"Chelsea Lately" : Tasteless Humor or Comedy Gold?

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 17:53:22 GMT

By Ian Scott

Yahoo

Popular comedian Chelsea Handler’s late-night talk show Chelsea Lately has become one of E! network’s top-rated shows. Over its four-year run it’s created a shocking amount of controversy over Handler’s blunt style and usually unpopular opinions. Some believe the show to be an outrage and that it should be pulled off the air; the question is, “Are they right?”. Wel,l to speak to the matter one way or the other, one must have a good idea of where the uproar is coming from. On the June 20, 2011, episode, Handler said that Serbian Defense Minister Dragan Šutanovac had called singer Amy Winehouse’s concert at Belgrade a “shame and disappointment”, to which she quipped “Well, so is your country.” Since the comment was broadcast, change.org has put up a petition demanding a boycott of the show until Handler apologizes for her remarks. On another episode, while also focusing in on Winehouse, Handler brought up that the singer had recently been booed during her performance in Dubai. She then spoke on the matter, saying “Which means nothing because all women in Dubai are booed”. This comment, while not drawing the same amount of criticism, has drawn a unfavorable amount of bad publicity, with many YouTube videos being posted of the video with comments berating Handler. Aside from these, Handler regularly makes fun of minorities, such as Blacks or African-Americans, Asians, as well as religions such as Judaism (Handler was raised in reform Judaism), and celebrities like Angelina Jolie and Lindsay Lohan. So, what do I think? I think what I always think...it’s a joke, lighten up. In regards to Handler’s jokes about Serbia and Dubai, let’s be honest. Whether Handler genuinely feels that way, or she’s just mouthing off for comedic effect, she isn’t lying. Hyperbole may have been used, especially within her Dubai comments, but Muslims do have a history of perceived oppression and extremism, just like every other religion in the world. Besides, it would really please me to know why when America is lampooned the whole world is in hysterics, but when it’s turned on them they get their panties in a bunch (with the exception of, maybe, England). Switching gears, Handler’s comments on minorities are a method of expressing her honest beliefs while still utilizing her comedic charm and making people laugh. If ever Handler exploits stereotypes, then fine. Stereotypes are stereotypes for a reason. I’m half-black, and I don’t care. Really, the only reason people care is because they are far too sensitive to just about everything. The people you find on forums and Facebook walls bashing Handler are the same people you find picketing the concerts of musicians that used a bad word in their songs or the people who throw a hissy fit because The Lion King may have spelled “sex” in the sky. It is not a big deal. Mountains are not made from mole hills, they’re made from Earth’s tectonic plates crashing together, and I can guarantee nothing Handler has ever said was egregious enough to make that happen. I’m going to keep watching Chelsea Lately every weeknight at 11 because I find it funny, entertaining and a perfect way for my day to conclude. I suggest the self-righteous fools that blast Handler for being insensitive and cruel need to re-evaluate their priorities, because if that’s all it takes to get you riled up that late at night, something has gone terribly wrong.