i think he was being personal with a heckler and he targeted what he thought would most hurt the guy. he happened to be
black so richards tee-ed off on that. havng heard interviews from people of various races who have known him, this incident
appears to be an aberration and speaks more to his poor anger control skills than anything else. the heckler also deserves
to be scrutnized for behaving so stupidly during a live comedy show.

Yeah, I wouldn't jump to the conclusion that he's a racist. He behaved outreageously, yes, but it's better to judge a guy by his actions and stated beliefs than one isolated tirade.

Also, he had to be jacked on coke. The way he repeats himself, "Idon'tknowIdon'tknowIdon'tknow" he was either off of his bi-polar meds or full of coke or something.

I thought when he said that he was quoting the "victims" of his wrath.

I tend to think he was trying to be outrageous and Andy Kaufman-esque, but failed badly. Maybe because he's never been funny as a stand up?

I'm not sure he's a racist, but he said some pretty nasty things that were racist. I'd bet it was a joke gone bad, but one in very poor taste.

I've seen some standups do some pretty brutal things to hecklers over the years. I've never seen it get racial, but I've heard hecklers called "lippy redneck strippers" (by Bobcat) and seen Patton Oswalt and David Cross lay into people. I'm not saying being a heckler justifies n-bombs, but I think if you're heckling, you are asking for some kind of abuse. I'm actually really sick of the 'I paid for a ticket-I can do what I want' attitude at comedy shows, rock shows, even movies. I'm sick of going to quiet indie shows and having to tune out the drunken frat boys who are more interested in pounding beers than listening to the band. Same goes for the assholes who go to comedy clubs to heckle. If you don't like the band or the comic, go home.

quote:

Originally posted by philosopherEric:
I'm not saying being a heckler justifies n-bombs, but I think if you're heckling, you are asking for some kind of abuse. I'm actually really sick of the 'I paid for a ticket-I can do what I want' attitude at comedy shows, rock shows, even movies. I'm sick of going to quiet indie shows and having to tune out the drunken frat boys who are more interested in pounding beers than listening to the band. Same goes for the assholes who go to comedy clubs to heckle. If you don't like the band or the comic, go home.

Word. Not that I'm sick of it, as I never go to shows, but I know I would be if I did. The last show I went to was great, though. It was in a pretty much empty, commodious room on Earlham College campus, and Elephant Micah played to a silent, enraptured crowd. Everybody just sat down on the floor in front of him and watched and listened as he played his brand of melancholy indie-folk, alt-country. If all shows were like this, I'd do to them more often.

I hate to, but I've gotta bring up the obvious similarities to Mel Gibson's incident a while back.

Basically,
Mel Gibson was under the influence, went on an anti-semetic rant, then apologized later claiming he's not anti-semetic.

Micheal Richards might have been U.I., went on a racist rant, then apologized later claiming he's not racist.

There were two well-written editorials in the Eugene newspaper about the two incidents, each with a point that caught my eye in particular:
1. Alcohol doesn't inject opinions into someone's head, but more likely brings to the surface subconscious opinions that are usually hidden.
2. Maybe Gibson and Richards aren't anti-semetic and racist, respectively, but they sure do good impersonations of those roles.

not my words, just something to think about.

quote:

Originally posted by philosopherEric:
I tend to think he was trying to be outrageous and Andy Kaufman-esque, but failed badly. Maybe because he's never been funny as a stand up?

I'm not sure he's a racist, but he said some pretty nasty things that were racist. I'd bet it was a joke gone bad, but one in very poor taste.

PE, you hit it right on the head. I think he was improvising, and yes, failed miserably. You can tell he's trying to work it into his routine...you see where he says "see there's still those words, those words" and "it shocks you, doesn't it". He was trying to provocative, he eventually realised he was doing a terrible thing and walked right off the stage.

What he did was shocking and disgusting, but had the heckler not been there, none of this would have happened.

I'm sure Don Rickles has gotten pretty close to this territory, but at the same time, you know Don Rickles and what to expect from him. This was out of character, and completely an isolated incident.

As much as I love Seinfield...this was a scary shot of the man that plays Kramer. Though I will still watch the show!

Face like a frying pan...

Anyone else find Richards apology on David Letterman extremely fake and awkward?....it's posted on youtube so check it out.

I wouldn't go so far as to call it fake, but it was definetly awkward. Being a very light skinned black person, I've heard all sorts of racist comments from whites who weren't ACTUALLY racist. They would be in the form of jokes or when they were angry or upset at a black person. On 'The Colbert Report', Steven Colbert interviwed an author of a book on the debate of racism. They brung up the "Kramer Incident" in this discussion & I am in complete agreement on their conclusion. People tend to attack others with race if the antagonist is of a different "color", even if they aren't racist. Take for instance when a black person is angered or confused by the actions of a white person. The first thing out of their mouth is usually a negative response to them being white. Same goes for any race. It's the most obvious thing to attack on someone. Richards' was attacked & all he did was return fire. He didn't know his attackers, so he went after the most obvious "chink" in their armor. It's sad to think, but he is not the only person to ever do this. He just happened to be famous & it was caught on film.

Yeah I'd have to agree with that. Even though I did find his actions to be disgusting, the amount of shit he is getting and will probaly continue to get for the rest of his life is not in moderation to it. His career and public image is tarnished forever now...pretty sad actually.