On a recent episode of New Yorker’s Radio Hour, Jerry Seinfeld addressed the issue of political correctness and its negative impact on comedy. He called out the “extreme left” for making comedy shows inaccessible to the public seeking comic relief on TV.
He explained that “nothing really affects comedy” and “people always need it.” “They need it so badly and they don’t get it. It used to be that you’d go home at the end of the day, most people would go, ‘Oh, ’Cheers’ is on. Oh, ‘M.A.S.H.’ is on. Oh, ‘Mary Tyler Moore’ is on, ‘All in the Family’ is on,’” he protested.
Jerry Seinfeld shares his thoughts about comedy getting too PC
Reflecting on old times, Jerry recalled how people “just expected there will be some funny stuff we can watch on TV tonight” decades ago. “Well, guess what? Where is it? Where is it? This is the result of the extreme left and P.C. c–p and people worrying so much about offending other people,” the actor said.
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He also revealed that comedians do not need additional restrictions because they “know when we’re off track,” and the try to adjust immediately. “Now they’re going to see stand-up comics because they are not policed by anyone. The audience polices us,” he stated. “When you write a script, and it goes into four or five different hands, committees, groups— ‘Here’s our thought about this joke’ — well, that’s the end of your comedy.”
Jerry further explained that his job is dependent on societal acceptance, and comedians like himself function within what is allowed. “They move the gates, like in skiing. Culture— the gates are moving,” he continued. “Your job is to be agile and clever enough that wherever they put the gates, I’m going to make the gate.”
He also addressed the privilege in the stand-up niche, which tends to enable the entertainer to get away with more. “With certain comedians now, people are having fun with them stepping over the line, and us all laughing about it. But again, it’s the stand-ups that really have the freedom to do it because no one else gets the blame if it doesn’t go down well. He or she can take all the blame,” Jerry stated.