co·me·di·an
Pronunciation: k&-'mE-dE-&n
Function: noun
1 archaic a : a writer of comedies b : an actor who plays comic roles
2 : a comical individual; specifically : a professional entertainer who uses any of various physical or verbal means to be amusing
I felt the need to open with the actual definition of a comedian because I think that we have forgotten what a comedian does. Lately I’ve seen many comedians being punished for doing their job or not being allowed to do their job at all. One comedic vehicle is throwing a pie in somebody’s face whether it be a literal pie as in the case of Soupy Sales, or a metaphorical pie as in the case of countless other comedians. Whether it is deserved or not, somebody has to take a pie in the face. But comedians are the only performers who can be professionally harmed for doing their job to the best of their ability. Several names come to mind Lenny Bruce, Mort Sahl, The Smothers Brothers, George Carlin and Bill Maher. I fear that we are going back to the time of Lenny Bruce where people are taking inventory of the words that he used and did not listen to what he had to say. There is a perception that comedians are subversive. Well they are. Who else but humorists are able to find flaws in the status quo? Before things get any worse I filed the following grievance.
Grievant: Comedians Everywhere
Date Filed: 3/15/2005
Filed By: Tony Figueroa
Incident Date: Ongoing
Person(s) Who Have Had Dialogue Concerning this Grievance: The Uptight, Self-Righteous, Morally Superior and Overly Sensitive.
Violation(s):1, Not being taken seriously:
Issue Nature and History:Not being taken seriously is nothing new to comedians. If Groucho Marx would insult a waiter who was giving him bad service, the waiter would be honored to have been insulted by Groucho. Personally I had trouble being taken seriously when I tried to get a credit card or a car loan. The Daily show’s Jon Stewart recently appeared on CNN's "Crossfire" and tried to engage in the discussion but was expected only to tell jokes. Jon Stewart Crossfire Transcript
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Article comments
1 - I am II
10-25-06 HANITY AND COLMES IT IS APPARENT THAT YOUR VOICE IS BEING SNUFFED OUT BY THE PRIDE OF THE GOATS. I SUGGEST, IF YOU WANT YOUR VOICE HEARD, THAT YOU CONGREGATE WITH THE SHEEP.