Blind Governor offended by "Saturday Night Live" sketch
David
PATERSON IN A BLIND RAGE OVER 'SNL' SKIT
By DAVID K. L I
Gov. Paterson didn't see the humor in a "Saturday Night Live" bit that
mocked his blindness.
During the "Weekend Update" segment of NBC's irreverent comedy show,
actor Fred Armisen played Paterson, imitating his wandering eye,
gravelly voice and blunt, self-effacing demeanor.
But Paterson and advocates for the visually impaired didn't appreciate
stock blind jokes that had Armisen pretending to be disoriented and
wandering aimlessly.
"I can take a joke," Paterson told reporters.
But he called the SNL spoof a "third-grade depiction of people and the
way they look" that could lead others to believe that "disability goes
hand-in-hand with an inability to run a government or business."
"I run the place I work in, so I don't have to be worried about being
discriminated against," noted Paterson
Although Paterson is legally blind and has aides help him with some
tasks, the governor is rarely out of step with his surroundings and
seems comfortable in virtually all settings.
After Armisen's sketch with "Weekend Update" co-anchor Seth Meyers,
the joke continued.
As longtime "SNL" player Amy Poehler was announcing her departure from
the show, Armisen's Paterson started wandering, as if lost, in front
of the camera.
"Gov. Paterson . . . you're in the shot!" a chuckling Poehler said.
The skit could leave viewers with the impression that blind Americans
cannot be competent employees, advocates for the disabled said.
"When you have a perception problem like we have, you take these
things a little more seriously," said Chris Danielsen, spokesman for
the National Federation of the Blind.
"We have 70 percent unemployment - and it's not because we can't work.
Obviously, the governor of New York is blind, and he's doing the job.
Whenever you have a portrayal that calls the basic capacity of [blind
people] into question, that's a potential problem."
Danielsen claims "SNL" has a long history of mocking the blind - going
back to Eddie Murphy's Stevie Wonder impression and, more recently, a
"Weekend Update" one-liner that hybrid cars are dangerous to blind
people because they can't hear the engine.
Paterson's spokesman, Errol Cockfield, said, "The governor is sure
that 'Saturday Night Live,' with all of its talent, can find a way to
be funny without being offensive," Cockfield said.
"Knowing the governor, he might even have some suggestions himself."
An NBC spokesman could not be reached for comment yesterday.
Additional reporting by Sabrina Ford
syvyn11
"David" <diml...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:b847b1ae-f9d3-4559...@k24g2000pri.googlegroups.com...
> from the new york post
>
> PATERSON IN A BLIND RAGE OVER 'SNL' SKIT
> By DAVID K. L I
>
> Gov. Paterson didn't see the humor in a "Saturday Night Live" bit that
> mocked his blindness.
I didn't see the humor in it either. But then again, it's because the
writers SUCK HUGE DONKEY DONG!
mooseb...@hotmail.com
How was he able to see it to know it was bad?
Dan D. Err
"Ronnie Bateman" <OurOwnRon...@earthlinc.net> wrote in message
news:Zbw1l.14159$Ws1....@nlpi064.nbdc.sbc.com...
>I thought that bit went way overlong, and was tacky and unfunny besides.
> Probably the worst part of the episode for me.
>
> Some stronger-than-usual showcases of acting, I thought. Probably due to
> Laurie's influence. The interplay timing of the Bronx Beat skit...that
> skit
> about the hostile family Christmas dinner.... Not necessarily funny,
> though.
> Another episode which quickly fades from memory.
It was pretty much the same thing they did with McCain where they had him
wandering around in the Town Hall debate.
Barry Margolin
But that's something McCain actually did during the debate, so it was
appropriate to mock it. This week's sketch was just a generic
stereotype of blind people, not making fun of anything Paterson has done.
--
Barry Margolin, bar...@alum.mit.edu
Arlington, MA
*** PLEASE don't copy me on replies, I'll read them in the group ***
Barry Margolin
<b847b1ae-f9d3-4559...@k24g2000pri.googlegroups.com>,
David <diml...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Danielsen claims "SNL" has a long history of mocking the blind - going
> back to Eddie Murphy's Stevie Wonder impression and, more recently, a
> "Weekend Update" one-liner that hybrid cars are dangerous to blind
> people because they can't hear the engine.
