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Pearl Clutcher
Not my circus, not my monkeys ~refugee pea #59
Posts: 3,149
Jun 25, 2014 19:51:11 GMT
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Post by back to *pea*ality on Nov 2, 2014 14:10:39 GMT
I really like Chris Rock and think he is incredibly talented and funny.
But last night on SNL I couldn't find the humor in the opening monologue.
The terrorist attacks in America, the bombing in Boston and 911. It's not a matter of too soon, I think those were times of great national grief. Kept thinking WTF? Finally, turned it off.
If you saw it, what were your thoughts?
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Post by evnimom on Nov 2, 2014 14:19:25 GMT
I couldn't figure out why he choose that subject. I found most of it wasn't funny but there was one joke that I laughed at. I don't remember what it was though.
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Post by supersoda on Nov 2, 2014 14:41:30 GMT
Agreed. I think he was going for edgy, but it just came off as tasteless.
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kim68
Full Member
Posts: 295
Jun 26, 2014 2:52:12 GMT
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Post by kim68 on Nov 2, 2014 15:00:59 GMT
I kept wondering what he was thinking. It's just not a subject to make jokes about IMO.
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Post by freecharlie on Nov 2, 2014 16:08:01 GMT
I did not find it funny, I found it uncomfortable. We still don't make jokes about Pearl Harbor and it has been a lot longer than 9/11.
I think it would have been okay if he had hit the joke and moved on, but he focused only on that during the opening and I found it tasteless.
I was only half watching. It was on, but only so I could hear, "Ladies and Gentlemen...Prince"
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Post by cindyupnorth on Nov 2, 2014 16:21:29 GMT
Do the hosts write their monologue? Or does the SNL writers? I posted this on the Prince thread, and I think SNL is just crappy this yr. The writing has been horrible!!
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tracylynn
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,905 
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Post by tracylynn on Nov 2, 2014 16:53:14 GMT
Do the hosts write their monologue? Or does the SNL writers? I posted this on the Prince thread, and I think SNL is just crappy this yr. The writing has been horrible!! I think it depends on the guest. I'm sure Chris wrote that. Other guests who aren't talented in the writing area usually do what they're asked to do by the writers. The guest is involved in the meetings and has input, but the idea usually isn't theirs. I actually thought some of it was kinda funny - like the name of the Freedom Tower. He's got a point to be honest. The joke about Boston might have been too soon though. |
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Post by LAM88 on Nov 2, 2014 17:26:16 GMT
I thought he was hilarious.  I found it so refreshing to see a host who actually did an opening monologue and not just relied on the rest of the cast or "special guest appearances" to fill up the time. I admit I was a little taken aback at the Freedom Tower jokes, but the comparison to never going back to 48th and 8th street where he was mugged was pretty funny. And I laughed out loud when he talked about being 5 years away from 911 sales (Red Lobster $9.11 shrimp special). And when he tied it all together with Martin Luther King sales and Jesus' birthday sales, it didn't seem so out of line. It's not like he was making fun of 911 victims, and to be honest, there was a ring of truth to what he was saying. We still don't make jokes about Pearl Harbor and it has been a lot longer than 9/11. That's not a valid comparison at all. Pearl Harbor was so long ago that it would be just weird to make a joke about it now, and certainly when it was a relevant topic, comedians didn't make edgy jokes like today. They do make jokes about slavery and religion and other once taboo topics though. I didn't think this was any different. |
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Post by femalebusiness on Nov 2, 2014 17:49:06 GMT
Damn! I missed it. Was Prince on? I wanted to see him. Off to try to find it on On Demand.
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Post by pjynx on Nov 2, 2014 20:16:42 GMT
I did not find it funny at all. I wasn't sure if it was because I was JUST in NYC last weekend and visited the 9/11 Memorial, or if it's because my dh is a marathon runner and knew several people who were running in Boston during that attack, or what. I just didn't like it and ended up turning it off.
Pam
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Post by Eddie-n-Harley on Nov 2, 2014 20:23:40 GMT
I couldn't find the humor in the entire episode.
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smginaz Suzy
Pearl Clutcher
Je suis desole.
Posts: 2,608
Jun 26, 2014 17:27:30 GMT
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Post by smginaz Suzy on Nov 2, 2014 20:43:30 GMT
It's pretty typical Rock. That's what he does. He's fearless.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Aug 18, 2025 21:42:07 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 2, 2014 20:57:29 GMT
At first, I was a little worried, but he made me laugh! When I went to the WTC in 1995, it had been bombed in 1993 and I got a weird feeling then. I could have went on a tour, but declined. I don't have a big desire to see the Freedom Towers now. It's true the United States is known for its commercialization of the holidays. He also made fun of Martin Luther King Day.
Did you watch the whole show? ISIS was on shark tank. He cannot do a middle eastern accent. It kept coming and going.
Overall, I thought most of the show was funny. The skit with the new cast member (tall black lady) was not funny. She was forgetting her lines, he was slow to say things. It was really off. I normally love her! Especially on weekend update.
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Post by **Angie** on Nov 4, 2014 4:12:23 GMT
Chris Rock is only funny when he has a good script. I couldn't stand him on SNL. I think he was tasteless by trying to get a laugh based on horrific events.
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Post by stacy71 on Nov 4, 2014 4:26:31 GMT
I thought it was funny. The part about target being the corporate sponsor was funny to me and true. Might not be in good taste, but often comedy is not. I laughed.
