Betty,

Just read your post after a few days hiatus from the e-world.

Comedy Central is part of the MTV network of cable channels specializing in
a particular genres of "entertainment".  MTV prides itself on its ability to
relate to the lowest common denominators of pop-culture.  Comedy Central
also features such nuggets as "The Man Show"--a program showcasing high-brow
antics such as slo-mo video of large-breasted women jumping on trampolines.
See where I'm going here?

The easiest laugh is one that comes at other's expense.  For exampple, the
monologues of Leno, Letterman, et. al, consist almost entirely of
deprecating others.  Their writers find easy work in this kind of humor
because there is no faster way to make one's self feel better than by
denegrating others.  True comedians were (the past tense is intentional)
masters of their craft.  Red Skelton, for example, was a comedic genius, yet
I cannot remember one skit that garnered a laugh at the expense of another.
That kind of "real" comedy took work--nothing that today's writers nor their
audience have any interest in, whatsoever.

The fodder for today's writers comes almost entirely from events and people
"in the news" so to speak.  If it's historical, then it's not relevant.  The
writers are becoming more and more specific with their targets because the
audience does not have the attention span for anything else.  Blame
post-modernism for this.  A foundational thesis of this current western
paradigm is that if you are offended by my behaviour....too bad.  It's your
problem, not mine.  Fits the American "ME"-ism quite nicely, thank you.

You'll find that sponsors don't give a damn about your opinion unless: 1)
You are in their demographic target audience. (You and I...are not.)  2)
The majority of viewers feel like you (they don't).

Optimistically (NOT!) Yours!

-Kyle

-----Original Message-----
From: Betty B [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Saturday, February 16, 2002 7:58 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Comedy Central's "Premium Blend"


Dear All:

I am livid.

There was a television show on Comedy Central last night called "Premium
Blend."  It came on at 10:00 and 10:30, and 11:00 PM.  I do not watch this
show but stopped on it tonight while channel surfing.

The 10:30 show, episode number 410, had a comedian who used the last bit of
time in his performance to exploit particular conjoined sisters, Reba and
Lori Schappell.

He made fun of them, the way they navigate, the fact that one of the sisters
wants to be a country western singer, and how it would be if they were to
have sex with somebody.  He actually did the humping motion while he was
making fun of them.

He had the audience too.  They were all laughing at the expense of these
women.  I couldn't believe it.  He couldn't have described their physical
appearance in an uglier way, and the audience thought the whole bit was
hilarious.

I just bought my TV a few months ago.  I couldn't afford to throw anything
at
it.

These sisters, if you don't know who they are, have an interesting story.  I
saw a program about them on TV some time ago, and then a few months ago on
another show.  They went from an institutional setting to living in their
own
place, and they are doing fine.  They have friends, and have their lives
outside of that damnable institution.  They are doing life!

So, this man learns about these sisters, and all he can think about it is
how
they are good fodder for comedy material?  I can't even imagine how I would
feel if I had been his victim and saw all the people in the audience laugh
at
my expense.

I caught the act too late to get his name, so I sent an e-mail to comedy
central asking for the point of contact for "Premium Blend."  In the
meantime, I'll compose myself and draft a letter.  I can plug in the name
later.

I need to find out about his entire act last night too, before I get
started.
 Who knows what else he said that must also be addressed?

No, these woman are pretty fantastic to me.  You know how this world is.
Their circumstances are a bit rugged for a world such as this.  Just the way
that they spent their formative years in an institution, but kept it
together
mentally to advocate for their own release impresses me.  When I saw this I
thought "You go for it.  Go for everything and take what you want in this
life."  It made me feel so great that they were continually overcoming
society.

I've heard comedians make fun of PWDs before, most of us have, I am sure.
This was an attack on specific people though.  He described them in such
detail that they could not have been mistaken for anyone else. This wasn't a
generic attack.

Betty