Kramer pulls a Mel Gibson - Page 16 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Hack&Lube · 11-21-2006, 11:11 AM

Did any of you watch Letterman yesterday? He personally invited Jerry Seinfeld on the show and they talked to Michael Richards over satellite and the guy was absolutely broken. It was hard to watch, it was so serious and awkwardly painful to see. He was stuttering and couldn't even speak properly.

In the beginning the audience might have thought it was an act because Richards was stammering so much (you might think there was something wrong with him) and starting laughing and Jerry had to say out loud in a very serious tone "don't laugh, it isn't funny".

Igottago · 11-21-2006, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

In the beginning the audience might have thought it was an act because Richards was stammering so much (you might think there was something wrong with him) and starting laughing and Jerry had to say out loud in a very serious tone "don't laugh, it isn't funny".

That was strange..people honestly thought he was trying to be funny at the beginning, but he was genuinely struggling with it. I kinda felt sorry for him.

Igottago · 11-21-2006, 11:38 AM

An interesting take on how this event had the feel of a Larry David script..

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/tv/2006/...yond_a_jo.html

Agamemnon · 11-21-2006, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hah

Good one.

A guy with a Borat Avatar spending two days argueing against Mike Richards rant.

Borat making fun of Jews (as a Jewish comedian) is different than Mike Richards shouting racial slurs that were not a part of his routine. Oh... whoops... didn't see that bag on your head, I guess that explains it.

kipperfan · 11-21-2006, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

Do we understand each other now?

Frankly...no.

But at this point it doesnt matter anymore, we wil agree to disagree beacuse at this rate we will go back and forth for days both thinking we are right and the other is out to lunch, so its all good.

JiriHrdina · 11-21-2006, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Igottago

That was strange..people honestly thought he was trying to be funny at the beginning, but he was genuinely struggling with it. I kinda felt sorry for him.

Well the news of all this just broke yesterday so I suspect some may have simply not heard of it. And if that was the case its understandeable that when you've got Dave Letterman, Jerry Seinfield and Kramer on together, that some thought it was some sort of comedic bit. But yeah - felt bad for the guy - after it was done he didn't look like he was sure that he made the right decision to come on Letterman to make his apology.

SpitFire40 · 11-21-2006, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Well the news of all this just broke yesterday so I suspect some may have simply not heard of it. And if that was the case its understandeable that when you've got Dave Letterman, Jerry Seinfield and Kramer on together, that some thought it was some sort of comedic bit. But yeah - felt bad for the guy - after it was done he didn't look like he was sure that he made the right decision to come on Letterman to make his apology.

Kramer is the funniest character to ever be on TV to ALOT of people. I knew his appology was legit, but even I had a slight smirk on my face because it was so un-Kramer like.

It was really akward to watch.

Burninator · 11-21-2006, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpitFire40

Kramer is the funniest character to ever be on TV to ALOT of people. I knew his appology was legit, but even I had a slight smirk on my face because it was so un-Kramer like.

It was really akward to watch.

It was kinda weird to watch. I've seen him almost exclusivley as the Kramer character, so it made his apology that much more sincere IMO.

I don't think Letterman was the best choice however. He is more suited for funny interviews not serious ones. I half expected to him to bust out some chessy one liner every time he opened his mouth. But it was proably the quickest and widest audience he get in such short notice.

SpitFire40 · 11-21-2006, 02:42 PM

I thought Richards handled it well, you could tell it wasn't scripted at all. Which made it even more akward.

kipperfan · 11-21-2006, 05:36 PM

Well the "heckler" is on access hollywood right now:

"Me and my friends were saying he isnt funny, and he started swearing at us"

So that puts to bed something more happened, unless someone is going to make the assertion the "heckler" went on tv and lied?

jolinar of malkshor · 11-21-2006, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kipperfan

Well the "heckler" is on access hollywood right now:

"Me and my friends were saying he isnt funny, and he started swearing at us"

So that puts to bed something more happened, unless someone is going to make the assertion the "heckler" went on tv and lied?

