As a recovering alcoholic myself and from a long line of alcoholics in my family, I took real offense to his ignorance about the disease with his controversal "Disease/Addiction" joke. While I wanted to laugh at the "you can't buy a bag of Teberculosis" joke...I really got mad at how ignorant he truly was. While more than half of the population in America are addicted to something whether it be drugs, alcohol, sex, or eating, etc. why would he think a joke like that would help him become The Last Comic Standing? Isn't the point to appeal to the audience? As much of the audience as possible?Here's the lowdown on the disease: Alcoholism has been recognized as a disease by the MA for years and while you can't buy a bag of TB you also cannot buy a bag of obsession, spiritual malady, insanity, etc. These are what make an alcoholic. So what really is the difference between a disease and an addiction? Nothing. An addiction IS a disease. Even when it's cigarettes. Don't agree? Well, I'm certainly interested in knowing what the rest of you think. Frankly, I was disappointed and he DOES NOT get my vote.
I agree...Ty and Chris both use drugs and sex as comic expression. I have no laughter for either of them.
Josh is able to bring the audience down with his family spelling out words at the dinner table.
He had my daughter in tears.
I vote Josh all the way.
Bri
Congratulations on your recovery; I can only imagine what a daily struggle it must be. I suspect Ty knows as well, as we all know somebody who has succumbed to addiction.On any given night, one of the comics makes fun of some segment of the population, who, if they are as sensitive as you, would become irate. He didn't say that addiction was BS, he just said that he does not believe it should be compared to infectious diseases, like TB. There are many professional doctors, psychiatrists etc. out there that will agree with him. It's really a matter of semantics.
If comics did'nt make fun of anyone, there would be no comics. Have you seen Sara Silverman, Dave Chapelle, Chris Rock, or even Jeff Foxworthy, who makes fun of rednecks? Should rednecks be mad?
If every single subset of the population is off limits, then the world will be a very humorless place. Oftentimes, making light of races and stereotypes can cast light on the absurdity of stereotyping. Look up Chapelle's most recent interview and his take on race humor.
Good luck on your journey. I think if you lighten up a bit, it might make things a little easier.
2Centz,You know after I read your post it made me think about what I wrote...about Ty and Chris resorting to drugs and sex as a crutch for their jokes.
I stand corrected.
I realize that comics need the problems of everyday life to have material for their jokes.
Josh included.Thanks for the insight.
Bri
Exactly.
Thanks to both of you for this thought-provoking thread. It does address the issue of the role of "comedy" in the society and the ability to bring serious issues into a "lighter" context.Actually, we've thought that these three (Josh, Ty, & Chris) were indeed the best of the this group and will be successful in the comedy arena.
Ty is absolutely my favorite of the bunch, and has been since the beginning.
I have been in recovery for 6 1/2 years--big ol alcoholic for 14 years. I also have a sister to whom I'm very close that, as I type, is in a treatment center for methamphetamine addiction.
I still think his jokes about this stuff are funny. I also don't think he's ignorant at all to this subject. I happen to agree with him some too.As much as I know personally what a struggle this crap is, I also firmly believe that there is a great deal of choice, decision-making involved. From the choice to get wasted or try drugs in the first place to the choice to do what is necessary to stop.
In the end, no matter how much help an addict/alcoholic gets, behavioral change is still required on the part of that person--the willingness (or lack of) to do that is a choice. Some choose it, some don't. The fact that it is incredibly hard does not make it impossible.And the point for a comic is not to avoid offending people in every possible situation. The jokes about religion, politics, sex and drugs are a big part of most comics' material--and there are people on all sides of those issues, people who make up their audience.
I've heard the comics insult many things I believe, people I respect and values I hold. But if they're funny people, they still make me laugh. Ty is a gifted comic, and even though I know he won't win, I think he should.
I agree with you wholeheartedly. I too have been delivered from drugs for 14 years. And yes it was a difficult transition but not something that the doctor could have given me a prescription for. It was nothing that a cure could have cured. It is only my opinion that alcohol and drugs IS NOT a disease.Besides it's comedy as stated earlier. What else can they talk about that wouldn't be controversial. People who enjoy comedy understands this fact and are not easily offended. It's just that Josh is the first comic that I know with a disability and I applaud him for that. But to make fun of your own disability some one could take offense of that as well.
But here's my two cents in it all, I think it boils down to which category of empathy you fall in. Are you voting for Josh because he is handicapped or Ty because he's a black man that needs a break? If it's because of old fashioned comedy, Ty wins hands down, or as Josh would say hand to the back side. (lol)no pun intended. May the best COMEDIAN win.