Comedy And The Rule Of Trees.
"A tree that doesn't bend, breaks, Cedric." – Marla Daniels
"Bend too far, you're already broken." – Commissioner Cedric Daniels
(The Wire - Season 5, Ep. 10, Series Finale)
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As an Asian person first and a comedian second, or sometimes vice versa, I've found myself embattled with what to think about the big news this week in the world of comedy, and just how much a comedian's tree should bend.
As the person, I've heard the same racial slurs from the very first time I walked outside to play with other non-Asian kids in my non-Asian neighborhood to even now as an adult sometimes. And although I'm callused to where it doesn't hurt me anymore, it still bothers me.
As the comedian, I've heard the same "edgy, risky" jokes made throughout my comedy career. Especially because for some reason, it's still okay to make Asians the punchline and butt of the joke. Sometimes I just shake my head and turn the other way. Sometimes I can't help but laugh because, even if I hate to admit it, they're just damn funny. And sometimes I can't do anything at all...because I'm the asshole who said it.
Yeah, I've made these same kinds of "edgy, risky" jokes in my own act millions of times over the years. As well as other racist jokes, abortion jokes, pedophilia jokes, 9/11 jokes, gay jokes, religious jokes, etc. etc. etc. Some are still there. Many aren't. Good or bad, it's how every comic evolves and molds into something greater. Sometimes they kill and I think they're perfect the way they are. Sometimes they kill and I think, "I don't like how this group of folks wearing these white hoods are laughing a little TOO hard at that joke." And sometimes they bomb because, simply, they hurt people. People that you're looking directly into their eyes while saying it. Yikes.
My worst incident ever was years ago, I did a joke saying, "Asians are such bad drivers, I keep driving over speed bumps where there aren't even speed bumps. Turns out, they're just kids." The joke was bad itself (or edgy? Risky?) but to make matters worse, the show turned out to be a fundraiser for a family who's child just recently died. I immediately got yanked off stage and was fired from working the rest of the week. And I didn't put up a fight because I really felt bad and that I deserved the consequences. But at other shows, the bit killed. So when is a joke wrong or right? Depends on the context. Context is everything.
As the comedian, I don't know the dude who got fired from SNL. I don't even know if he's a good comic or a nice guy, but I do know that it's hard to get on SNL so clearly he has some kind of talent. And this comedy game is hard to get to the middle level, let alone the highest, and I hate to see someone get fired over something that was said in the wrong context, or received in the wrong way, or that he simply made a mistake. History is full of these scenarios. And if it's simply just a racist joke, then that's fine too. Just call it what it is and move on. At least I can know what to expect out of him moving forward and choose to participate in his "edgy, risky" comedy or not. And from all the support I've seen him get, I'm sure he'll be fine with his future comedy career. Probably even better than had he just did the next season of SNL.
As the person AND the comedian, what did concern me a little was that all week I heard nothing but white guy comics falling on their sword to defend him without considering the side of Asian people. Not even one tiny morsel of empathy. And my hope as a comic is that it's because they're truly defending their right to say anything on stage and not the right to say "chink" in general anywhere off stage, including during a general conversation with friends on a podcast. Because that’s where racism can be subtle and hide and be kindling for something more incendiary and dangerous. Words and thoughts are always gray areas. No doubt, "chink" is a funny word to say in general. But it can conjure up bad memories for people of my color, from all the times when people have made slanty eyes at us while throwing rocks, punches or shade, and yelling "chink" or "gook" or "go back to where you came from, slant-eyed motherfucker." Language has to always evolve. Because none of us want to grow up to be that grandparent who still says "colored people," even if it's not malicious. And by the way, if what you consider as "risky" or "edgy" is the same as what 8-year-olds on playgrounds say, maybe it isn't that "risky" or "edgy" at all.
Regardless, it should be okay for comics to do whatever the fuck they want to do, preferably in the right context, whatever that might be. But it’s also okay to be mindful about it as we’re exploring whether our comedy tree is bending too much, not enough, or just bending over and taking it by this ridiculous culture of outrage.
I been discussing this all week with all my comic friends and this video below from the smart and funny comedian Andrew Shulz perfectly sums up EXACTLY almost word-for-word how I feel about the situation. I highly recommend you watch it, then put all of this behind us and move on to next week's outrage news...