Not So Funny

She wasn’t funny. 

This is my opinion, and just like everyone else, we all have one.  Mine comes from an objective place; last week, I had no idea who Michelle Wolf was, nor do I support or have any life-altering disgust for the people whom she roasted. 

But… she wasn’t funny.

Now, you may be of the majority who disagrees with me, and that’s fine.  I bear no ill will against disagreements.  What I’m seeing is that the people who are throwing accolades at Wolf’s feet are the ones who are already so vocal against our simp of a President and his general political party.  Frankly, I found that she was no different than those she spoke against.  Sure, there was a Hillary joke tossed in to “balance” things out, but the slant was definitely at a hard right. 

Let’s break this down though - she came out explaining and almost even apologizing for what she was about to unleash, so she lost me right at the beginning.  “She was brave!”  Bravery is owning without justification.  With the exception of “you should have done your research,” the jokes weren’t anything I don’t read in my newsfeed every day – which is chock full of comedians so I was surprised to see a few of them label her as “original.”  The jokes were hack, and she came across as someone who was paid to read them aloud with no style whatsoever.  It’s not a plus that her biggest ally is the beyond-brash perpetual victim Kathy Griffin.  And I get that it is tradition to ‘roast’ the political climate, but I much prefer a smarter type of comedy.  It’s not a lowbrow audience or event, and my entire life I’ve been taught ‘know your time and place.’  Just because the other team sink beneath dignity doesn’t mean that we have to.

Now on the flip side, those claiming to be offended are likely putting on a good show because they walk on hot coals as it is; you don’t do that without some expectation of being burned.  And the fire wasn’t even that intense.  Mr. Rickles is probably groaning in his grave.  Making fun of someone’s eye shadow is not exactly an offense to start wars over.  If anyone’s ego is that sensitive, they should not be a public face in politics or any other arena. 

Really and simplistically, this entire dust up is just another opportunity to spread more hatred.  Not the comedian – don’t get me wrong.  She was paid to do a job, she did said job and it is well within tradition.  I am referring to us as a public.  We seize on every single moment of every single day to insult somebody about their choice in politics.  It is disappointing, because we should be better.  We used to be better.  I am so tired of the outright anger or the passive-aggressive attitudes that surround me.  “I encourage healthy discussion, BUT…!” and off they go.

As I understand, this used to be a decent and even anticipated tradition where everyone took a little heat, gave what they got and had a little chuckle at themselves as a whole.  So, is it time to retire it?  Could 45 actually be on to something?  Sure, it’s hypocritical to be the most insulting person on the planet and calling for peace, but maybe we need to look a little more at our own roles.

See, folks, this is why we can’t have nice things.  Because everything has to be so extreme.  Maybe when we get back to a middle ground we can inject funny again – but please, find a better comic to get us there.