Gross: Why is it so funny?

Washington Times ^ | 1/28/03 | Demian McLean

[kattracks]

Bathroom humor is continuing its move into the living room, as the entertainment industry pursues younger audiences eager for the outrageous. The hit NBC television game show "Fear Factor," where viewers can watch contestants ingest items ranging from cow eyeballs to pig brains, and spinoffs like "Jackass: The Movie" prove lowbrow can equal high ratings, especially among younger viewers attractive to advertisers.

[ffusco]

Bathroom jokes appeal to the 15 y.o.in all of us.

[Mr. Mojo]

"No one ever went to the bathroom on TV until Archie Bunker in the 1970s, and then you only heard the toilet flush," he says.

Thank God for that. Why would anyone want to see more? I don't even like to look at my dog taking a dump.

[Chunga]

The "eating disgusting things" business on Fear Factor has nothing to do with overcoming "fear"; it's a matter of revulsion.

[xm177e2]

"It was especially a hit with middle-schoolers, kids age 7 to 11."

That's ELEMENTARY school.

[E Rocc]

Failing to mention South Park (Mr. Hankey and all) means the reporter was either careless or clueless.

Of course, the show is also the conservative-libertarian secret weapon. hehehe.

-Eric

[Djarum]

...the reporter was either careless or clueless.

Clueless. Jackass is not a spin-off of Fear Factor.

[Mo1]

But if eyeball-eating fades into the background, it's not so clear scatological humor will.
The stars of "Jackass" are famous for baring their bottoms for the camera. In one episode, they taped a microphone to a teen's bottom and filmed him as he passed gas. In another, a cast member was tossed into an excrement-filled kiddie pool.

Oh yea .. that sounds really funny

And to think I was worried about my kids watching Sponge Bob

[hypatia]

I'm with you - I don't see ANY humor in any of these shows.
Consequently I haven't watched more than 15 minutes (if that much).

"Some worry these stunts signal a dangerous coarsening of the culture"

Understatement!

[Mr. Mojo]

I don't get any of the bathroom humor either. I guess I'm just not in touch with my inner 2 year old child.

[E Rocc]

The stars of "Jackass" are famous for baring their bottoms for the camera. In one episode, they taped a microphone to a teen's bottom and filmed him as he passed gas. In another, a cast member was tossed into an excrement-filled kiddie pool.

Oh yea .. that sounds really funny

And to think I was worried about my kids watching Sponge Bob

They've merged, you know: Spongebob Squarepants Jackass

-Eric

[jellybean]

...the flavors of some new Harry Potter-inspired jelly beans from the Jelly Belly candy company.

     Named after the Potter character Bertie Botts, the beans come in some unforgettable flavors, including dirt, black pepper, ear wax, sardine and vomit.

I had nothing to do with this.

[E Rocc]

"Some worry these stunts signal a dangerous coarsening of the culture"

Understatement!

It's slapstick, nothing more and nothing less. That has a long tradition in our culture.

The only thing different is the bathroom humor. Which clearly, none of the great names of literature such as Chaucer, Rabelais, or Shakespeare would have ever stooped to. [/Sarcasm]

-Eric

[E Rocc]

"Shocking" may be the right way to describe the flavors of some new Harry Potter-inspired jelly beans from the Jelly Belly candy company.

Named after the Potter character Bertie Botts, the beans come in some unforgettable flavors, including dirt, black pepper, ear wax, sardine and vomit.

Hmmmmmm....anyone remember Wacky Packages?

-Eric