OT: Michael Richards

[NealIsGod]

I give him credit for coming on Lettermen and making an apology. He was obviously uncomfortable but he took a very public forum and was proactive in confronting his problem.

It was definitely not the right place for it. Should have gone on Oprah.

[larryfromnextdoor]

why couldnt he have just screamed,,,,"THESE PRETZELS ARE MAKING ME THIRSTY!"

[Just Mindy]

why couldnt he have just screamed,,,,"THESE PRETZELS ARE MAKING ME THIRSTY!"

[NealIsGod]

Quick show of hands: How many people think he was high on something that night?

I do.

[Jeremey]

Quick show of hands: How many people think he was high on something that night?

I do.

Sure sounded like it. And I'm sure it will come out he was high as a kite Friday as well....

As for him coming on Letterman...You think Richards got a phone call from a Mr Jerry Seinfeld about coming on the show? Maybe a very strong suggestion that he make an appearance?

[Red13JoePa]

No doubt Jerry paved the way for him to have a forum for the apology....


J's right though, before the zoo erupted there WAS the heckling.

The footage picks up after he got heckled.

Then true to the strenth in numbers gang mentality of some, before he knows it he is literally battling half the audience.

[ohsherrie]

Quick show of hands: How many people think he was high on something that night?

I do.

Sure sounded like it. And I'm sure it will come out he was high as a kite Friday as well....

As for him coming on Letterman...You think Richards got a phone call from a Mr Jerry Seinfeld about coming on the show? Maybe a very strong suggestion that he make an appearance?

Sounds like a good bet on both counts.

I don't know what was said to him by the hecklers, but he was the one in the spotlight and as a celebrity is the one who should have taken a higher road. I know it's got to be hard for performers to put up with a lot of the crap they hear, but if they get into it with someone they're the ones that will be cast in the harshest light.

[Jeremey]

Sounds like a good bet on both counts.

I don't know what was said to him by the hecklers, but he was the one in the spotlight and as a celebrity is the one who should have taken a higher road. I know it's got to be hard for performers to put up with a lot of the crap they hear, but if they get into it with someone they're the ones that will be cast in the harshest light.

In a heckling situation, the crowd will normally side with the underdogs. Especially east coast comedy. Out in CA, it seems like a different situation. The way Richards took it, the audience probably felt in danger. I don't think the crowd was leaving out of disgust, but more out of fear that there was going to be violence. A performer's only weapon against heckling is their microphone, and they've got to be able to dish it out even better than who's handing it to them. So there isn't really any high road in stand up comedy. But Richards' obviously had a total meltdown.

For a good lesson in how to handle heckling, go to YouTube and search "Bill Burr" and watch his 14 minute tirade against the people of Philly, who hecked him and others mercilessly all night before Burr took to the stage.

[tammy]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-T7uKvpzVXI

Here's his "tirade" that started it.

I think this man has dug his own grave- careerwise. Either that and/or he needs treatments- BADLY!

Oh, man that was horrible! I always liked him in Seinfeld & that just ruined it for me. I'm surprised he wasn't picked up & thrown out the door by the audience!

[ohsherrie]

Sounds like a good bet on both counts.

I don't know what was said to him by the hecklers, but he was the one in the spotlight and as a celebrity is the one who should have taken a higher road. I know it's got to be hard for performers to put up with a lot of the crap they hear, but if they get into it with someone they're the ones that will be cast in the harshest light.

In a heckling situation, the crowd will normally side with the underdogs. Especially east coast comedy. Out in CA, it seems like a different situation. The way Richards took it, the audience probably felt in danger. I don't think the crowd was leaving out of disgust, but more out of fear that there was going to be violence. A performer's only weapon against heckling is their microphone, and they've got to be able to dish it out even better than who's handing it to them. So there isn't really any high road in stand up comedy. But Richards' obviously had a total meltdown.

