Never could stand Joan Rivers. Don’t think she is funny at all. I guess there is something wrong with me then?
To me she is the predecessor to women so-called comedians like Sarah Silvermand and Sandra Bernhardt. Unfunny, vile, uncouth, disgusting and yest ‘mean’.
I understand that in comedy it’s to each his own. But I don’t see why I have to apologize for hating that kind of ‘comedy’. For the record, I don’t like male comedians that use ‘mean’ as their schtick.
I understand that women comedians are held to a different standard and some feel they have to be just as vile and disgusting as male comedians of their ilk. I get that.
But I don’t have to like it.
You probably don’t like Richard Pryor or George Carlin either I’m guessing. Comedy has to be a bit mean. Something has to be ribbed otherwise there is nothing to laugh at.
I agree with you concerning Rivers. I liked Phyllis Diller myself.
But I suspect you don’t want to silence her.
Rickles and Newhart used to do some of this in their stuff as well where they ridiculed and cursed at people in the audience. I found Rivers a “bridge too far” for me on many occasions - that and her voice just grated on me. Diller had a similar effect. I couldn’t stand that foul mouthed semi-redhead (not sure if it was Sara or Sandra). Wasn’t a fan of Clay.
Carlin I was ok with for the most part. Kinnison was hilarious but you could only take so much.
Cosby - now there was a comedian. The dentist scene and the “dad is great” skit are my favorites.
Carol burnet and crew - siamese elephants anyone? I show that to my kids and they laugh so hard they nearly pee their pants.
You can be clean and funny but you have to work at it.
Jerry Lewis once said that women & comedy don't really mix. Stand-up, anyway. A woman can be a comic actress, but not a comedienne. Probably the nature of the beast -- really good comedy will be either cruel or coarse, "unfeminine" traits.
Hate to say, but I think he's right. The classy comediennes like Lucille Ball or Carol Burnett had started out in other ventures. Lucille Ball had been a dancer -- & a beautiful woman. They had a grace & elegance to them. I find the Jewish comediennes (I'm Jewish, BTW) irritating, shrill & vulgar.