Ted's Polish-Mexican Page: Michael Richards: Off Of My List

20 listopada 2006

Michael Richards: Off Of My List

Michael Richards had a disturbing racist rant at an appearance at a comedy club in LA after some African Americans heckled him. I've liked the guy's work, but I'm not sure I can ever watch him the same way again. This wasn't just a word slipping out; this wasn't a word used in some context that could justify it. This was a full blown, thought out three-minute long tirade. It is hard for me to buy that this comes from anywhere except from, at the least, a strong dislike of African Americans.

To the audience's credit, many of them walked out. At one point, Richards seems to be angry at them for their reaction to his tantrum.

Tonight on The Late Show with David Letterman, Richards apologizes for the incident, but apparently he slips in and out of the Cosmo Kramer character and some are questioning the sincerity of the mea culpa.

George Lopez seems to be willing to give Richards the benefit of the doubt. Richards is a good comedy writer and actor and has experience with improv, but that does not necessarily mean that he is in any way prepared for the rigors of stand-up comedy. A television interview with him was quoted in the AP:

Comedian George Lopez told Los Angeles television station KTLA that he thought Richards' lack of stand-up experience may have been a factor.

"The question is you have an actor who is trying to be a comedian who doesn't know what to do when an audience is disruptive," Lopez said. "He's an actor whose show has been off the air, he shouldn't ever be on a stand-up gig.

The best handling of a heckler I ever saw was at a Comedy Corner gig years and years ago. A fella named Brett Scott, who was a good writer and actor, gave what I think even he would admit was a poor stand up performance. Finally, an audience member (not me, I promise!) said "You aren't very good." Scott turned to him and said, "Oh yeah, that's not what your girlfriend said when I f****d her."

We found it funny, anyway.

Hasta la proxima. Do zobaczenia.

# posted by Tedski @ 7:47 PM