Monday, October 6, 2008

SNL and Disability-Not Pretty

So I tuned in to Saturday Night Live on Saturday evening (mostly to see what they would do after the Vice-Presidential debate this last week).

They had a very funny opening, and a couple of good bits. Then they did this "Lawrence Welk" bit:



It started out OK. I am old enough to remember going to my grandparents' house as a kid, and being forced to watch the Lawrence Welk Show whenever it was on. It was corny even back then, and seemed a fitting thing to lampoon. Then it got to about the 2 minute mark, where it appeared that the essence of the bit was how weird and disgusting the physically disabled sister was.

I was totally disgusted. I guess that it's still OK to laugh at the disabled, even if you're SNL.

20 comments:

Niksmom said...

Holy Sh*t! OMG, that was so totally offensive. I am appalled that SNL would do such a skit and consider it even remotely funny. I guess they figured if she wasn't in a wheelchair no one would notice her disability/ies?

Ange said...

sigh. what a kick in the gut.

Club 166 said...

...I guess they figured if she wasn't in a wheelchair no one would notice her disability/ies?

I took a class in improvisational comedy a long time ago, and one of the "rules" was that you didn't do sex jokes or bodily function jokes, because those areas were too easy to get cheap laughs.

Instead of not thinking anyone would notice, I think that the disabilities of the person were central to the "joke", and were used to get a cheap laugh.

Joe

Anonymous said...

I'm glad to see your post because I was wondering if others were as appalled as I was. I thought the skit was completely inappropriate, cruel and crass.
I've loved the campaign parodies - but when I saw the assault on and insulting of the disabled - it turned my stomach.

Anonymous said...

Terrible. I have never really cared for SNL. Sad that people find that humorous.

Joeymom said...

SNL used to be really great comics doing comedy.

What the hell was that?

Anonymous said...

Joe, the video is no longer available. I searched YouTube but couldn't find the right clip. I really wanted to watch it. Grrr.

How goes the Master's program so far?

Anonymous said...

Oh, yeah, I wanted to say I am still chuckling at Buddy's ruling out being a crossing guard! My kind of humor!

Anonymous said...

Okay, I found that my dh recorded it on another TV. Yeah, it is disgusting. The only reason for the clip is to make fun of the disabled sister. Why would they think it was funny? I just don't get it. Do they sit around, after writing the Palin sketches and say, hey, lets make fun of the disabled? Ugh!

Club 166 said...

OK, so NBC has it up on its web site now. Though that might not last for long if everyone sends them nasty e-mail.

They have a comment section right underneath the video (that you have to sign up for). I think I'm going to do that right now.

Joe

Anonymous said...

Can I have the recipe for that dead cat with honey on it?

Anonymous said...

HAHAHA, LOL Anonymous. I found the skit extremely funny, especially the sister with the tiny/small hands, which didnt entirely make sense, but made the sketch funny. It was hilarous how she popped bubbles at the end. And her big ass forehead. LOL.

Anonymous said...

Oh my word. Get over yourselves. The skit was hilarious.

Anonymous said...

So I know this is an old post, but I wanted to comment anyway.

For all of you who called this "disgusting" I'm sorry, but you're just wrong.

That skill was amazingly funny. So they made fun of a girl with TINY hands, who cares! How often do you see people with tiny hands anyway? Sheesh, I'm sure more people found it funny than offensive and that's all that matters in a democracy. Sorry if you ahve small hands, but you're hilarious if you do!

lar said...

i gotta say i felt this was pretty fucked up too. the skit was funny as shit- seriously, i was fucking rolling- w/o the cheap sight gag; her merely being weird as hell and generally creeping out will ferrell would've been just as funny (and more ferrell-style anyway). the tiny hands & the bubble popping bit cheapened a great skit. i love comedy, especially of the weird/stupid variety but i also recognize cheap /lazy humor meant to slay the rubes...i too took improv classes!

Anonymous said...

wow that was funny. chill
its comedy, most comedy is crude.
get over it

Anonymous said...

"I put worms in my bed and slept in my bed. I put a squirrel in my bed and mustard in my bed and I ate em all dee-dee-dee-dee!"

Anonymous said...

I would never make fun of a person with a disability. I don't think that's what the writers intended at all. I think they just set out to make a weird, off-the-wall Welk girl. Lawrence Welk was a throwback, even when it was popular. Those show numbers were hilarious even back then, SNL stepped it up a notch. This should not be a big deal! I never laughed so hard in my life.

Samantha said...

This is one of the funniest skits on the show!! It's a joke! Stop being so sensitive! People need to calm their shit!!

Anonymous said...

You guys are lame! ever see a real person with baby doll hands? It's not like they had a quad up there beating him/her, it's more about the crazy lyrics of the song.....Don't bother to repost a comment because I will never visit here to reply again, because it's people without a little laughter and sense of humor, who are the disabled ones!