America: Land Of The Insulted
When did we, as a country, get so ragingly earnest and utterly unable to take a joke? We the nation of no mirth, return the slightest jab with a call for bans and witch-burnings of the jabber; in this case, Jimmy Kimmel, who made an amusing offhand remark in reference to the Pistons/Lakers basketball rivalry, and the practice by some, in my hometown of Detroit, of setting cars on fire the night before Halloween:
Kimmel was talking to ABC sportscaster Mike Tirico during halftime of Tuesday's game when he said, "They're going to burn the city of Detroit down if the Pistons win, and it's not worth it." Tirico, an Ann Arbor resident, immediately objected, telling him to be careful about making fun of Detroit.ABC made the decision to pull Wednesday night's "Jimmy Kimmel Live" from affiliates nationwide shortly after the program was taped that night in California.
Grace Gilchrist, general manager of Detroit ABC affiliate WXYZ, said the taped show featured more disparaging remarks about the city.
"Frankly, we were shocked. We thought it was uncalled for," Andrea Parquet-Taylor, WXYZ's news director, said of Kimmel's remarks.
Wait, Andrea...are you from the Motor City or Oversensitivity City? Better go out on the Walter Reuther expressway and see what the signs say, huh!?
Kimmel was forced to play along with the weenies, actually writing an apology!, probably in order to not follow in the ABC-deported Bill Maher's footsteps:
"What I said about Pistons fans during halftime was a joke, nothing more. If I offended anyone, I'm sorry," he said. "Clearly, over the past 10 years, we in L.A. have taken a commanding lead in post-game riots. If the Lakers win, I plan to overturn my own car."ABC publicity manager Jennifer De La Rosa issued another apology from the comedian Thursday: "It was never my intention to cause anyone pain. I was trying to make a joke and I'm sorry it resulted in anything other than laughter."
Why shows use laugh tracks is suddenly pretty obvious: for people who are too stupid or indignant to know when to laugh all by themselves.
"the ABC-deported Bill Maher"
Well then, Kimmel would get another 9 months, at least...
Jim Treacher at June 12, 2004 8:29 AM
"When did we get so ragingly earnest"--well, when Hilary showed up in primetime in a pink cardie and a headband. Long ago and far away......
LouiseB at June 12, 2004 10:05 PM
In her biography, there's a photo of Hillary as a presidential intern for L.B.J. (Lyndon B. Johnson? Lascivious Blow Job?). She's ALMOST dressed like that. And she looks adorable.
Lena at June 13, 2004 7:51 AM