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Ghostbusters and the Death of Comedy
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Ubiquitous
Mar 5, 2016, 10:44:54 AM3/5/16
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'Ghostbusters' is a difficult topic.
Really? Abortion is a difficult topic. So are drone strikes, capital
punishment and enhanced interrogation.
“Ghostbusters” is about a four heroes in grey suits taking down
paranormal creatures. Easy peasy.
Not any more.
The decision to remake “Ghostbusters [Blu-ray]” with four female, not
male, performers had some wisdom to it. It makes the long-delayed reboot
instantly different. It also allows the new cast members to blaze their
own trail while escaping the shadows left by the original team. Who
wants to measure up against Bill Murray? Anyone?
What’s the bottom line?
That casting decision unleashed the full force of modern political
correctness. Some saw the casting choices as insulting the original
film’s legacy. Others viewed it as a chance to flex female power at the
box office. Finally.
https://youtu.be/w3ugHP-yZXw
In the latter case, “Ghostbusters” is now not just another movie reboot.
It’s a cause celebre, If it fails, women in Hollywood will be hardest
hit. So now everything surrounding the project has a PC charge to it.
It’s why TheVerge.com felt compelled to publish this essay, entitled,
“How to talk about the new Ghostbusters movie with friends, family, and
commenters.”
Ghostbusters is a difficult topic. To help you through the next
few months, we created a simple guide to writing about or
discussing the film. Whenever you feel yourself bubbling with
rage about four women destroying everything you’ve ever loved,
open this page and protect yourself and the internet from
inexhaustive rage.
Sound unnecessary? Movie fans are already upset that one of the four new
characters isn’t a scientist according to the film’s first trailer. The
reboot, like the 1984 original, focuses on three paranormal experts –
read scientists – who battle a wave of ghosts in New York City.
Kate McKinnon, Melissa McCarthy and Kristen Wiig play the three
scientists, with Leslie Jones joining the team already in progress. The
first three actresses are white. Jones is black. Guess what happened
next?
Maria ?@BeLikeAudrey
Why couldn't Leslie Jones be a scientist? WOC are capable of
being more than the sassy sidekick. #ghostbusters
2:35 AM - 4 Mar 2016 · Milton Keynes, England, United Kingdom
That’s only one of many outraged tweets. The trailer even inspired one
YouTube regular, Smoothiefreak, to record this charming rant.
https://youtu.be/wWl6oeE4-mQ
Comedy in 2016 is already on life support. Comedians live in fear that a
particular joke will outrage someone, anyone, and the blowback will go
viral. Jobs are at stake. So are livelihoods. When Jerry Seinfeld, the
squeakiest of squeaky clean comics, complains about people taking his
jokes the wrong way, there’s a problem.
The upcoming documentary “Can We Take a Joke?” lets stand-ups speak out
against the PC Police. Will it arrive in time to change hearts and
minds?ghostbusters-2016-reboot-posters
We just watched an entire Oscars ceremony begging us to forgive
Hollywood for being racist. What happened next? People were upset by
jokes they say targeted Asian-Americans.
Would you want to write comedy for a living today?
Lost in the kerfuffle? The first “Ghostbusters” trailer just isn’t
funny. Not even close. The finished product could still be a blast. The
film’s cast is impressive and director Paul Feig previously delivered
“Bridesmaids.”
“Ghostbusters” hits theaters July 15. By then, will anyone be in the
mood to even watch it assuming the current PC dialogue continues?
Really? Abortion is a difficult topic. So are drone strikes, capital
punishment and enhanced interrogation.
“Ghostbusters” is about a four heroes in grey suits taking down
paranormal creatures. Easy peasy.
Not any more.
The decision to remake “Ghostbusters [Blu-ray]” with four female, not
male, performers had some wisdom to it. It makes the long-delayed reboot
instantly different. It also allows the new cast members to blaze their
own trail while escaping the shadows left by the original team. Who
wants to measure up against Bill Murray? Anyone?
What’s the bottom line?
That casting decision unleashed the full force of modern political
correctness. Some saw the casting choices as insulting the original
film’s legacy. Others viewed it as a chance to flex female power at the
box office. Finally.
https://youtu.be/w3ugHP-yZXw
In the latter case, “Ghostbusters” is now not just another movie reboot.
It’s a cause celebre, If it fails, women in Hollywood will be hardest
hit. So now everything surrounding the project has a PC charge to it.
It’s why TheVerge.com felt compelled to publish this essay, entitled,
“How to talk about the new Ghostbusters movie with friends, family, and
commenters.”
Ghostbusters is a difficult topic. To help you through the next
few months, we created a simple guide to writing about or
discussing the film. Whenever you feel yourself bubbling with
rage about four women destroying everything you’ve ever loved,
open this page and protect yourself and the internet from
inexhaustive rage.
Sound unnecessary? Movie fans are already upset that one of the four new
characters isn’t a scientist according to the film’s first trailer. The
reboot, like the 1984 original, focuses on three paranormal experts –
read scientists – who battle a wave of ghosts in New York City.
Kate McKinnon, Melissa McCarthy and Kristen Wiig play the three
scientists, with Leslie Jones joining the team already in progress. The
first three actresses are white. Jones is black. Guess what happened
next?
Maria ?@BeLikeAudrey
Why couldn't Leslie Jones be a scientist? WOC are capable of
being more than the sassy sidekick. #ghostbusters
2:35 AM - 4 Mar 2016 · Milton Keynes, England, United Kingdom
That’s only one of many outraged tweets. The trailer even inspired one
YouTube regular, Smoothiefreak, to record this charming rant.
https://youtu.be/wWl6oeE4-mQ
Comedy in 2016 is already on life support. Comedians live in fear that a
particular joke will outrage someone, anyone, and the blowback will go
viral. Jobs are at stake. So are livelihoods. When Jerry Seinfeld, the
squeakiest of squeaky clean comics, complains about people taking his
jokes the wrong way, there’s a problem.
The upcoming documentary “Can We Take a Joke?” lets stand-ups speak out
against the PC Police. Will it arrive in time to change hearts and
minds?ghostbusters-2016-reboot-posters
We just watched an entire Oscars ceremony begging us to forgive
Hollywood for being racist. What happened next? People were upset by
jokes they say targeted Asian-Americans.
Would you want to write comedy for a living today?
Lost in the kerfuffle? The first “Ghostbusters” trailer just isn’t
funny. Not even close. The finished product could still be a blast. The
film’s cast is impressive and director Paul Feig previously delivered
“Bridesmaids.”
“Ghostbusters” hits theaters July 15. By then, will anyone be in the
mood to even watch it assuming the current PC dialogue continues?
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