reflection of the broader political one. You're absolutely wrong about virtually everything else. Did you even read the Cross letter? Have you heard his act? Leaving out the fact that the Cable Guy is a blatant racist and hatemonger, Cross is not hurting for money and he has no great dream of selling "merch" in the "world's largest corporation's outlets." In elementary school I used to fight with my little brother about Mr. T. I would say, "He's a horrible actor." And he would say, "He makes more money than you." Americans can be so gross. As for them being "COMEDIANS. Not legislators. ," the great comedians have always done political jokes and they have always had strong feelings about politics. Lenny Bruce, Richard Pryor, George Carlin, Bill Hicks and on and on. What do you want? Knock knock jokes? If this is a microcosm for the left v. right debate, I'll take it. The left is represented by a talented, smart, hilarious (and hell yes, pissed off) guy and the right is represented by a racist redneck that tells fart jokes. Awesome.
We've had this debate many times over with AB, but black comedy today is filled with racism, which is socially acceptable because of society's collective guilt towards past treatment of blacks. Ever seen a black comedian impersonate a white person's voice, insult Chinese drivers, talk about Mexicans living 10 to an apartment, etc... Of course -- it's commonplace, and outside of vulgar and sex jokes, really about all they've got in their repertoire. Batman, I noticed you conveniently excluded that type of comedy in your analysis of right vs left comedy. Nice.
So, when exactly is this thread going to be moved to the D&D? There's some serious poo-flinging brewing up in here.
I don't like the guy but that's a bit much. Do you think the same of David Chappelle and Carlos Mencia, who focus quite a bit on race? Their stuff is just as blatantly racist. And what's with the "Americans can be so gross" comment?
in the end, its all a mater of taste. i think larry the cable guy sucks, but thats just my opinion. however, alot more people go to his shows that david cross's (who im a fan of and own both his cd's). david cross has a habit of talking poop about people in interviews. he cant expect to say stuff and than not have the person shoot back at him. he has a funny story at the end of his "its not funny" cd where he talks about going to play celebrity poker. scott stapp of creed ended up being a late fill in and d.c. has said alot of stuff about how bad he is. cross once declared creed the 3rd worst band of all time. anyway, he went to introduce himself and tried to shake his hand and s.s. just looked at him and said "thanks for the words." i actually saw that episode and scott stapp obviously had no clue how to play texas hold em. didnt know anything about the game. if it was anyone other than him i would have been embarased for them.
Batman, are you drunk? Mr. T is a way better actor than you. Always has been. Have you seen D.C. Cab? (Probably not). Maybe you could watch it before making uneducated statements like that. In other news, I really enjoyed reading the David Cross letter and agreed with every word of it. Thanks Jorge, for posting the link.
Well, I had a response written out, but it's really not worth it as I probably won't get to see any responses from it. But I'll go ahead and do it anyway. Needless to say, I believe that the skit regarding the Muslims could've been made funny if told in a certain way. However, in the Larry the Cable Guy bit that was referenced, there's no joke. It's just a rant against Muslims. Can someone please point out anything funny about this? I'm not saying unfunny because it's offensive (which it is), but unfunny in a general way: Since getting XM Radio nearly two years ago, I've heard many a white comedian (and all races) tell very funny and very un-P.C. jokes about other races and religions. Robin Williams had an especially memorable one. IIRC, there hasn't been a very big backlash against those comedians. It's all in how it's said. If it's an obvious joke, most people won't have a problem with it. If it's simply a rant against a group of people where slurs are thrown about with no real joke in the content, that's where people can rightfully become upset. What cracked me up the most about the letter was pointing out that Larry the Cable Guy is a fraud. Private schooled Nebraskan acting like a redneck? That's not comedic talent, that's a gimmick.
That's the best part.. I was talking with a coworker Friday and how she loves him and what not.. I told her it's all an act and she thought I was messing with her, well only after she looked it up her self did she believe me.. After that she thought the guy is a fraud too..
serious: DC Cab had not been released when I had that argument with my brother. We were arguing about A-Team and his incessant imitation of Mr. T. I agree. DC Cab was a fine film. And yes, of course I'm drunk. It's a well known fact that I only post on this board when drunk. Incidentally, I got drunk with David Cross a couple of years ago. I couldn't stay out too late though -- had to get home and post drunk on the BBS. Jorge: It wasn't my analysis; it was IROC_it's. I think it's cute when you whine about not being allowed to say the "n" word or complain about black comics embracing stereotypes. I don't think those bits are any funnier than fart jokes, and I do find some of them racist. Most of the ones I find racist though are no longer en vogue. Same with some Warner Bros. cartoons. Someone like Richard Pryor or Another Brother mocking Chinese accents, for example, is over the line. I've never heard anything racist from Dave Chappelle. Nor from Sarah Silverman. Regardless, none of that compares to the hate speech from the Cable Guy. The fact that you agree with him doesn't mean he's not racist -- it just means that you are. Mr. Clutch: I would have thought my Americans can be gross comment would have been clear by context. IROC_it's assumption that Cross was just pissed that he didn't make as much money as the Cable Guy or the various comments about how the Cable Guy's bank account was proof he was talented are perfect examples of American grossness. Fart, Batman
