Political Correctness 'Out Of Control'

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

(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.

---

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.

[ndbk4288]

He's the greatest!!

[Boss Daddy]

Mark Jessup, you my friend are what ppl see in the dictionary listed under "IDIOT" Bush can't be a jew hater, we're on isreal's side! You, like all the rest of our Democratic idiots just want to blame anybody for the true hate you have deep inside your soul. You all need to find THERAPY, then find the REAL "JESUS"! Then go into the military and become knowledgable on the REPUBLICAN'S way of life, then be one more of us, before you speek again w/o knowing *** you're talking about!

[myctscaddy]

I 100% agree with Larry that people should grow up and realize there's a lot bigger problems out there. Basically PC should be a concern when dealing with a member of Congress or Senate, NOT a comedian. Laughter is great medicine, better than any pill. Thank goodness there for CLEAN Comedians who make us ALL LAUGH. Thanks for the story

Larry is flat out hysterical. People who are offended by anything he says are taking life way too seriously. With all the news we're exposed to daily it sure is good to have "Larry the Cable Guy" around the give us all a good laugh. Laughter does make the world go round and Larry does "Git er done" in that department. Keep up the good work. This family love you're sense of humor Larry!! Froggie

Larry is flat out hysterical. People who are offended by anything he says are taking life way too seriously. With all the news we're exposed to daily it sure is good to have "Larry the Cable Guy" around the give us all a good laugh. Laughter does make the world go round and Larry does "Git er done" in that department. Keep up the good work. This family love you're sense of humor Larry!! Froggie

[c130j2]

Seems rednecks, white men, Christians, some republicans, NASCAR fans, and other select individuals from the south are the only acceptable targets for jokes. This is probably because the afore mentioned groups and individuals can enjoy a healthy laugh at themselves. The key here is the healthy laugh, that is not enjoyed by the blue state crowds. Political correctness has slowly eroded civility in this nation and divided our country as never before. The comment from %u201CLarry%u201D about %u201C%u2026getting the thumb out of their mouth%u2026%u201D rings true as I read some of these mean spirited comments. Hate is a vise not a virtue.

[baye13]

Blue State Red state????
Political cults?

Shut up. If you think the guy is funny watch him.
If you don't move on. What the heck does politics really have to do with it.
I grew up in a working class family that is far from being Republican. I think he is funny. There are rednecks up north too!

[c130j2]

Sad to think %u201CShut Up%u201D is now acceptable in an open forum when debating those supposedly enlightened individuals%u2026Truth is not held captive by any man%u2026

[randycouch-2009]

I think Larry The Cable Guy is the funniest comedian on the curcuit.........He is a comedian and doesn't mean any harm when he uses *** and retarded and others in his routine, it is comedy, not a resume for the Mensa Members association........Get Over It......You want to be insulted you should have been to a live concert with Red Foxx or Richard Pryor, try going to a concert by Martin Lawerence or DF Hugley, wear something funny and let them see you...you will find out what it is like to be embarressed........I know lots of Non Rednecks that love to say Git ER Dun..Keep up the good work Larry....We need more comedians and less People like George Bush.......

[jrm113]

Thank you for the piece on Larry, it shows America that there are comedians that can make you laugh without cussing,smut and everything else. It's true that with being PC these days you can't say anything without offending someone but with his comedy it is not meant to hurt, besides it seems it only people in the South he hits on the most and do you hear them complaining. I was fortunate to see him and the other Blue Collars boys in Denver when they film BC Rides Again and if more comics were like him and Jeff,Bill and Ron we wouldn't have M Richards episodes. Thank again..GET R DONE

[marcpcbs]

I believe Dan Whitney is one of the funniest comedians today. I've even heard he checks for kids in his audience and tempers his shows accordingly. God love him. But it's wrong to believe that stand up comedians can do no harm. I listen to XM radio and almost half the comedians i hear have a list of jokes about drug abuse. They all start out by saying there's nothing wrong with doing drugs as long as you don't mind your life falling apart in this way or that.

Our kids are watching listening and learning. And I believe that joking about something can cause the listener or laugher to develop a casual perspective on the topic.

Truth is that in a large variety of ways drugs have killed more people than war and cancer put together. Pot is making it so that tens of millions of kids aren't achieving even half the education they could and that's hurting this country immensely.

And oh how we laugh.

[rufusmin]

Glancing over the comments, I see there sure are a lot of unhappy people out there, full of bitterness and anger. Lighten up, folks! The only thing you can be sure of is death and it's not so bad. The people you leave behind are sad and grieve but that's just normal, human selfishness. However, I found Cable Guy hard to understand (I have a different regional accent and sometimes find it hard to understand the people I live amoong). Anyway, there is a comedien I saw at Comedy Club in Atlantic City couple summers back and he was the hilarious one. His name is Ron Moore and he was just plain (as my friend who was with me said) "insanely funny." Has anyone heard of him? Does anyone kmow where he is appearing? Who is his agent so I can contact him and get his schedule?

