Posted on 06/08/2012 4:00:14 PM PDT by Nachum
Don Rickles nearly hijacked the American Film Institute’s tribute to Shirley MacLaine on Thursday night at Sony Pictures Studios, unleashing a trademark barrage of insults that took aim at President Obama, Warren Beatty, Jack Nicholson and the honoree herself.
“I shouldn’t make fun of the blacks,” Rickles said, and then proceeded to do just that: “President Obama is a personal friend of mine. He was over to the house yesterday, but the mop broke.”
The black-tie crowd, gathered to celebrate MacLaine, the 40th recipient of the AFI’s Life Achievement Award, alternately gasped at the 86-year-old comic’s put-downs and then found themselves laughing and applauding.
PHOTOS: 20 Biggest Political Players in Hollywood
“Shirley,” Rickles, living up to his moniker as Mr. Warmth, began as he rose to his feet from a table near the center of the room. “I never read your books, and I don’t plan to.”
(Excerpt) Read more at hollywoodreporter.com ...
Rickles is dead wrong — Zero has never held a job.
Thanks Nachum.
I think it was Uncle Milty said that Rickles was setting a horrible foundation for comedy by going far out on the ridicule arm.
Shock is Rickles’ only schtick.
“Of course, it’s okay to make jokes about Italians.”
Yes it’s funny (until the car blows up;)
George Soros made a $1 bet with Anne Cox Chambers that he could make a black shoeshine boy President of the United States.
But the one story about him that my wife told me -- back in the CPO Sharky days, my FIL thought Rickles was the funniest man on TV. So she and her two sisters (teens then), chipped in and bought two tickets to see Rickles at Atlantic City for their father's birthday.... He was never so disgusted in his life. He had no idea what Rickles was like live. I've heard he can be a bit overwhelming if you're not prepared for that sort of thing.
Did you see the roasts with Ronald Reagan? Those were good ones.
The video is on youtube, I found it the other day and laughed so hard I darn near coughed up a lung...
Are you kidding me?
Hey, I’d have a lot more respect for anyone running the mop. At least it’s honest work.
So THAT’s how us grade-school kids showed up one day with a *new* joke about Asians? Wow... I never knew how/why that became something we all joked about - it was truly VERY scandalous as we were at a parochial school, not only was it in “poor taste”, but included a psuedo-swear word! I’m just glad the nuns never heard us talking like that! :)
So THAT’s how us grade-school kids showed up one day with a *new* joke about Asians? Wow... I never knew how/why that became something we all joked about - it was truly VERY scandalous as we were at a parochial school, not only was it in “poor taste”, but included a psuedo-swear word! I’m just glad the nuns never heard us talking like that! :)
I have recordings of Rickles doing his Vegas act in the 60’s and if you want to see how much things have changed listen to them. They are available on the web.
He spares nobody and he is truly brutal. Hispanics, Blacks, Indians, Greeks Italians, Jews you name it he crucifies them.
In many ways the Rat Pack did the same thing in the 60’s and it was all taken as the joke it was intended to be instead of words designed to be hateful and inciteful.
As for his performance last evening. He ‘s 86 and I don’t think he gives a rat’s ass what people think.
Back in the early 70’s, a buddy of mine thought Rickles was the best thing since ice cream. Went to see him ‘live’. His reaction was much the same as that of your FIL.
I agree. Especially disappointed to see Betty White and Carl Reiner(father of Rob Reiner)considering the talent they had, descend into the gutter for cheap, unfunny laughs.
It's like a four year old using "potty" language. A little humorous at first but becomes grating with repetition.
Oddly enough, that’s something wrong with the current crop of “comedians” — too many can’t be funny on network TV unless they’re letting the censors bleep out everything they say. They can’t run a clean show and be funny. They need to appeal to the crowd that laughs and nudges their friends, “heh-heh, he said %$@!##”
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.