What I learned from my cancel moment
I still remember that Friday morning, opening my eyes and was greeted with messages like; What the hell happened last night? And is it true you promate harassment?…. This is not a safe mic. I just started this open mic on Zoom, a virtual Introverts Paradise. The good is it’s an outlet for comics from anywhere continue to sharpen their sword. The bad is comedians sharpening their sword on other comedians. Assuming more than one comic had a horrible experience, but this one, blocked me, then posted her unhappiness warning others, not about the comics that crossed the line, but about me, the host that did what others were doing, waiting for time to expire.
Most recently Tony Hinchcliffe was dropped on few big shows and by his agency after Peng Dang leaked Hinchcliffe’s opening 40 seconds guest set at a club mocking and calling him a racial slur. Shane Gillis was uncast on Saturday Night Live, not because he made offensive stereotypes of Chinatown, but because his insincere twitter apology was about “pushing boundaries and taking risks” on the lowest and oldest hanging fruits. Chris Rock last week on The Breakfast Club said “cancel culture creates unfunny and boring television.” I think it’s the exact opposite. This is the most interesting time in television. We’ve have better and thoughtful stories about women, minorities, and real subject matter. When television was funny and not boring, women, minorities, and real subject matter were the punchlines in the series.
Cancel culture in comedy is the fear of consequences on saying things we thought is funny. Not recognizing it is uneducated, insensitive, or unprovoked. But it got laughs, so we’re keeping it. I get Chris Rock is saying the fear of getting cancelled for saying the wrong thing is so strong, comedians don’t want to take that risk. Then…are they a real comedian? After all, it’s jokes. Fiction. Spoken words by people that stay up late.
Comedians was once protected in the walls of a comedy club, pre-cellphone. Hard to shame the shameless. Displeasure came in ways of groans. The game is always evolving. It’s rare to see timeless jokes. Ever hear a comedian complain about how unfunny comedians are today, go up then bomb? The people complaining about today’s unfunny comics are the same people that enjoy a make me a sandwich joke, some jokes don’t age gracefully. Sarah Silverman, the funniest unfiltered raw comedian, today regrets a lot of what she said, even about people like Paris Hilton. Is this growth or is she just weak?
I closed out this zoom show. Had a clunky bit about a very progressive game called The Last of Us 2. It gave me a better and fresh perspective on the struggles of trans people and the effort to be recognized. I had empathy while torturing others in this game! I did not use the right combination of words expressing my insight, when bookings were open, I was told I’m banned until I could demonstrate what I learned from my mistake. Followed with five links of reading material. This didn’t make me scared to continue working on the joke, it just made me aware I had to work harder on crafting it so it won’t offend another. Do better, better.
Police brutality was glorified and entertaining. So was black face. The squinty eyes, coke bottle glasses guy with buck teeth was famously bad. All Asians were Chinese! The climate is always evolving. We can stick with the unwritten rule of never apologizing or be empathic. Comedy is about making people feel comfortable with themselves. Calling Peng Dang dirty and imply he is the virus, gives others the false impression of permission to feel the same way. We see an uptick in attacks on Asians and wonder why and who would do a thing like that. Almost like saying the election was stolen and we don’t go down without a fight.
It’s always easier to punch down than to lift up. Pile on than stand up. Always easier to say I should of, instead of I’m scared. I don’t think all comedians should apologize unless it comes from a true place. We appreciate and applaud sincerity. Complaining about cancel culture, instead of figuring out a way to navigate around the road blocks is the most Karen (or American) thing we can do. We’re that comic that gets asked if we can work clean, say no, I can’t, then complain about not getting booked. Can we do better, better?