On the eve of my spectacular Crash and Burn shows at Acme in Minneapolis, KSTP 5 contacted me about the hullabaloo over Ralphie May.
Several years back, Ralphie went on an extended rant about how mad he was, that Goodfellas lost the Oscar to Dances With Wolves. The rant culminates in a string of politically incorrect remarks about American Indians. Audio of the rant surfaced in advance of his appearances in Minnesota, and the venues began cancelling his shows. Even a heartfelt apology, and a promise to donate his revenue from the performances failed to dissuade the protesters.
Since I have a little experience fighting Political Correctness in Minnesota, the local news contacted me for a statement:
“I believe that the comedy stage is the only 10 square feet in America where political correctness is not enforced,” explained Comedian Tim Slagle, “and as near as I can figure, the political ‘correctniks’ want that real estate.” (full story)
Comedy is based on stereotypes. From the old guard complaining about their wives putting on a couple extra pounds, to the new alt comedians finding hypocrisy in Republicans who oppose a Socialist Jewish Carpenter, jokes have always used a ridiculously wide brush to get the audience to laugh. The stereotype is what makes the joke relatable, and the exaggeration is what makes it funny. And as long as the audience is laughing, the comedy is acceptable. The funniest comedians are the ones who can take material as close to the edge of good taste as possible, without crossing that line.
I know from experience when something is over the line. The sound of the crickets becomes overwhelming.
Fighting political correctness in Minnesota has to be like fighting sand in the Sahara Desert…
OK if you are suddenly mad in 2016 about a joke that was stale when Ralphie made it in 2005..maybe there IS something to the stereotype. Just sayin
This is annoying unless someone posts the unedited long joke, because while I agree with Tim I’m really with the last guy, who just wants to hear it all and THEN judge for himself.
I think I vaguely remember this bit….I say …Indian need grow pair…
is that offensive? I hope so
I’m not offended, but I’m sure SOMEone can find a way to be!
And it IS weird that the joke’s so old by now!
Keep up the good fight Tim! Everybody wants someone’s pound of flesh for being offended. This is getting ridiculous , be offended and just move on with your day.
Waitaminute, the group “American Indian Movement” wants us to “Remember Wounded Knee,” but – it took them ELEVEN YEARS to remember and decide that a joke by Ralphie May NOW offends them? Reeaally?
I agree with the others – until an UNEDITED version of the entire rant/joke is posted somewhere – it’s a non-issue, because anything else is out-of-context and pure conjecture!
Life is way toooooo short to be worried or offended by a joke,…I’m Polish and I was never offended by the countless Polish jokes,…these days EVERYONE wants to be a victim
I’m sure those “line crossing” moments are memorable
…and can seem like an eternity.
There’s only one thing worse than being politically incorrect, and that’s not being politically incorrect.
Spot on Tim!
The sad fact is no matter, how much, now matter how sincere. No matter how hard May TRIES to apologize. The PC crowd will NEVER let him off the hook. Seems its PC to NOT accept an apology… hmmm… weird!
Yep. Which is why you NEVER apologize. Maybe say, “I’m sorry you didn’t get the joke.”
Worried about remarks made more than a decade ago? Those indians definitely need to get something faster than a 14K modem going, they’re missing out on all the new stuff like ‘Friends,’ ‘Cheers’ and the Clinton administration.
If the political climate continues as it does now, they’ll have another shot of seeing a Clinton Administration soon enough.
BTW George, any idea where to find the full unedited Ralphie May bit?
My neighbor had a rummage sale. I was offended that be did not offer a huffy bike for sale. I got a bullhorn and I let everyone in the neighborhood know about it. I yelled into the bullhorn as loudly as I could that I was offended that there was not a used Huffy bike that I could purchase. We shut that rummage sale down and I feel good about it…..Uhhhhh? If you don’t like it, don’t buy it folks! Sheesh
I’m surprised a gender studies grad from Canada didn’t approach you about that interview afterward.
George, do you have any idea how hard it is to chip a DSL modem out of flint?
So now even small, insignificant, unheard of groups can force venues to cancel shows? Up to me, I’d stop giving those venues my money and let them know why, on FB, Twitter, nearest mountain top… Call a coward a coward
You’re right Tim! You are totally alone up there and the envelop is like what Chuck Yeager described. You push it and it pushes back…you push it harder and you see where it takes you…disrespect it and it kills you. If the audience can’t take the narrative…there’s alway other entertainment to enjoy somewhere else.
Somebody help me out here,Ralphie has to cancel and Williams and ree can say anything they want,just sayin
Clyde Bellecourt said ” We jumped on this right away… What? Eleven years later? I guess he’s on “Indian time.” Oops. Sorry. FEITCTAJ.