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Post by bc2ca on Nov 4, 2014 4:47:23 GMT
I have no doubt Chris wrote his own monologue and found it edgy and funny.
His humor is topical. The NYC marathon was last weekend, so there were marathon jokes and the Freedom Tower is open for business this week. Yes, these are sensitive topics, but he hit the mark as far as I'm concerned. I was more offended going into Michael's 3 years ago and seeing all the 10th anniversary 9/11 memorabilia for sale than anything I heard Chris say on SNL.
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Post by myshelly on Nov 4, 2014 4:57:54 GMT
I didn't think the part about the marathon was funny.
But the part about Freedom Tower was hilarious and spot on. That is exactly how I feel, I just couldn't have expressed it as well as he did.
I thought the part about commercialization of everything was funny bc it's so true.
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Post by ntsf on Nov 4, 2014 5:16:46 GMT
I liked it...the jesus birthday season part was funny! I also like him as the cranky dad...I was too tired so went to bed.
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gina
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,461
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Post by gina on Nov 4, 2014 5:21:42 GMT
I don't find him funny at all and I don't enjoy 9/11 jokes. Nasty.  |
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Post by myshelly on Nov 4, 2014 5:30:37 GMT
Here's the thing, though...I didn't perceive any of those jokes as being "about" 9/11.
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Post by **Angie** on Nov 4, 2014 16:47:21 GMT
Here's the thing, though...I didn't perceive any of those jokes as being "about" 9/11. But we only have the Freedom Tower as a direct result of 9/11. If it had been a building demolished because of age and a new one built, he wouldn't have made a joke about it.
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mallie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,253
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Post by mallie on Nov 4, 2014 16:50:57 GMT
I doubt I'm ever going to find jokes about mass murder remotely amusing.
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Post by cynipidae17 on Nov 4, 2014 16:58:44 GMT
When he started I thought he was walking a fine line, but I ended up enjoying his opening monologue.
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Post by jumperhop on Nov 4, 2014 17:45:57 GMT
There is no way I am going inside the freedom towers not even if Scarlet Johansen was naked in a bucket of ribs.
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Post by LAM88 on Nov 4, 2014 18:00:03 GMT
There is no way I am going inside the freedom towers not even if Scarlet Johansen was naked in a bucket of ribs. How is this not funny?!  And how is this making fun of 911 or it's victims? But I get that it's not everybody's cup of tea. Like I said, I was taken aback at first too but I didn't feel like he crossed any lines. I missed the marathon joke so I can't comment on that. |
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Post by myshelly on Nov 4, 2014 19:19:32 GMT
Here's the thing, though...I didn't perceive any of those jokes as being "about" 9/11. But we only have the Freedom Tower as a direct result of 9/11. If it had been a building demolished because of age and a new one built, he wouldn't have made a joke about it.
I understand that there's a relationship there. But being related does not lead me to the conclusion that he was making a joke about 9/11. Making a joke that is *somewhat related* to 9/11 is nowhere near the same thing as making a joke *about* 9/11. The whole bit about the freedom tower was hilarious because it's true. It's what everyone is thinking and he said it out loud. That's what makes it funny. |
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christinec68
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,673
Location: New York, NY
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Post by christinec68 on Nov 4, 2014 19:29:14 GMT
I didn't think the part about the marathon was funny. But the part about Freedom Tower was hilarious and spot on. That is exactly how I feel, I just couldn't have expressed it as well as he did. I thought the part about commercialization of everything was funny bc it's so true. I felt the same way. The bit about the marathon was a little too far over the line but I thought the rest of it was pretty funny. |
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Post by jumperhop on Nov 4, 2014 21:54:38 GMT
When his monologue started, I was thinking that this is horrible, distasteful and it's going to be make a lot of people angry. I was shocked when I saw a bit on Fox News about and they all gave him a pass saying he is a comedian and should get a pass and that he didn't go over the edge. I have to say its a edge I wouldn't have even gone too.
I would be lying if I said I didn't laugh.
jen
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Aug 18, 2025 21:42:07 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 4, 2014 21:58:44 GMT
I didn't care for the marathon bit, but the rest of it was pretty funny.
And I bet there are plenty of New Yorkers who agree... not very interested in going there and wonder if maybe it's a little crazy to rebuild on the same site.
I don't think it was joking about 9/11 at all. It was joking about the decisions made about rebuilding. Those are very different IMO.
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Post by sillyrabbit on Nov 4, 2014 22:02:20 GMT
I thought it was funny. I often think inappropriate things are funny, however.  |
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I found it so refreshing to see a host who actually did an opening monologue and not just relied on the rest of the cast or "special guest appearances" to fill up the time. I admit I was a little taken aback at the Freedom Tower jokes, but the comparison to never going back to 48th and 8th street where he was mugged was pretty funny. And I laughed out loud when he talked about being 5 years away from 911 sales (Red Lobster $9.11 shrimp special). And when he tied it all together with Martin Luther King sales and Jesus' birthday sales, it didn't seem so out of line. It's not like he was making fun of 911 victims, and to be honest, there was a ring of truth to what he was saying. 
And how is this making fun of 911 or it's victims? But I get that it's not everybody's cup of tea. Like I said, I was taken aback at first too but I didn't feel like he crossed any lines. I missed the marathon joke so I can't comment on that.
