Seinfeld: 'Diversity' in Comedy doesn't matter. Gawker calls him Racist
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itwasTuesday
He wasn't alone.
http://youtu.be/VXbDJ3uBl9M?t=1h26m35s
1 Hour 26 min in.
Here is his interview on Stern, he talks about Colin Quin warning him about this during the first season of Comedians in Cars.
The entire interview is great though.
1 Hour 26 min in.
Here is his interview on Stern, he talks about Colin Quin warning him about this during the first season of Comedians in Cars.
The entire interview is great though.
"Rich white male" is a pejorative, now? Looks like they're being "other"ed.
Dark Octave
Banned
So then what is the article talking about because I clearly don't understand. They make it sound like he has yet to have a non-white comedian on his show.
Screaming Meat
Unconfirmed Member
Seems like they're making a leap of logic/twisting his words for click bait.
What I took away from it was this: it doesn't matter about gender/race, all he's interested in is people who are funny. Is that right or did I miss something?
What I took away from it was this: it doesn't matter about gender/race, all he's interested in is people who are funny. Is that right or did I miss something?
Zen_Arcade
Banned
The entire article is complete nonsense. The explanation is that you read an uninformed article.
Plinko
Wildcard berths that can't beat teams without a winning record should have homefield advantage
Gawker loses all credibility when it includes Aziz Ansari and Mindy Kaling alongside great comedians like Bill Cosby and Richard Pryor.
Ansari is great on Parks and Rec. His standup is mediocre at best.
As for Gawker, come on. Ridiculous. If Seinfeld was including people like Dane Cook and Larry the Cable Guy on his show then somebody could try to raise a point, but he's not.
Ansari is great on Parks and Rec. His standup is mediocre at best.
As for Gawker, come on. Ridiculous. If Seinfeld was including people like Dane Cook and Larry the Cable Guy on his show then somebody could try to raise a point, but he's not.
I agree completely, and my latter comments were more on comedy in general rather than Seinfeld specifically. Should have clarified up front.
There is a difference between booking comics of different backgrounds and announcing it as something that should be a big deal before the comic goes on stage, especially because most hosts typically ask the comic what their intro should be.
I have no issues with Comedians in Cars w/ Coffee, since it's framed as casual chats between comics he knows.
I don't see how my biases comment plays into that (please elaborate), but race/gender already play a factor, it's just in favor of certain types of comedians.
Just that the vague yet "matter of fact" idea that there are biases will influence people. If there are biases, they are on the part of the people who hires comics. Being biased or outright prejudice is not something most people aspire to be known for so you'd be more keen on proving your diversity. Thus "black/gay/female comedian"
You see it even in this thread, even though the comment is clearly innocuous and the allegation absurd, people feel the need to trot out the "I'm not racist" evidence. Seinfeld likes Cosby and Pryor! He's buddies with Chris Rock! etc.
If you are even accused of this, no matter how idiotic, you feel compelled to prove otherwise.
cheststrongwell
my cake, fuck off
There is nothing funnier than PC comedy. Check your privilege, comedians!
This is dumb.
But in a larger context, When these articles come up on the internet about the sexism/racism/whatever in comedy it's not that I disagree, because comedy as a business, not the art, is batshit insane and full of all of that, it's that that the writers (when not comedians) don't seem to really give a fuck about comedy.
But in a larger context, When these articles come up on the internet about the sexism/racism/whatever in comedy it's not that I disagree, because comedy as a business, not the art, is batshit insane and full of all of that, it's that that the writers (when not comedians) don't seem to really give a fuck about comedy.
gawker's whole thing is to write a majorly sensationalistic article, but in a hip, stand-offish way that dehumanizes everything not in service of negativity towards the target.
it's like Fox news, as run by spoiled rich kids from the suburbs who googled "hipster" on the internet, then started dressing that way.
TangoAlphaLima
Member
"It's like I walk into a room and there's 10 white guys, and I go 'Hey, what the hell is going on in here? What is this, some kind of a Klan rally?'"
Classic.
ReturnOfTheRAT
Member
Seinfeld is right about not having to fill a quota on funny people. Who he finds interesting and funny is his decision. Why factor in race, gender, orientation when you dont need to? Sadly for this article, Kyle is reaching for something that isn't there.
Yep. Same exact shit. Seinfeld talks about being accused of being a racist simply because there wasn't more diversity on the show. Such bs.
I'm not sure his defense of Paula Deen is doing him any favors
I agree with him that he is under no obligation to push diversity over comedy in his show, but the notion that people upset over Paula Deen are just PC warriors is wrong. On Jerry's side he is simply choosing to take no affirmative action on the subject, while she performed negative actions worthy of criticism. And she is not a comedian.
Earlier in the interview he does talk about Pryor, not as a simple compliment like the Mediate writer describes, but an anecdote regarding how he can relate to Pryor's jokes about drugs despite never doing them and how that informed his own style of telling NYC-specific jokes nation-wide. I thought that was a better (positive) insight into how he views minority comics.
-Pyromaniac-
Member
Anyone who has followed Seinfeld and seen all his interviews and talks and everything knows he lives and breathes comedy. He also has strong opinions on what he thinks is or isn't funny. That's all he judges people on. Pretty ridiculous accusation. Then again... Gawker.