For a good lesson in how to handle heckling, go to YouTube and search "Bill Burr" and watch his 14 minute tirade against the people of Philly, who hecked him and others mercilessly all night before Burr took to the stage.

I see what you're saying. I guess it's just a matter or how you use the microphone. I've seem a couple of instances of better commedians throwing some stuff back. Robin Williams is a master at it. He makes a joke of it and makes the heckler look like a fool. I didn't mean that I think performers should just put up with the crap that's thrown at them. By higher road I meant he should have done it with a little more finesse. He seemed to go totally berserk and made himself look like the fool.

[NealIsGod]

I don't think the crowd was leaving out of disgust, but more out of fear that there was going to be violence.

Excellent point.

And I meant that I think he was on drugs on Friday night, not last night. He was out of control.

[lights1961]

I don't think the crowd was leaving out of disgust, but more out of fear that there was going to be violence.

Excellent point.

And I meant that I think he was on drugs on Friday night, not last night. He was out of control.

Micahel Richards will get a pass after today... Considering that he blamed his RAGE and HATRED at Bush for Katrina and nation vs nation... crap... liberal apology at its finest... By tomorrow, you will not hear anymore about this.

Rick

[yulog]

apology on letterman...............the audience thinks its a gag at first....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quhhj3dX0qU

hey Larry this doesnt work do you know wher i can see it?

[larryfromnextdoor]

apology on letterman...............the audience thinks its a gag at first....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quhhj3dX0qU

hey Larry this doesnt work do you know wher i can see it?

cbs pulled it off!! try AOL homepage,,

[yulog]

Got it, thanks---thats a shame, his thoughts are all over the place it sounds like he has alot of remorse but that he also realizes hes got something wrong with himself.

[Wheels Of Fyre]

Nothing about the racism spewing from the black guy though?

Yeah...only white people are racist..I forget HOOOOH

very good point,, and what ever race they are, they paid to go into a comedy club and started hollering at the performer,,, punks

Punks they were BUT a comedian HAS to EXPECT heckling and respond accordingly.

Truly, truly disturbing.

[ohsherrie]

I don't think the crowd was leaving out of disgust, but more out of fear that there was going to be violence.

Excellent point.

And I meant that I think he was on drugs on Friday night, not last night. He was out of control.

Micahel Richards will get a pass after today... Considering that he blamed his RAGE and HATRED at Bush for Katrina and nation vs nation... crap... liberal apology at its finest... By tomorrow, you will not hear anymore about this.

Rick

Um, how does that help him? Most of the people effected by Katrina were black. I wouldn't even buy that crap as an excuse and I'm sure most other people won't. It just makes him look desperate and pathetic.

[fred_journeyman]

WTF?

Man, I keep forgetting that I use too many words to express myself. I'm going to work on that so that you won't have further trouble understanding me, NIG.

Let's try this:

Richards = human.
Him in rage.
Him get defensive.
Him spew.
Make BIG mistake.
He say him not know where words come from.
Me make mistake in past.
Me not know where words came from.
All humans make mistakes.
No one knows secrets buried in heart.

[larryfromnextdoor]

WTF?

Man, I keep forgetting that I use too many words to express myself. I'm going to work on that so that you won't have further trouble understanding me, NIG.

Let's try this:

Richards = human.
Him in rage.
Him get defensive.
Him spew.
Make BIG mistake.
He say him not know where words come from.
Me make mistake in past.
Me not know where words came from.
All humans make mistakes.
No one knows secrets buried in heart.

sounds like American Indian languauge of the authentic great hollywood westerns,, fred, "many moons ago, .........."

[fred_journeyman]

sounds like American Indian languauge of the authentic great hollywood westerns,, fred, "many moons ago, .........."

Yes, Kimosabi. Me prepare for "End of the Trail" western. Ride on brave stallion to war. Me make smoke signals and smoke great pipe. Take squaw, find land, kill bear....and all that sort of thing.