Isn't this actually a serious issue? I think I read a few months ago in
Technology Review that manufacturers are considering adding artificial
engine noise to electric and hybrid cars, because people (both sighted
and blind) don't hear them coming as well, so there are more pedestrian
accidents. It makes sense that blind people would be more affected by
this than sighted.
Remysun
<mooseboys...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> How was he able to see it to know it was bad?
He listens to the TV like it's radio.
EvWill
> In article
> <b847b1ae-f9d3-4559-a657-2c6604d1d...@k24g2000pri.googlegroups.com>,
>
> �David <dimla...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> > Danielsen claims "SNL" has a long history of mocking the blind - going
> > back to Eddie Murphy's Stevie Wonder impression and, more recently, a
> > "Weekend Update" one-liner that hybrid cars are dangerous to blind
> > people because they can't hear the engine.
>
> Isn't this actually a serious issue? �I think I read a few months ago in
> Technology Review that manufacturers are considering adding artificial
> engine noise to electric and hybrid cars, because people (both sighted
> and blind) don't hear them coming as well, so there are more pedestrian
> accidents. �It makes sense that blind people would be more affected by
> this than sighted.
>
It actually is a serious issue though I'm not sure the SNL writers
actually realize that. As for Paterson, if there was a specific
personality trait or action that would make him worthy of ridicule,
that's one thing. SNL ridiculing him simply for being blind is just
pathetic.
Everett W.
Thanatos
> The skit could leave viewers with the impression that blind Americans
> cannot be competent employees, advocates for the disabled said.
Oh Jesus Weeping Christ... anyone who gets their impressions of the
world from a Saturday Night Live sketch needs to be lobotomized for
their own good.
Thanatos
Barry Margolin <bar...@alum.mit.edu> wrote:
> In article
> <b847b1ae-f9d3-4559...@k24g2000pri.googlegroups.com>,
> David <diml...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> > Danielsen claims "SNL" has a long history of mocking the blind - going
> > back to Eddie Murphy's Stevie Wonder impression and, more recently, a
> > "Weekend Update" one-liner that hybrid cars are dangerous to blind
> > people because they can't hear the engine.
>
> Isn't this actually a serious issue? I think I read a few months ago in
> Technology Review that manufacturers are considering adding artificial
> engine noise to electric and hybrid cars, because people (both sighted
> and blind) don't hear them coming as well
Yeah, they're going to take one of the major selling points that make
these cars attractive (their silence) and neuter it. Yay.
Dano
Being goofy looking doesn't count?
I don't recall Stevie Wonder getting pissed at Eddie Murphy. Actually...why
should the guy be exempt from being laughed at? Wouldn't THAT be
discriminating?
trotsky
You must be an SNL fan from way back, then.
Barry Margolin
"Dano" <janea...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> EvWill wrote:
> > On Dec 15, 1:10?pm, Barry Margolin <bar...@alum.mit.edu> wrote:
> >> In article
> >> <b847b1ae-f9d3-4559-a657-2c6604d1d...@k24g2000pri.googlegroups.com>,
> >>
> >> ?David <dimla...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> >>> Danielsen claims "SNL" has a long history of mocking the blind -
> >>> going back to Eddie Murphy's Stevie Wonder impression and, more
> >>> recently, a "Weekend Update" one-liner that hybrid cars are
> >>> dangerous to blind people because they can't hear the engine.
> >>
> >> Isn't this actually a serious issue? ?I think I read a few months
> >> ago in Technology Review that manufacturers are considering adding
> >> artificial engine noise to electric and hybrid cars, because people
> >> (both sighted and blind) don't hear them coming as well, so there
> >> are more pedestrian accidents. ?It makes sense that blind people
> >> would be more affected by this than sighted.
> >>
> >
> > It actually is a serious issue though I'm not sure the SNL writers
> > actually realize that. As for Paterson, if there was a specific
> > personality trait or action that would make him worthy of ridicule,
> > that's one thing. SNL ridiculing him simply for being blind is just
> > pathetic.
> >
>
> Being goofy looking doesn't count?
>
> I don't recall Stevie Wonder getting pissed at Eddie Murphy. Actually...why
> should the guy be exempt from being laughed at? Wouldn't THAT be
> discriminating?