And to think how many women jezebel influences, entire gawker network is a joke. Deadspin is ok but even Sean Newell is a cunt. He's always trying to make shit about women's rights or race related issues. He's a living embodiment of white guilt. And before anyone comments please be knowledgeable about newells history of posts on that site he's a joke.
Wow , maybe the problem is you are outraged at the drop of a hat? I dunno, or maybe Seinfeld just isn't addressing the 'problem'.
Sorry but female comedics and minority's that are comedians are doing fine bro ...
Pretty sure Amy Schumer and Kevin Hart aren't crying themselves to sleep.
And here we go again. Some of you guys just want to have something to rally for I swear it ...
Seinfeld is so closed off from the real world!
Funny is funny, that's all he is trying to say . You either make people laugh, or you don't. Not everything has to have some political correctness or politics attached to it.
Racism and bigotry is still a big problem in general, but targeting Jerry Seinfeld as a racist certainly does nothing to raise awareness of legitimate concerns. People here have done a pretty good job of explaining how false that accusation is. The author sounds like an insincere activist. Making a reactionary blog post over a single quote with no additional research or follow up investigation to accompany the opinion does not make you a champion of civil rights. It's a fake or lazy liberalism where you try to project an enlightened attitude without actually doing or saying anything substantive.
If you're looking for something then sure you can come to that conclusion. But if you say you don't care about race or gender yet your firm is mostly black women, to me that just says those were the best modelers that came to your door so you hired them. I would have to have my own notion and agenda or motive to think that you are lying or hiding something to not believe your statement just because of what is visible. Sort of like how this writer did, if his intention was to get more clicks.
TwEE-N-Toast
Banned
But he is white, straight, male, cisgendered, able-bodied, thin and wealthy. Is that not the embodiment of evil and intolerance?
I love Jerry Seinfeld, but you can't deny that his sitcom was pretty overwhelmingly white. As far as I know, every major character was played by a white person, and people of color were pretty rare in the extended cast, as well. As for Comedians Getting Coffee, I don't think he meant it to be so dominated by white guys. But it's pretty offensive for him to say that diversity doesn't matter.
If you were a Black or Asian woman, you'd probably be pretty put off that a show about comedians has never had somebody like you.
So bring them on the show even if they aren't funny because hey, at least they ain't white, right? Jesus Christ.
Why do you think that they wouldn't be funny? Jerry Seinfeld seems to only really expose himself to white male comedians. As far as I know, the only people in that show who weren't white men were Tina Fey and Chris Rock. I doubt it's intentional, but it seems like Seinfeld only really watches stand-up routines performed by white guys. The two not-white-men that he did have were incredibly famous, and much more well-known than a lot of the white dudes he's had on his show. Jerry Seinfeld has a really small reference pool for choosing his guests, and that's the crux of the issue.
White privilege man
I would agree but it's comedy man, you either got it or you don't. There are so many great black comedians for example, but maybe Larry and Seinfeld just wanted the cast members they wanted, I don't know for sure. I think this entire situation just shows that a lot of people are tired of the over zealous political correctness crowd. I want equality for all, but God damn if it doesn't bring out the crazies who will go into faux outrage mode at the drop of a dime. It's those folks that annoy the he'll out of people, not legitimate arguments. It's not just gaf it's everywhere now, but how can we decide what's legit and what's bullshit? That's where things get fucked up, I certainly am no authority but I can understand also what you are saying. Hope I didn't offend in all honesty.
It's gold, Jerry! Gold!!
Zen_Arcade
Banned
He's also had Sarah Silverman and Mario Joyner on.
The Albatross
Member
Oh, jesus, Gawker. When i think your editorial chops can't get any worse, there you go.
"I have no interest in gender or race or anything like that"
Somehow gets translated into the opposite... that Jerry Seinfeld only cares about gender and race.
Christ alive, these guys can't read.
But he didn't say that?
"I have no interest in gender or race or anything like that"
Somehow gets translated into the opposite... that Jerry Seinfeld only cares about gender and race.
Christ alive, these guys can't read.
But he didn't say that?
Freeza Under The Shower
Member
Does gawker author not know how to read good?
I honestly think you're overthinking and overreacting to this.
They're twisting his words obviously, and I find it funny they name Bill Cosby and Richard Pryor as being someone that Jerry is ignoring, when in the Don Rickles episode, he names Bill Cosby and Richard Pryor as two of the top four most important stand-ups of all time. Oh, he also did an episode with Chris Rock, so what the fuck ever Gawker.
The Albatross
Member
Don't start me up. There is a commonly recognized issue in media, and Jerry can decide to address it or not. I'm not outraged.
He certainly did, as it relates to his show at least. I am not sure why the poster finds it offensive though, since they agree that "As for Comedians Getting Coffee, I don't think he meant it to be so dominated by white guys." Jerry's whole point is that since he does not believe it is important to push diversity on his show, he is not intentionally picking guests based on race/gender. He is saying it ended up mostly white men because he is not interested in pushing diversity as a priority. I can understand disagreeing with this stance (I could certainly put forth an argument against it), but I don't see how you can conclude that the results unintentional and therefore okay if you disagree with the preceding reasoning.
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