I’m guessing their hiring may not be over, but is SNL going to go through another season without hiring any more minority cast members? The Fred Armisen Obama is a total mistake (SNL does best when they have a great political impression – Tina Fey as Palin, Will Ferrell as Bush, Phil Hartman as Clinton…), and are they going to fly in Maya Rudolph every time they need to feature a Michelle Obama? Black people, hispanic folks, asian folks, etc can be funny SNL. Or so I’ve heard.
And the one black guy who already happens to be in the cast sucks.
Well, Nasim Pedrad is Iranian. But, will any Iranian-themed skits out-do the South Park “300″ spoof?
It’s SNL… as in “Some Negroes Later”. It’s not even that they hire 95% white cast members, it’s that what few black cast memebers they’ve had over the years always get pigeon-holed into the “Can you make fun of some black people for us so we don’t look racist for laughing at black people?” role.
It’s like every black cast member has to do their weekly quota of coon/ghetto skits if they wanna earn a check.
And I know SNL’s audience is not now, nor has it ever been terribly culturally diverse, but just because they seem to want to see the most ignorant and cartoonish portrayals of blacks as punchlines doesn’t mean SNL cast members have to give it to ‘em.
But then as Bamboozled uncomfortably reminded folks, coons always sell.
SNL doesn’t do funny any more… it’s basically unwatchable
I wonder if Lorne Michaels has heard of Alonzo Rachael? The guy is quite funny…
J.
Oliver, don’t be silly. Programs like In Living Color and Chappelle Show, comedians like George Lopez and Chris Rock, they don’t know funny.
A ten-minute sketch that’s six minutes too long? Now that’s comedy!
Is there a specific quota that needs to be met? Why should anyone care where the ancesters of
actor-Americans came from unless they are racists?
SNL-bashing is a pastime for too many Americans. Either the show’s sketches are too long, the new guys suck, there aren’t any people like so-and-so from the alleged Golden Age of SNL, or whatever, it’s almost impossible for any positive news to be generated before every season. Yet there we’ll be, watching the show. Why? Because it’s still just mildly amusing enough for us to turn it on or tape it, it still does a decent job of making fun of the here and now, and because it’s become like an institution.
I argue all the time that it wasn’t as funny back then as some like to think, since the highlights are what is remembered. Watching entire episodes of long-ago seasons is a lot different from the “best of” shows that Belushi, Chase, Murray, and Murphy were part of. Also, I think there’s a grumpy something many feel when they realize they spent Saturday night at home with a television rather than out having a good time. But whatever it is, I don’t think SNL is much worse than it’s ever been and it isn’t much better, either. It simply is, and that’s not so bad for free entertainment.
I agree, SNL’s “Obama” is very weak… and they don’t feature political wives all that often.. just sayin’…
The guy is quite funny…
If one likes minstrel shows.
If one likes minstrel shows.
Sheesh, Oliver, why not just call him a “house slave?”
He’s black and he’s funny. That he’s also a devout born-again Christian and serious conservative doesn’t change that in the least — I didn’t even know about his religious beliefs for months after I started seeing his videos.
The guy is funny, and would NOT be priced out of SNL’s market (like the Wayans brothers, Chris Rock, or Dave Chapelle). I doubt he’d be interested, but a feeler or two wouldn’t be a bad thing.
And it would be a good thing for SNL to embrace a little diversity for a change. In this case, it would be someone who both LOOKS and THINKS differently from them.
J.
So, SNL, you need to hire more minorities, but please, no conservatives.
Good grief.
“If one likes minstrel shows.”
LOL,
Minstrel shows historically highlight negro stereotypes.
Ollie is dead wrong about Alonzo, he certainly doesn’t highlight stereotypes. Now Jesse Jaclkson or Al Sharpton, there is a pair of stereotypes playing to an audience, not real funny though.
Don’t confuse the issue with facts, AO. ‘Zo doesn’t fit the acceptable stereotype of a black person (wholly owned by the Democratic plantation), so he’s obviously a race traitor.
J.
Why do Republicans seem to believe that telling black Democrats they’re stuck on a “Democratic plantation” is a big winner of a marketing strategy?
Why do Republicans seem to believe that telling black Democrats they’re stuck on a “Democratic plantation” is a big winner of a marketing strategy?
(shrug) Let’s count the errors in this single sentence.
1) I’m not a Republican.
2) I’m not selling anything.
3) I have no interest in marketing anything.
I’m just making an observation. Any time a minority dares question liberal doctrine, they get pounded down. Hard.
Witness Oliver’s description of ‘Zo here.
Witness the vile attacks on Michelle Malkin based not on her views, but on her sex and race.
Witness the whole “Man Coulter” thing.
Witness the liberal blogger who put Michael Steele in minstrel makeup.
They’re not attacking their ideas or their actions, but attacking them over their identity.
One would not do that unless one felt one had a proprietary, ownership interest in the matter.
If the foo shits, mike…
J.
Sheesh, Oliver, why not just call him a “house slave?”
Well…
He’s black and he’s funny.
He’s black, I’ll give him that. That’s the thing, as I’ve said – time and time again – if a comedian is conservative and actually funny I’ll more than give him or her his due. But the reason this Alonzo guy is getting a push from the right has everything to do with the fact that he’s a black performer and nothing to do with him actually being funny.
“has everything to do with the fact that he’s a black performer ”
Alonzo might go far, that’s the same technique Obama used to get elected.
AO, translated: Black people who expect to take part in society are the real racists!
That’s the thing, as I’ve said – time and time again – if a comedian is conservative and actually funny I’ll more than give him or her his due.
Until proven otherwise, I’m saying that to Oliver, you see “funny conservative” is about as plausible as a unicorn. Feel free to cite a conservative humorist you find humorous, Oliver.
‘Zo and Stephen Crowder are two very funny conservatives. A bit older, we have P. J. O’Rourke, Dennis Miller, and (occasionally) Christopher Buckley.
J.
Feel free to cite a conservative humorist you find humorous, Oliver.
I think Larry Miller is funny. Zo and Crowder aren’t funny – they don’t know to put the funny up front because theyre so busy selling an agenda. O’Rourke is just not funny. I liked Miller back when he thought he was a comedian and made funny jokes (I even went to a taping of his HBO show). Then he became a right wing radio/tv personality and decided funny wasn’t the way to go.
That’s the problem with the 1/2 Hr News Hour and American Carol: Putting politics before the funny.
I still miss Maya Rudolph. She is so versatile. It would be nice for SNL to have more diversity.
I wonder if Lorne Michaels has heard of Alonzo Rachael? The guy is quite funny…
You guys think he’s funny? There’s a red flag.
PJ O’Rourke is a humorist. Dennis Miller stopped being a comedian years ago.