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In comedy timing is everything......

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by jamesrl

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Readers here may remember the uproar that happened when Heather Mallick wrote a nasty column for the CBC website about American politics which trashed Republicans, and Palin in particular. After some review, the CBC ombudsman apologised, stating it was an error in judgment for them to publish the piece on their website, as it contravened their own standards.

Something similar just happened with Fox News.

An obscure comedian, Greg Gutfield, who hosts a late nite Fox show called the Red Eye, has a passion for being outrageous. From what I've read, he prides himself on political incorrectness, and has offended many groups.

Last week he and his panel were talking about the fact that Canada had some time ago committed to pull out of Afghanistan in 2011, and that the chief of staff more recently has said they won't be able to take on any more missions for a year, since the war has been hard on the staff and the equipment.

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/090323/national/fox_news_cda

From Canadian Press:
" The segment features American panelists suggesting Canadian soldiers need time off for "manicures and pedicures."

The item aired after Lt.-Gen. Andrew Leslie, the Canadian Forces Chief of Land Staff, said the military would need a one-year break from operations after the difficult mission in Afghanistan winds down.

"The Canadian military wants to take a breather to do some yoga, paint landscapes, run on the beach in gorgeous white capri pants," Gutfeld said with a sneer, adding: "Isn't this the perfect time to invade this ridiculous country? They have no army."

Another panelist, Doug Benson, said he didn't even know Canadian troops were in Afghanistan.

"I didn't even know they were in the war. I thought that's where you go if you don't want to fight - you go chill in Canada," he said. "

So this may be tasteless, but the timing is even worse, as four more Canadians were killed last week, bringing the total since 2001 to 116.

The Defense Minister has asked Fox, and the comedians to apologise.

You know the manicure joke was tasteless, but a joke. Suggesting Canada be invaded, well that isn't the first time some windbag has done that, not even the first time for Fox.

Unfortunately for the US, Fox's timing sucks. Obama has skirted around the issue of asking Canada to extend their stay to support his drive to put more troops in Afghanistan. Canada has 2500 troops in Khandahar in one of the toughest areas of the fighting, and has been in that area for 4 years now (It will be 6 before they leave). The state department must be wincing.

Hopefully Secrtary of State Clinton will put some pressure on Fox to apologize to make this go away. If I had my preference, the apology would take place on the base at Khandahar in front of all the people who were mocked as they were risking their lives for their country and for the mission in Afghanistan.

James

19 replies

by jdclyde

right?

Sure, it wasn't funny, and sure it was stupid, and sure it never should have been said, and sure Gutfeld should be slapped like the punkassbitch that he is and sure.... Where was I going? oh yeah, I hate when people go off on stupid rants like that, regardless of if they are intentionally being vicious, as Mallick was, or if they think they are being funny, as Gutfeld was.

The sad thing is, it works. I had NEVER heard of either of them until they ran their stupid mouths. Hopefully I never hear of either of them again.

by jamesrl

...by asking for an apology, millions of Canadians now know who the guy is, and thats regrettable.

Guess you can't expect much in the 3 AM time slot.

James

by jdclyde

both of those bottom feeders got abusive in the HOPE that someone would get pissed off and give them attention.

All we can do is hope that there is enough NEGATIVE feedback that they are removed, rather than rewarded.

by the scummy one

I thought it was mildly funny :^0
and so I have no problem that it was said. I disagree that you stated that it should never have been said.

do I have to post the Canadian Idiot song again?? :^0

by jdclyde

I mean, I LOVE the way South Park rips on "them".

There is nothing wrong with giving someone crap, but that he implied they haven't been doing much is neither funny nor accurate, ya know? That was where I had an issue.

by gate keeper

LOL @ "Isn't this the perfect time to invade this ridiculous country?

how well did that work out for you in Iraq ? ;)

but on a serious note .. these are comedians i doubt anyone takes them seriously

by jamesrl

All I've seen is the youTube clip, thinks he is trying to be funny, but nothing in his biography suggests he is a comedian.

James

by the scummy one

I just read the comment in the thread
However, if it was meant as a joke, there are a lot of ultra-sensitive Canadians as well as Americans (now we can throw this example Oz's way once in a while :D )

by jdclyde

there are a lot of things meant as a joke that just are not funny. Take for example anything rosy odonnell says. just being a bitch is not funny, although she is very good at being a bitch.

As for this case, like I told James, I would have have known if he hadn't said something. Didn't see any mention of this in the "real" news, have you? :D

by jdclyde

:p

The more I hear about things like this, the gladder I am that I don't watch TV.

by jamesrl

We get a little sensitive to a bunch of jerks who have never done anything in their life mocking them.

I'm sure though if a Canadian comic had mocked US soldiers in Iraq that would have been fine right? Right?

James

by nicknielsen

Whoever said it would be pilloried by Limbaugh, Fox, every remotely conservative commentator and newspaper in the nation, and probably even the New York Times. As if you didn't know. :0

To me, these comments belittle not only the Canadian military, but also the American military. I thought whatzername should have gone over there to apologize and I feel the same about whatzisname. Send the useless git to Afghanistan (without armor) and let him apologize individually to every soldier there...of [u]any[/u] nationality.

by jdclyde

is for liberals to be saying it about the US military. Just peachy keen then.

At least Obama has stopped.

by jamesrl

Now she crossed the line by attacking the rest of the family, but in attacking Palin, she attacked a politician, someone who can and should expect this kind of thing - she knew it would happen as soon as she agreed to be McCain's running mate.

Gutfeld attacked a group of people who aren't allowed to fight back in the press (the military). A group of people who are grieving losses.

He did half heartedly apoligise by the way. In an email. Not on his show.

This probably wouldn't have made the press except for the fact that the clips made YouTube and were widely commented on.

One of the comedians on the panel lost a stand up job in Edmonton, which is home to some big military bases. For his safety, thats probably a good thing.

James

by jdclyde

With zero reporting, and all personal attack on both Palin, as well as everyone who ever grew up in a small town that didn't move to the big city to get a "real life".

Then adding in the family, showed what a real low life and hateful bitch Mallick is.

Gutfeld learned that it isn't funny to be a dick about people that are in danger and dying for global safety. Shock comedy is rarely funny.

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