November 5, 2019

"Those looking for any apologetic notes or reckoning with the damage he has done will be disappointed. He is not aiming for redemption onstage."

"If anything, he’s doubling down on the comedic value of saying the wrong thing. 'That’s the point of this,' he said, motioning to himself onstage. He didn’t repeat the now cliché comedian complaints about generational sensitivities or snowflakes, but the central theme of the night was the cathartic release of transgression. His subjects (Sept. 11, slavery, pedophilia, the Holocaust) made the case. He turned his new reputation in the #MeToo era into a springboard for jokes. 'Wait until they find those pictures of me in blackface,' he said. The audience, which gave him standing ovations, roared. Then he pushed further, saying he has done blackface for years. 'I didn’t do it to be funny,' he added. 'I liked it. Felt good. I do it for bedtime.'"

From "Louis C.K. Doubles Down on the Value of Saying the Wrong Thing/On his first tour since admitting misconduct, the comedian’s theme was the cathartic release of transgression as he delivered bits about his mother’s death and religion" (NYT), by Jason Zinoman, who laughed a lot and also found the show "uncomfortable." The discomfort seemed to be something Louis was "in control of" and also not in control of." Zinoman also credits himself with "a high tolerance for enjoying art from morally suspect places."

37 comments:

rhhardin said...

Mocking the enforcers is always funny.

Wince said...

What "damage" did he do?

Then he pushed further, saying he has done blackface for years. 'I didn’t do it to be funny,' he added. 'I liked it. Felt good. I do it for bedtime.'

Is he talking about pore cleansing facial masks?

tim in vermont said...

Those poor women! The damage he has done! Talk about female privilege! What did he owe them? Nothing, that’s what.

traditionalguy said...

Transgression of Voltaire's definition of the ruling class is always cathartic. That may be the best art. It is usually there, but disguised. Only a court jester can let her rip and get paid.

tcrosse said...

It's always in fashion to épater la bourgeoisie, but never to épater les bien-pensants.

Jeff Brokaw said...

Well it’s not like he killed somebody or made a bad tweet when he was 16.

Temujin said...

"'I liked it. Felt good. I do it for bedtime.'"

He's hilarious. His stand-up has always been funny as hell, but also at times, cringe-worthy. But it makes different people cringe at different times. That's where he's so good at what he does. He knows he can touch everyone in the room, eventually.

Birkel said...

Good for him. He's not my cup of tea but people on the political Left and Right need to stand up for anti-freedom speech control.

Free markets for comedy (and everything else)
Free comedians (and everybody else)

robother said...

"[R]eckoning with the damage he has done." Unintentional humor, worthy of Margaret Dumont.

Kay said...

Who didn’t see this coming? He’s basically following in the footsteps of Richard Pryor and I imagine so many others who’ve exploited personal controversy for their comedy.

Ralph L said...

He turned his new reputation in the #MeToo era into a springboard for jokes.

A guy in HS was nicknamed "Springboard" after being caught jerking off in freshman football camp. No one else in the school masturbated ever.

Sally327 said...

It will be interesting to see how this plays out if more of the canceled folk decide to go full unregenerate. Possibly reeducation camps will be necessary or banishment to some remote Pacific island. It doesn't seem that impossible, if people who have transgressed won't go away and never be seen again, if they refuse to be ignored.

tim in vermont said...

Ricky Gervais

Known Unknown said...

"a high tolerance for enjoying art from morally suspect places."

I strain to think about how the author got his high horse into the theater.

Jason said...

Well, good.

You can't go through life being a cringing pussy.

Even if you've done something wrong in the past. You deal with it, atone for it, apologize and make amends as best you can, and move on.

And once that's done, there may come a time when you have to go after the people still trying to make you cringe over things in the past and punch them in the mouth.

Rhetorically.

Maybe.

Darrell said...

Next week he will be appearing at a taco truck in Newark. Let's see what other venues book him.

Marcus Bressler said...

From Mark Evanier's Blog:
Louis C.K. is now selling tickets for what I guess you'd call a comeback tour. He'll go from North Carolina to Illinois and then to Iowa and then to Israel, then to Italy, then back to Israel, then to Slovokia, then back here to Michigan and other spots in the U.S. Some of these concerts are already sold out.

At least for the shows in this country, Yondr cases are a condition of attendance…

This event will be a phone-free experience. Use of cellphones, smart watches, smart accessories, cameras or recording devices will not be permitted in the performance space.

Upon arrival at the venue, all phones and smart watches will be secured in Yondr cases that will be opened at the end of the event. Guests maintain possession of their phones at all times, and can access their phones throughout the show at designated Phone Use Areas in the venue. All phones will be re-secured in Yondr cases before returning to the performance space.

Anyone seen using a cellphone during the performance will be escorted out of the venue. We appreciate your cooperation in creating a phone-free viewing experience.

