Political Correctness 'Out Of Control'

(CBS)  This segment was originally broadcast on Dec. 17, 2006. It was updated on Aug. 8, 2007.

If you like your comedy unadulterated and unsophisticated, this story is for you. It's about a man we're calling the "King of Comedy" based on the fact that he made more money touring this year than any other comedian. Who is he? We'll give you a hint: the King of Comedy is a country bumpkin, a tobacco-chewing, pig-raising hillbilly. And as we said last winter, he performs not in small comedy clubs, but before thousands in concert halls all over America.

Correspondent Bob Simon caught up with this comedic king at a packed house in Columbus, Ohio.

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His real name is Dan Whitney, but if you know him at all, you know him as "Larry The Cable Guy."

If you're in the mood for subtle, sophisticated, urban comedy, you're in the wrong place. With Larry The Cable Guy, we're out in the sticks with our fishing rods and our hunting rifles.

"It's nice if people can finally loosen up a little bit and just go out laugh at silliness," he says. "I mean, people take themselves way too seriously sometimes."

Larry the Cable Guy is the epitome of a good ole' boy: he loves to tear across his 180-acre farm in Nebraska. And he's no slave to fashion either – he dresses like an average Joe, even at his own wedding. He loves Nebraska football and has a skybox where he and his buddies gather to cheer the Cornhuskers on to victory.

Unlike many comedians the 60 Minutes team has met, Larry is not angry, he's not depressed, he's not paranoid. He's a hard-working, supremely confident, happy-go-lucky funnyman.

But the question that always dogs him is: does he play mainly to rednecks?

"I do just as good in the Northeast as I do in the South. I do just as good in the Midwest, the Northwest, the Southwest," he tells Simon.

"You know, you are so vehement about that, it sounds like I've hit a sensitive spot," Simon remarks.

"I know," he replies.

Asked if he plays a blue state differently than a red state, the comedian says, "Not at all, I play it all exactly the same. I was just in Portland, Ore., I mean, shoots that's about as blue as they get."

Larry conceived his cable guy shtick on the radio, and worked out the kinks doing standup. But the routine really began to take off after he was invited to perform at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville.

"I went up there and I had a great set, did real good, killed as they say," he recalls.

He killed the crowd laughing. "Yeah, you don't wanna say it at the old folks home though," he adds, laughing.

It was soon after the Grand Ole Opry gig that Larry's career exploded. He played the voice of the tow truck in the Pixar-Disney movie, "Cars." His latest CD, "The Right To Bare Arms," won Billboard's comedy album of the year award. And he starred in a new movie called "Delta Farce." It's about American soldiers who think they're being sent to Iraq but mistakenly get dropped in Mexico. Only, they don't know it. For Larry, life just keeps getting better and better.

"You know what, it boggles the mind everyday. I'm just, I'm real thankful for it. … It's a dream come true. It really is," he says.

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[bluemule6]

I am much more offended by the black comics who have to say the f word in every sentence. To me that's not funny at all but if vulgarity is your form of entertainment then enjoy yourself and if you can't stand Larry then don't go to his show. The world is full of stupid entertainment for the low IQ masses whether it's vulgar comedians or professional wrestling or TV shows like Psychic Detectives. The garbage will always exist because poor quality people who desire it will always exist- GET OVER IT!

[grammawhamma]

PC is out of control. When little we were taught "sticks and stones can break my bones but names can never hurt me". But we were also taught "if you can't say anything nice...don't say anything at all".

Lighten up people and enjoy comedy...laughter is a good thing...learning to laugh at yourself is a ok also.

[djconklin]

""Political Correctness" is nothing more than
the liberal-lefts' attempts to stifle the
free-speech of conservatives"

I get more from the right than I do from the left.

[rational_1]

We have created a situation that implies people are permitted to live unoffended - that just plain dumb.
Posted by jimmyc1955 at 10:22 AM : Aug 13, 2007

Maybe it's yet another newly-discovered constitutional right, the right not to be offended by something someone else says. Dig deep into the constitution, I'm sure it's in there somewhere. You're right it is just plain dumb!

[processor2]

"Political Correctness" is nothing more than
the liberal-lefts' attempts to stifle the
free-speech of conservatives

...

[minminmin-2009]

brettkenney - larry the cable guy is funny, but he's a huge phony.

It's called an 'act'. Like when Al Jolson painted his face black and 'pretended' to be a black singer. It's an 'act' for the purposes of 'entertainment'. Just thought I'd spell that out for you.

[prairiefox1]

I LEARNED THE N WORD FROM HEARING AFRICA AMERICANS USING IT CALLING EACH OTHER THE NAME!
SO IT MUST BE POLITICALLY CORRECT TO USE IT!
THEN WHY AM I CALLED A BIGOT BY USING THE WORD LEARNED BY THE SAME PEOPLE THAT ARE CALLING ME THAT NAME?
SEEMS LIKE THEY ARE JUST JERKING ME AROUND!

[brianbwb-2009]

It has created an environment of fear and doubt. Like your phrase of the use of the N-word. Your statement that "you will know the context" means your judgment can be arbitrary without explanation. jimmyc1955

This is true for any word or phrase in our modern parlance, however the context evolves over time. Remember when gay meant happy?

If no one ever says the N word again, but still practices the same racial intolerance, against the same people for the same reasons, where has anyone advanced the human condition?

I say if one has the courage to take responsibilities for one's speech, then there is no forced PC, the only ones complaining about it are those who wish to speak without being held responsible for what they say. If you hate "N's," then freely say so, that is what America is supposed to be about, but accept that there are many who find such a position unacceptable, and they have the right to act accordingly.

If you hate me, fine, but don't expect me to say you are a good person, or continue to do any business with you once I know it. PC is not forced, it is just that accountability is beginning to be demanded.

There can be no freedom if there is no responsibility.

[jimmyc1955]

shanev137 - Well aren't you the sophisticated, urban well educated person??

Or maybe your just and arrogant bigot who believes that the angry, foul and confrontational is worthy of their precious time and attention.

Or do you just follow those same "intellectual" forms of entertainment in order to impress yourself how sophisticated you are? I have had my fill of paranoid, self centered, narcissistic, whinny comedians who spend all their time belittling the folks in "flyover country." If you like PC then your attitude is as un-PC as possible.

[jimmyc1955]

brianbwb - Of course PC is forced on you - nobody has a choice. When an innocent phrase, a word out of context or a cliche from our childhood can end your career, get you thrown out of school and ostracized from your community - that is PC being forced on you.

It has created an environment of fear and doubt. Like your phrase of the use of the N-word. Your statement that "you will know the context" means your judgment can be arbitrary without explanation.

PC police have no humor, allow no latitude for individuals to make minor mistakes and react way to violently to misspoken words that were never intended to offend.

We have created a situation that implies people are permitted to live unoffended - that just plain dumb.