[tlovins1]

Thank you for showing respect towards Jerry Seinfeld and George Carlin and Steve Martin! They are some of our favorite comedians and they have a lot in common with Larry The Cable Man. Larry The Cable Man uses a lot of Seinfeld's logic and a little bit of Carlin's sarcasm. Wonder if Steve Martin called Larry for advise when he played in that movie where he was a retarded white boy raised by an African American family?

[qt_pie0905]

After reading all the comments below, I'm thankful there are comedians out there like Larry the Cable Guy. I agree with Larry, people TRULY need to grow up! We're gonna be PC'd to death in this country. Anyone who thinks his comedy only appeals to uneducated rednecks really have issues. I'm an educated, young Black woman and I think he's hilarious. It's refreshing to enjoy good, non-vulgar comedy every now and then. For those who believe he's racist or offensive, I would encourage you to relax a little. Life is WAY too short to be that uptight!

[maralyn814]

Larry the Cable Guy is not funny when making a joke of our retarded citizens. Being a volunteer with adults with developmental disabilities I am hurt that stupid people are laughing about people who have to try so hard to enjoy what the rest of us take for granted. How dare he. I just pray he never has a child with any disability, heck I hope he never has children. I do not think he would make a good role model. He is not a humble person and I don't know anyone who enjoys his act.

[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

[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

[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.

[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."

[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]

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.

[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.

[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.

[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?

[bluestardad]

Smokem Larry!

[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..........

[tamtrevino]

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

[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!

[jimhar66]

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

[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!

[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?????

[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!

[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.

[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.

[beuschman]

It's clear that the right and the left won't agree about Dan Whitney's humor. The true travesty of Sunday's profile was Bob Simon's softball "yeah, everyone in Hollywood is a PC thug" approval of 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.

[lorinkundert]

PC is pure BS, I ignore it and say and do whatever I want, I have no interest in other peoples business and they should stay out of mine.

[carlylaine]

Dan is funny to me sometimes, but he has a right to be as offensive as he wants...and people have a right to listen and enjoy his humor or not.

You control freaks who want everyone to play nice are nothing but robots and you try to control the rest...well, one thing I do like about Dan is that he doesn't care who he offends. Those who care are the people like Michael Richards and he buckled. DON'T BUCKLE DAN!!!

To the CONTROL FREAKs: People who buckle to your PC whims are W-I-M-P-s..

PC=wimps

[brianbwb-2009]

PC is not being forced on anyone, accountability for one's statements is beginning to be demanded by a not so passive anymore audience.

I am a "Black" man, whose position on one aspect of PC, the "N-word", is this; Say it, write it, scream it, sing it, or shout it, if your need be. We will hear it and understand the context. Whether you are a Barbara Bush/ Pat Robertson/ Pat Buchanan type, or a Chris Rock/ Dave Chappelle/ Lenny Bruce type, we know the difference, we know the context, and we know who the true enemy is.

So don't hide your fear of accountability behind PC, no one is forcing it on you, no one can. Show courage in your convictions, let us all see who you really are, so without the camouflage we will know better how to relate to you.

[jscribe58]

Here we go again, with people taking just plain funny and comparing it to the 'let anyone who is not white Christian get away with whatever they say' culture. First, the dreamer who says everyone has forgotten and forgiven Jane Fonda needs to come off their cloud and have another reality check. You cannot forgive and forget something someone hasn't asked to be forgiven for or even accepts responsibility for. Period. Then you can perhaps take your head out of your a$$ on a few of the other things you cried and whined about. This guy should be left alone to do what he does so well - make people laugh. Politically correct junkies need to give up their drug and allow people to laugh again

There was a time Eddie Murphy did a bit about Italian-Americans. What did everyone do? They laughed! Why? Because it was funny. It was real - it was true. A sense of humor is the missing part of a politically correct junkie.

[cryonbrian]

Comedians are just a bunch of cowards who are afraid to take a stand on issues so they crack jokes about it!

[bluemule6]

If you find him offensive don't buy a ticket to one of his shows then. I find gangsta *** offensive, vulgar and ignorant. I don't buy it. This is what a free society is about - you must tolerate views you don't agree with so long as they don't impose on your own freedoms.

[rational_1]

JAIL BUSH and JAIL CHENEY and Vote OUT the complicit spineless corporate-owned Democrats that won't hold these criminals accountable.
Posted by mh4cbs1 at 02:01 AM : Aug 13, 2007

Way to stay on topic man. Your ADHD acting up again?

[barbjc1]

Political correctness is OUT OF CONTROL, all this has occurred because of psychologists and psychiatrist cannot get a REAL job. A spade is a spade no matter how you wrap it.
There is nothing wrong with the term "people of color".
Did any of you watch 60 minutes last night especially the segment on "STOP SNITCHING". That was scary.

[shanev137]

Dumbed down comedy for a dumbed down America.

No wonder he's rich.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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!

[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.