Really?? It does? There is always to sides to every story, and I wouldn't believe everything Richards said and everything these guys say. The truth always lies somewhere in the middle. Because they would definately admit to everthing they may have said (if they did say something more than that).

MrMastodonFarm · 11-21-2006, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kipperfan

Well the "heckler" is on access hollywood right now:

"Me and my friends were saying he isnt funny, and he started swearing at us"

So that puts to bed something more happened, unless someone is going to make the assertion the "heckler" went on tv and lied?

He is on stage doing what has made him famous and is how he gets paid, these guys are heckling him saying he isn't funny, enough so that Richards could hear it and get upset.

It seems to be that while it was racist to say, it didn't have racial intentions. I have a feeling that if the group were jewish, or asian, he would have said something highly unacceptable as well. DOes that make it right? No, but I think Richards was just trying to get them as upset as they were making him and he lashed out in a totally wrong manner. Don't beleive he is a racist though.

As for the apologize.. can anyone explain what he meant by "jiu-jitsuing the situation". I don't know what a martial art would have done lol.

jolinar of malkshor · 11-21-2006, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

As for the apologize.. can anyone explain what he meant by "jiu-jitsuing the situation". I don't know what a martial art would have done lol.

I think he was trying to say he was using "verbal" Jiu-jitsu. Whatever that may be.

There is a good book called "Verbal Judo" by an author named THOMSON (sp?)
It instructs a person to use words to defuse a conflict. Good book. One of those books you should read every year or so.

If that is what he ment, he did a very poor job.

MrMastodonFarm · 11-21-2006, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

I think he was trying to say he was using "verbal" Jiu-jitsu. Whatever that may be.

Phew, I thought he was going to go over and put the guy in an armbar or a triangle choke.

ben voyonsdonc · 11-21-2006, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

He is on stage doing what has made him famous and is how he gets paid, these guys are heckling him saying he isn't funny, enough so that Richards could hear it and get upset.

It seems to be that while it was racist to say, it didn't have racial intentions. I have a feeling that if the group were jewish, or asian, he would have said something highly unacceptable as well. DOes that make it right? No, but I think Richards was just trying to get them as upset as they were making him and he lashed out in a totally wrong manner.

I understand what you are saying but heckling come with the territory. A lot of comedians love the interaction between them and the crowd and that is why they do stand up. Unfortunately, Richards probably isn't a stand up specialist but he should be a strong enough man to take criticism with a grain of salt and move on. A person is judged not on how they act when things are easy but how they respond when things are tough. Richards showed his true colours and should be truly ashamed. An apology is only a start. Damage control is not good enough...he needs to do something much more drastic.

I am really sad because I really enjoyed the Kramer character but I really will never see Richards the man nor Kramer the character in the same light as I saw him before this incident.

MrMastodonFarm · 11-21-2006, 06:24 PM

I'm not making an excuse for what happened, I just don't think it was racially motivated. His motivation was to **** off the hecklers that were ****ing him off. He just crossed the line in a big way in doing so.

Hack&Lube · 11-21-2006, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Igottago

That was strange..people honestly thought he was trying to be funny at the beginning, but he was genuinely struggling with it. I kinda felt sorry for him.

Didn't help that he kept saying "Afro-Americans". Is that even politically correct from African American? I kept on thinking of big Afros.

Burninator · 11-22-2006, 12:01 PM

Don't know if this is worthy of bumping this thread, but seems no time has been wasted in making fun of Kramer.

Because now you can wear this incident on a t-shirt.

http://www.tshirthell.com/store/prod...?productid=809

I'm not easily offended so I had a little chuckle at this.

Be warned if you are easily offended, don't bother looking at their other shirts.

FlamingLonghorn · 11-25-2006, 08:02 PM

>

AC · 11-25-2006, 08:24 PM

http://captainoftheussinevitable.ytmnsfw.com/

This is surprisingly catchy. Damn you internet!

Love the "He can talk, he can talk, he can talk" vocal backups from the Dr. Zaius song in the Planet of the Apes musical with Troy McClure from the Simpsons.