No one is saying that these people are exempt from jokes. But the jokes
should be about the PERSON, not inappropriate stereotypes about their
group.
IIRC, Murhpy's impersonation of Stevie Wonder mostly just exaggerated
the way he liked to swing his head around while talking or performing.
I don't think they made fun of him for just being blind.
Dan D. Err
>> news:Zbw1l.14159$Ws1....@nlpi064.nbdc.sbc.com...
>> >I thought that bit went way overlong, and was tacky and unfunny besides.
>> > Probably the worst part of the episode for me.
>>
>> him
>> wandering around in the Town Hall debate.
>
Maybe a little but it was far from the worst of SNL.
Dan D. Err
"Barry Margolin" <bar...@alum.mit.edu> wrote in message
news:barmar-100AEF....@mara100-84.onlink.net...
>> It was pretty much the same thing they did with McCain where they had
>> him
>> wandering around in the Town Hall debate.
>
> But that's something McCain actually did during the debate, so it was
> appropriate to mock it. This week's sketch was just a generic
> stereotype of blind people, not making fun of anything Paterson has done.
I don't think it was inappropriate.
Dan D. Err
"Dano" <janea...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:gi6kql$k3h$1...@news.motzarella.org...
> EvWill wrote:
>> It actually is a serious issue though I'm not sure the SNL writers
>> actually realize that. As for Paterson, if there was a specific
>> personality trait or action that would make him worthy of ridicule,
>> that's one thing. SNL ridiculing him simply for being blind is just
>> pathetic.
>>
>
> Being goofy looking doesn't count?
>
> I don't recall Stevie Wonder getting pissed at Eddie Murphy.
> Actually...why should the guy be exempt from being laughed at? Wouldn't
> THAT be discriminating?
I agree.
Dan D. Err
And they exagerated the governor's appearance and mannerisms.
> I don't think they made fun of him for just being blind.
They didn't. They referenced some of the past indiscretions he admitted to
and his manner of speech.
Was is it outrageously hilarious? No, just moderately amusing.
Was it offensive or inappropriate? I wouldn't say so.
Barry Margolin
"Dan D. Err" <dan...@petnet.com> wrote:
> "Barry Margolin" <bar...@alum.mit.edu> wrote in message
> news:barmar-FA30B6....@mara100-84.onlink.net...
> > In article <gi6kql$k3h$1...@news.motzarella.org>,
> > "Dano" <janea...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> >> Being goofy looking doesn't count?
> >>
> >> I don't recall Stevie Wonder getting pissed at Eddie Murphy.
> >> Actually...why
> >> should the guy be exempt from being laughed at? Wouldn't THAT be
> >> discriminating?
> >
> > No one is saying that these people are exempt from jokes. But the jokes
> > should be about the PERSON, not inappropriate stereotypes about their
> > group.
> >
> > IIRC, Murhpy's impersonation of Stevie Wonder mostly just exaggerated
> > the way he liked to swing his head around while talking or performing.
>
> And they exagerated the governor's appearance and mannerisms.
I don't think anyone is objecting to that part of the sketch.
> > I don't think they made fun of him for just being blind.
>
> They didn't. They referenced some of the past indiscretions he admitted to
> and his manner of speech.
How was his wandering around the studio, bumping into things and not
realizing that he's blocking the camera, a reference to his
indiscretions?
Dan D. Err
Note your use of the modifier "just" in "I don't think they made fun of him
for just being blind."
Frater Mus
> Gov. Paterson didn't see the humor in a "Saturday Night Live" bit that
> mocked his blindness.
I didn't think it was funny either.
--
frater mus
Adequate Mousetrap Brewhouse
http://www.mousetrap.net/~mouse/brewing/
jack ak
> On 2008-12-15, <diml...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>> Gov. Paterson didn't see the humor in a "Saturday Night Live" bit that
>> mocked his blindness.
>
> I didn't think it was funny either.
>
>
No one believed the Governor would see it.
Remysun
And he probably didn't see it live, but was told about it.
Ubiquitous
>But Paterson and advocates for the visually impaired didn't appreciate
>stock blind jokes that had Armisen pretending to be disoriented and
>wandering aimlessly.
>
>"I can take a joke," Paterson told reporters.
>
>But he called the SNL spoof a "third-grade depiction of people and the
>way they look" that could lead others to believe that "disability goes
>hand-in-hand with an inability to run a government or business."
