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Americans have no sense of humour rAndy aL Send a noteboard - 09/10/2009 06:23:30 AM
I'm not trying to be provocative here, I'm just wondering what your opinions are. Also, I'm not sure how much this has been covered, so I'm going to outline the whole story.

In Australia, one of the more popular shows in the 80s and 90s was a variety show called Hey Hey It's Saturday. The show was cancelled in 1999, but brought back for two reunion specials this year (on a Wednesday for some reason).

One of the segments on this show is called "Red Faces", where various acts perform on stage and are marked by a panel of celebrities. Last episode, one of the skits was called "Jackson Jive", which consisted of 6 doctors, 5 painting their faces black and one painting it white and imitating the Jackson 5. One of the guest judges, Harry Connick Jr. took offence to this act, saying it made him feel uncomfortable, and it wouldn't be allowed to happen in the States.

The 6 performers were on because they performed the same act 20 years ago.

Since the show aired, there have been a lot of people describing the skit as racist, and others saying that people are too sensitive and we're losing our collective sense of humour.

My question is, do you think painting your face black and imitating the Jackson 5 is racist?


It's not racist. Maybe it would be in America, but that's a completely different culture. The main problem with the act was they were silly enough to do it in from of an American judge.
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Is this racist, or are people losing their sense of humour? Colonel Logain - 09/10/2009 01:36:26 AM 756 Views
While it is possible that it was not done with racist intent.... Mat Maniac - 09/10/2009 01:51:28 AM 514 Views
I understand your point Colonel Logain - 09/10/2009 02:03:43 AM 468 Views
In my experience The Secret Lurker - 09/10/2009 02:11:34 AM 502 Views
Isn't that what the cast of MadTV did every day? *NM* Hieshyn - 09/10/2009 01:55:18 AM 169 Views
The short answer is no. Joel - 09/10/2009 11:15:13 PM 425 Views
*snort* no it's not racist. LadyLorraine - 09/10/2009 02:10:18 AM 462 Views
I don't think it was racist but I do think it was inappropriate. everynametaken - 09/10/2009 02:10:35 AM 455 Views
The whole point was the skit was performed 20 years ago with the same people Colonel Logain - 09/10/2009 02:15:53 AM 450 Views
What might have been appropriate 20 years ago may not be today. The world has changed. *NM* everynametaken - 09/10/2009 03:42:35 AM 163 Views
Pfffft screamingdefiance - 09/10/2009 02:24:33 AM 469 Views
It would be in America, or if they were Americans. But that's a different historical context. Burr - 09/10/2009 03:49:14 AM 443 Views
No, Australia doesn't Colonel Logain - 09/10/2009 03:57:47 AM 450 Views
Yeah... TaskmasterJack - 09/10/2009 05:03:18 PM 432 Views
Poor taste regardless. But it wasn't funny either. Boring waste of time. *NM* Tashmere - 09/10/2009 04:44:05 AM 158 Views
Americans have no sense of humour rAndy aL - 09/10/2009 06:23:30 AM 439 Views
Not true The Secret Lurker - 09/10/2009 02:21:47 PM 445 Views
Not sure if shows lack of humor so much as lack of judgment *NM* random thoughts - 09/10/2009 02:44:57 PM 173 Views
remember when Ted Danson did blackface? imlad - 09/10/2009 05:23:21 PM 427 Views
I think too many people don't know what "racist" actually means. *NM* Palatine - 09/10/2009 05:40:54 PM 168 Views
You have to understand the legacy of the American "minstrel shows. " Joel - 09/10/2009 11:13:25 PM 491 Views
Considering that some of the people doing the skit were of Indian (country not native american).... mick - 12/10/2009 03:00:40 AM 424 Views
Well, I didn't think it was racist to begin with Colonel Logain - 12/10/2009 10:41:42 AM 432 Views
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