Comments on: Political Correctness 'Out Of Control'

Bob Simon Interviews The King Of Comedy, Larry The Cable Guy

[beuschman]

It's clear that the right and the left won't agree about Dan Whitney's humor. The true travesty was Bob Simon's softball "yeah, everyone in Hollywood is a PC thug" nodding at everything Whitney said. He didn't challenge Whitney at all -- not even playing devil's advocate as a good reporter would. A lot of posters have brought up the double standard of black and other minority comedians getting away with the kind of material Whitney uses in his act. The difference, however, is that had one of those comedians been on 60 Minutes, he/she would have been grilled on their use of un-PC language. For example, Chris Rock, when he was interviewed on 60 Minutes was questioned on whether or not using the "n" word and making fun of whites was really necessary. Barbara Walters, when she had Richard Pryor on her show, brought up the same issues. But Whitney gets a pass on calling homosexuals queers and Arabs ragheads? Not exactly fair, is it?

The Bob Simon interview was a piece of entertainment fluff that had no place on an investigate journalism show -- especially 60 Minutes, the greatest investigative show of all. Please, CBS, if you have another entertainer/comedian like Dan Whitney on your show, give the story to Safer, Stahl, Kroft or, better yet, bring back Wallace. Then maybe we'll have an interview worthy of the 60 Minutes standard instead of the disgusting, pandering, fawning fan piece inflicted on the viewing public by pseudo-journalist Bob Simon.

[javastan]

Larry the Cable Guy is funny, flat out. He isn't PC and I don't care. The job he chose is to make people laugh. He is doing a great job. Keep it up Larry. Git'r'done.

[milke2006]

I find it interesting that a handful of people (brettkenney)that are so critical and negative of "Larry the Cable Guy" have to keep putting him down by posting endlessly about the same thing over and over. We understand you don't like his humor. You opinion is just that, your opinion. I have my opinion along with the millions of other people that enjoy his comedy.

Listen, I have mentally challenged and homosexual people in the family. I have black (African-American) and white (Irish, German, and English-American) heritage in my family. I don't whine around when Chris Rock and Dave Chappelle use crude and albeit racist comedy about white people in their act. I don't get upset when "Larry the Cable Guy" uses crude humor about *** and mentally challenged people. Then there are the gay comedians (Rosie O'Donnell, Ellen DeGeneres, Nico Santos, etc. etc.) who continue to bash straight people in their act and in the comments they make off stage about straight people as well! Where is the outrage?!!! I find it hysterical that there are all these people that cry about tolerance, but they are only talking about the things that they want tolerance for in their lives. Give it a rest or take your #$*es and get the hell out of the country and take Jane Fonda with you!

[bobbintom]

I think that you missed a REAL story that tells a lot about the American people. You can go to youtube.com and view a pre-Larry comedy routine. Dan told the same basic "jokes" that he now tells as Larry, the difference is that very few people thought that he was funny. IT seems that people realize that the "jokes" are insulting unless they are told by an ignorant hillbilly. There was a time when 60 minutes would have approached this story from this direction. What has happened?????

[bobbintom]

I think that you missed a REAL story that tells a lot about the American people. You can go to youtube.com and view a pre-Larry comedy routine. Dan told the same basic "jokes" that he now tells as Larry, the difference is that very few people thought that he was funny. IT seems that people realize that the "jokes" are insulting unless they are told by an ignorant hillbilly. There was a time when 60 minutes would have approached this story from this direction. What has happened?????

[scarlet57]

Larry simply makes most people laugh. If you're not one of them, well, then just go away. PC? Not PC? Who the h*** cares?!! Just keep making us laugh, Larry! Git 'er done!

[jimhar66]

http://www.dead-frog.com/archives/2006/06/larry_the_cable_guy_dan_whitney_video.php

[gunnerv1]

I don't care where he came from or where he was educated, He's still funny. Do you know where "PC" came from? The Soviet Union in the 1920's. If you spoke out against "The State" you were arrested and "Re Educated" until you were "PC". I think the First Admen. applies to everyone! If you don't want to hear it, then don't listen to it, but don't stop me from it!