>
>"I run the place I work in, so I don't have to be worried about being
>discriminated against," noted Paterson
>
>Although Paterson is legally blind and has aides help him with some
>tasks, the governor is rarely out of step with his surroundings and
>seems comfortable in virtually all settings.
I'd like to know if he even SAW the sketch in question!
--
It is simply breathtaking to watch the glee and abandon with which
the liberal media and the Angry Left have been attempting to turn
our military victory in Iraq into a second Vietnam quagmire. Too bad
for them, it's failing.
Remysun
<nntp20080705.frater...@spamgourmet.net> wrote:
> I didn't think it was funny either.
It was Fred Armisen.
Antonio E. Gonzalez
wrote:
>diml...@yahoo.com wrote:
>
>>But Paterson and advocates for the visually impaired didn't appreciate
>>stock blind jokes that had Armisen pretending to be disoriented and
>>wandering aimlessly.
>>
>>"I can take a joke," Paterson told reporters.
>>
>>But he called the SNL spoof a "third-grade depiction of people and the
>>way they look" that could lead others to believe that "disability goes
>>hand-in-hand with an inability to run a government or business."
>>
>>"I run the place I work in, so I don't have to be worried about being
>>discriminated against," noted Paterson
>>
>>Although Paterson is legally blind and has aides help him with some
>>tasks, the governor is rarely out of step with his surroundings and
>>seems comfortable in virtually all settings.
>
>I'd like to know if he even SAW the sketch in question!
There's this thing called audio . . .
--
- ReFlex 76
- "Let's beat the terrorists with our most powerful weapon . . . hot
girl-on-girl action!"
- "The difference between young and old is the difference between
looking forward to your next birthday, and dreading it!"
- Jesus Christ - The original hippie!
<http://reflex76.blogspot.com/>
<http://www.blogger.com/profile/07245047157197572936>
Katana > Chain Saw > Baseball Bat > Hammer
Ubiquitous
>On Tue, 16 Dec 2008 21:03:09 -0500, Ubiquitous <web...@polaris.net>
>wrote:
>>diml...@yahoo.com wrote:
>>>But Paterson and advocates for the visually impaired didn't appreciate
>>>stock blind jokes that had Armisen pretending to be disoriented and
>>>wandering aimlessly.
>>>
>>>"I can take a joke," Paterson told reporters.
>>>
>>>But he called the SNL spoof a "third-grade depiction of people and the
>>>way they look" that could lead others to believe that "disability goes
>>>hand-in-hand with an inability to run a government or business."
>>>
>>>"I run the place I work in, so I don't have to be worried about being
>>>discriminated against," noted Paterson
>>>
>>>Although Paterson is legally blind and has aides help him with some
>>>tasks, the governor is rarely out of step with his surroundings and
>>>seems comfortable in virtually all settings.
>>
>>I'd like to know if he even SAW the sketch in question!
>
> There's this thing called audio . . .
Tell it to Paterson. He's the one who was worried about "the way they
look"...
Antonio E. Gonzalez
wrote:
>AntE...@aol.com wrote:
>>On Tue, 16 Dec 2008 21:03:09 -0500, Ubiquitous <web...@polaris.net>
>>wrote:
>>>diml...@yahoo.com wrote:
>
>>>>But Paterson and advocates for the visually impaired didn't appreciate
>>>>stock blind jokes that had Armisen pretending to be disoriented and
>>>>wandering aimlessly.
>>>>
>>>>"I can take a joke," Paterson told reporters.
>>>>
>>>>But he called the SNL spoof a "third-grade depiction of people and the
>>>>way they look" that could lead others to believe that "disability goes
>>>>hand-in-hand with an inability to run a government or business."
>>>>
>>>>"I run the place I work in, so I don't have to be worried about being
>>>>discriminated against," noted Paterson
>>>>
>>>>Although Paterson is legally blind and has aides help him with some
>>>>tasks, the governor is rarely out of step with his surroundings and
>>>>seems comfortable in virtually all settings.
>>>
>>>I'd like to know if he even SAW the sketch in question!
>>
>> There's this thing called audio . . .
>
>Tell it to Paterson. He's the one who was worried about "the way they
>look"...
Somebody told him, obviously . . .