[NealIsGod]

WTF?

Man, I keep forgetting that I use too many words to express myself. I'm going to work on that so that you won't have further trouble understanding me, NIG.

Let's try this:

Richards = human.
Him in rage.
Him get defensive.
Him spew.
Make BIG mistake.
He say him not know where words come from.
Me make mistake in past.
Me not know where words came from.
All humans make mistakes.
No one knows secrets buried in heart.

No, I was just disgusted by how fucking gay this sounds.

I was scared and heard myself say "Goddamn, what the hell is going on?" and this was from someone who went to church every week and believed himself (me) to be above that language since I NEVER, EVER used it (not even in my thoughts). Here I was in a frightful situation, not knowing what those guys in the car were going to do and THAT was my first reaction! To this day, I have NO idea where it came from or how it even got there. It serves as a reminder to me that not one of us really knows what's there deep within us.

[Red13JoePa]

Very interesting how all the clips seem to pick up with Kramer launching into the tirade with "Shut up!" but lack the preceeding few moments and of course what the peeps on the business end of that "Shut up!" said just prior.


There's also a cut in the film when the refined gentleman who yells "cracka ass mowfucka" is speaking as though part of his sililoquy is missing from the record...


All in all though an error in judgement by MRichards.

[fred_journeyman]

No, I was just disgusted by how fucking gay this sounds.

Ah, so your real problem is that you don't like gays, I get it. No wonder you were among the first to "bust" Richards. It's usually those who throw the first stones that have the most to hide.

[NealIsGod]

No, I was just disgusted by how fucking gay this sounds.

Ah, so your real problem is that you don't like gays, I get it. No wonder you were among the first to "bust" Richards. It's usually those who throw the first stones that have the most to hide.

You threw the first stone with your little caveman skit.

[Saint John]

People need to get real.....everybody's a racist to a certain extent. It's in everybody, in every culture and country. Racism come's out of fear of the unknown. Who are you my friend or my enemy? I don't understand you or your way's. My tribe against your's kinda thing. When people don't know or understand each other thing's can be said in anger as a weapon to inflict a wound or as a shield in self- defense. Once people come together, get to know each other and become comfortable, skin color and/or cultural difference's don't dissappear, but they can be accepted, some even adopted, and not seen as much. I have friend's of many different color's and culture's. I can joke and tease them, and them me, and no one get's mad. We know it's only a joke because we've come to know each other, are comfortable, and know we really care and respect each other, even though we are not the same. Everyone being the same would be very boring. We tease with love. It doe's take a little time to get to know one another to reach that kind of comfort level. My son's best friend is Cambodian. I've known him since they were kid's, he call's me mom. I joke with him all the time about his culture ( and embraced some of it as well). He laugh's and crack's back at me about white people and I laugh. There are certain truth's in the joking, but we can accept our difference's as well as our similaritie's. The key is to get to know people different then yourself. His mom is a friend and one of the most fascinating people I've ever meet. Let down the barrier's you where taught to put up, let go of fear of the unknown, and you'll be able to see people as people, not just a color. There are some great people out there to meet if you do. Once you know them, then you'll be able to joke around and enjoy the difference's without anyone getting mad.
JMO.

The race hustlers, Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, are far more guilty of racism than Michael Richards. His comments, while rude, were still just words. Sounds like a mentally unstable man to me. Still just words, though. Sharpton and Jackson exploit race in just about all of their endevours. THAT is evil, not Michael Richards losing it onstage. The dude had a breakdown...nothing more. Nigger is an overrated word anyway. Just a way for white people to feel bad for shit that happened many years ago. The fact that he was called a "cracker" goes unnoticed. Had this been Oprah calling the hecklers "crackers" followed by them calling her a "nigger," we'd only hear about the "nigger" part. The word is just taboo. Funny how rappers, deeply admired by young black people, use the word open and freely. Complete double standard. It IS a shame that he made such a poor decision in his choice of words. However, they were just words. I think he felt cornered and reacted very poorly.