And that's not the only rule. According to this piece in the New York Times…

…attendees will not be allowed to take notes, even on paper. "Recording of any kind, including note taking," is not permitted, the rules say. And no part of Louis C.K.'s "materials" — a.k.a. his jokes and sketches — are allowed to be "copied, translated, transmitted, displayed, distributed or reproduced verbatim," in any form. Those who violate these rules are subject to legal repercussions, it reads.

Me: Why is he so afraid? Brave, brave, Sir Robin

THEOLDMAN

Bob Boyd said...

Why is he so afraid?

Maybe he's getting ready to debut his new blackdick routine.

Mattman26 said...

Comedy as transgressive; who knew?

William said...

There's so much about this I don't understand. Most people make it through life without ever wishing to wank off in front of casual friends and acquaintances, but that seems to be a thing in Hollywood. Anyway, within the confines of this weirdness, Louis seems to have behaved with reasonable decorum in that he asked consent prior to the act. I can see how the women would view this as an unpleasant episode and might have felt subtly coerced, but I don't think it would ruin their lives.....The crime is kind of ridiculous. The criminal involved makes himself a laughing stock. That shame would be punishment enough for most people, but being the laughing stock is the stock in trade for a comedian.....What should be the proper punishment for such crime and for how long should such a punishment endure? My feeling is that Louis has paid the price for his crime and will probably not be a recidivist. In a world where Felicity Huffman walks free, do we truly want to further burden this poor forked creature.

Michael said...

This NYT review is one of type where the writer knows he has to pull his punches in reference to his editor and audience. It's obvious Zinoman loved the show and probably laughed his azz off throughout C.K.'s set. But when it comes time to write it up, Zinoman is obliged to throw in a couple tsk-tsks to signal to the reader he's still their side and a good MeToo not and please don't crap on me on Twitter.

God how I wish Wolfe, Breitbart, Hitchens and Hunter Thompson were still around to carve up this elitist bullsh!t as only they could.

tcrosse said...

Bill Burr, another Transgressive Comic, came up with the idea of a Disgrace Channel on TV, where those in disgrace could be aired. He was thinking of Paula Deen and Bill Cosby, but Louis CK could fit in, too. After a suitable time in disgrace, they could be readmitted into polite society.

Ken B said...

William,
Exactly.

But Marcus is as usual a twat.

mikee said...

Dave Chapelle is still funnier.

Drago said...

Marcus: "Me: Why is he so afraid? Brave, brave, Sir Robin"

You are kidding, right?

He's rolling out new, probably wildly transgressive material, and he doesn't want the "shock" factor of what he's delivering to be diluted by people pirating the material onto social media before he completes his world tour.

Pure monetization move.

Obviously.

Earnest Prole said...

Run, don’t walk, to find and watch a bootleg copy of his cancelled and banned movie I Love You Daddy.

bagoh20 said...

It's the right approach, but the wrong comedian. What he did wrong is wrong to everybody, or at least should be. It wasn't a horrible crime; it was just a really really bad way to behave in front of anyone, male or female. Not funny, not cute, not edgy, just gross. I don't think he should banned or anything, but I don't know why anyone would agree to sit down with him for a meeting, or to see his show. He proved to be a jerk of the highest order (pun intended). I wouldn't want to be associated with him in any way.

Greg the class traitor said...

Zinoman also credits himself with "a high tolerance for enjoying art from morally suspect places."


Now do "Piss Christ"

Oh, wait, offending Christians and literally pissing all over their religion is "morally good", not "morally suspect"

rcocean said...

CK's pushing the comic envelope and being edgy, so he's making jokes about how much he likes Trump.

Oops, that's TOO Edgy. Better stick to masturbation and the Holocaust.

rcocean said...

Does he masturbate on stage? That would really show them.

Greg the class traitor said...

tcrosse said...
It's always in fashion to épater la bourgeoisie, but never to épater les bien-pensants.

I'm stealing that, because you said it far better than I did

Ken B said...

Why should LCK seek redemption from Jason Zinoman? But that's the implication of the headline, that it’s surprising LCK isn’t seeking redemption.

Ken B said...

rcocean said...
“Does he masturbate on stage? That would really show them.”

Not really. If there is one thing SJWs know, it’s wanking.

Howard said...

Another librul on the front lines wielding the tip of the speer in the war on political correctness. We really appreciate you sideline cheerleaders.

ALP said...

Ya know it just occured to me that the backlash against Louis CK could be attributed to a Fear of Gingers. It is just plain old Ginger Shaming with a dash of Bald Shaming. If Louis CK was blonde, had washboard abs and a thick head of hair - women would be lining up for the 'abuse' he dealt out.

ALP said...

Is he the new Lenny Bruce?

Roughcoat said...

He's a pervert, pure and simple, textbook case. Maybe he's funny, maybe not. But he's a perv.