[tamtrevino]

Now that's funny right there. I don't care who you are, that's funny!

[bgknudson]

Very interesting story on Larry the Cable guy poking fun at Intellectuals, Democrats, and Liberals, and asking him if he is overboard with intolerance and meaness. I seemed to have missed the story about the "Hollywood-centric" comedians who make money calling right-leaning Midwesterners, Southerners, Christians, Republicans, and Bush-backers as stupid, morons, Murderers, Nazis, and warmongers. When did that story air and may I get a copy of it..........

[bluestardad]

Smokem Larry!

[track-vol]

to brettkenney,
I believe 60 minutes pretty much spelled it out for you. Dan's earnings could easily surpass 50 million dollars annually. I find Larry TCG act only mildly funny, but appreciate that he is able to entertain such a wide variety of Americans, and do so without offensive language or *truely* appealing to the lowest common denominator like Stern does. I've seen some of the people who think Stern is funny, and YOU are trying to poke fun at Larry TCG's audience?

[sheila1346]

I have been a 60 minutes fan since day one and over the years I have been surprised and even appalled at some of the interviews they have done. However I find that I always learn a lot about the world we live in even when I dislike the person being interviewed. Larry the cable guy is no exception, as I would say his humor is crude, rude and at times even raciest. I grew up knowing that you never made fun of anyone period!Any joke or prank that demeans someone else is just plain wrong, no exceptions. If you have to make fun of someone else to get a laugh then you are not funny. To laugh with someone is far different then to laugh at someone. Now I realize the this particular comedian is using made up people in his routine but raciest jokes, gay bashing jokes and just plain picking on people who are different have become common place. I cringe when I hear the way people disrespect and make fun of others and this man is at the forefront of making it ok to be cruel and make millions while doing it.

[dorfvader]

I thought 60 minutes was a news show, not an Entertainment Tonight knock off that does fluff peices for unfunny comics who cater to the lowest common denominator of society. Not even a mention that his cable guy is all an act?
Ed Bradley passes and with him, what was left of this shows cred.

[ihave4rugratshelp]

Brettkenny,
You may want to care about what your so-called "stupid" people like--I assure you, there are a lot more of them than there are of you--and they're a lot smarter than you are because they don't have to resort to being arrogant to try and prove how intellegent they "think" they are. So-called "upper class" intellectuals are the only people I have ever met who spend most of their time trying to convince everyone else how bright they are--and succeed in showing how narrow-minded and ignorant they really are.

[nadeau4201]

brettkenny...nothing, I just felt like raggin on ya I was bored "sorry". And I really don't like Howard I find him more offensive then the cable guy, but to each his own.

"Merry Christmas"

[ihave4rugratshelp]

for someone who is so "Un PC" or a considered "dim", Larry the Cable Guy doesn't seem to be hurting financially. just proves the old saying, "Money talks, bs walks."

[wildcatatnls]

People listen to his jokes. Yes he is politically uncorrect, but the fact is, he makes fun of everyone. The biggest target is his family and himself. It is just a joke, that is all. We need to remember that we need to laugh. Lighten up. No one can make the money he does if the only people that would listen to him are the lower class Americans.

[cn-grocket17]

America,

Please, please, please don't presume the rest of us who dwell in Nebraska are as racist, insensitive, and ignorant as Dan Whitney.

The citizens of Nebraska and the University of Nebraska, of which I am proud to be an alum, absolutely do not condone Dan's offensive characterizations of mentally retarded people, Cubans, and all the other groups of people he preys on.

Dan could choose to be just as funny without picking on these groups of people, but knows they are underrepresented and don't have the financial or political clout to call him on his oppressive material. Bullies have always preyed on those who won't or can't fight back.

Joseph LeDuc
Lincoln, Nebraska

[nadeau4201]

Brettkenny.... I wonder what the I.Q of some of Howards Sterns guest are. I bet the girl that can spit ping pong balls out of her P***y has a really high I.Q. If this is what intellectual human beings find humorous, then I'd rather be a redneck. You are the one who is stupid and your joke s***ed