[low d]

Nothing about the racism spewing from the black guy though?

Yeah...only white people are racist..I forget HOOOOH

There is no free speech for the white man. There is only free speech against the white man. Anyone ever watch Comedy Central? There are profane black comedians that bash each other, bash the government, bash the whites, bash the mexicans, the Iraqis, etc. But a white guy can't do that. That's hate speech. Whatever. Live by the sword, die by the sword I say. You can't have your cake and eat it too. Oh wait. Yes you can. You can even be a black former athelete, write a book and get a TV deal to tell how YOU would have killed your wife. Only in the USA.

There is no mention of the USA in Revelation. I wonder why. God has had his fill of us.

[Eric]

I don't think the crowd was leaving out of disgust, but more out of fear that there was going to be violence.

Excellent point.

And I meant that I think he was on drugs on Friday night, not last night. He was out of control.

Micahel Richards will get a pass after today... Considering that he blamed his RAGE and HATRED at Bush for Katrina and nation vs nation... crap... liberal apology at its finest... By tomorrow, you will not hear anymore about this.

Rick

Um, how does that help him? Most of the people effected by Katrina were black. I wouldn't even buy that crap as an excuse and I'm sure most other people won't. It just makes him look desperate and pathetic.

Frankly, I find his "apology" more offensive than the original outburst.

[Blueskies]

People need to get real.....everybody's a racist to a certain extent. It's in everybody, in every culture and country. Racism come's out of fear of the unknown. Who are you my friend or my enemy? I don't understand you or your way's. My tribe against your's kinda thing. When people don't know or understand each other thing's can be said in anger as a weapon to inflict a wound or as a shield in self- defense. Once people come together, get to know each other and become comfortable, skin color and/or cultural difference's don't dissappear, but they can be accepted, some even adopted, and not seen as much. I have friend's of many different color's and culture's. I can joke and tease them, and them me, and no one get's mad. We know it's only a joke because we've come to know each other, are comfortable, and know we really care and respect each other, even though we are not the same. Everyone being the same would be very boring. We tease with love. It doe's take a little time to get to know one another to reach that kind of comfort level. My son's best friend is Cambodian. I've known him since they were kid's, he call's me mom. I joke with him all the time about his culture ( and embraced some of it as well). He laugh's and crack's back at me about white people and I laugh. There are certain truth's in the joking, but we can accept our difference's as well as our similaritie's. The key is to get to know people different then yourself. His mom is a friend and one of the most fascinating people I've ever meet. Let down the barrier's you where taught to put up, let go of fear of the unknown, and you'll be able to see people as people, not just a color. There are some great people out there to meet if you do. Once you know them, then you'll be able to joke around and enjoy the difference's without anyone getting mad.
JMO.

The race hustlers, Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, are far more guilty of racism than Michael Richards. His comments, while rude, were still just words. Sounds like a mentally unstable man to me. Still just words, though. Sharpton and Jackson exploit race in just about all of their endevours. THAT is evil, not Michael Richards losing it onstage. The dude had a breakdown...nothing more. Nigger is an overrated word anyway. Just a way for white people to feel bad for shit that happened many years ago. The fact that he was called a "cracker" goes unnoticed. Had this been Oprah calling the hecklers "crackers" followed by them calling her a "nigger," we'd only hear about the "nigger" part. The word is just taboo. Funny how rappers, deeply admired by young black people, use the word open and freely. Complete double standard. It IS a shame that he made such a poor decision in his choice of words. However, they were just words. I think he felt cornered and reacted very poorly.

I think you really need to read my post one more time. No where do I say it's right and just for ANYONE, no matter who they are or what color they are. I was talking about the possible's WHY'S and of acceptance of other's once you open up, learn and get to know them as a person not just color or trademark for their culture or race.