America's Got Talent Also Has Toxicity

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Joe Hass

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Nov 27, 2019, 2:50:47 PM11/27/19
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Gabrielle Union went to NBC producers earlier this year after guest judge Jay Leno made an out-dated, racist joke. They blew her off. Then they didn't renew her contact at the end of the year.

M-D November

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Nov 27, 2019, 3:50:47 PM11/27/19
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<Batman announcer> WHAT'S THIS? NBC honchos hand in hand with The Chin?</Batman announcer>

Seriously, this should be a surprise to literally no one. Leno could, to borrow a phrase from Dolt45, stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody, and he'd get a primetime special out of it. It's holding something over NBC and I shudder to think of what it could be.

Kevin M.

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Nov 27, 2019, 3:54:46 PM11/27/19
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On Wed, Nov 27, 2019 at 12:50 PM M-D November <mdnov...@gmail.com> wrote:
<Batman announcer> WHAT'S THIS?  NBC honchos hand in hand with The Chin?</Batman announcer>

Seriously, this should be a surprise to literally no one. Leno could, to borrow a phrase from Dolt45, stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody, and he'd get a primetime special out of it.  It's holding something over NBC and I shudder to think of what it could be.

Ratings.


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Kevin M. (RPCV)

Diner

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Nov 27, 2019, 11:06:52 PM11/27/19
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I recall back in the 90s or 2000s Jay said in an interview that he once made a joke on the air about Koreans eating dogs, and a Korean group complained, so he met with them. When they asked him to apologize, he said it was his understanding that the joke was based in truth - that people in Korea actually do eat dogs; their response was that yes, it is true, but that they didn't want people to talk about it because it was bad for their image. He said that if it was true they had no right to complain, and that he would not apologize because it was fair game.
But it's a different world now.

Kevin M.

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Nov 27, 2019, 11:20:22 PM11/27/19
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On Wed, Nov 27, 2019 at 8:06 PM Diner <bway...@gmail.com> wrote:
I recall back in the 90s or 2000s Jay said in an interview that he once made a joke on the air about Koreans eating dogs, and a Korean group complained, so he met with them. When they asked him to apologize, he said it was his understanding that the joke was based in truth - that people in Korea actually do eat dogs; their response was that yes, it is true, but that they didn't want people to talk about it because it was bad for their image. He said that if it was true they had no right to complain, and that he would not apologize because it was fair game.
But it's a different world now.

The other night I got around to listening to Marc Maron’s WTF interview with John Cleese. Near the end they started talking about using race in jokes, then went on to share examples, making each other laugh in the process. Some of them were, indeed, funny. I still maintain there are comics (the obvious example being Don Rickles) who can get away with humor featuring different races, but most cannot. The bulk of Leno’s humor for decades has been simple jokes about stereotypes. As NBC Pages, we used to count how many different jokes he had in his repertoire. I think it topped out at around 20. His monologue was like a Mad Libs. Just swap out the previous night’s celebrity name with that night’s. Swap out one nationality doing something stupid with another. It was so bland and formulaic that it frankly couldn’t be offensive. Leno simply didn’t care enough about the topics of his jokes to actually be prejudiced. 




On Wednesday, November 27, 2019 at 2:50:47 PM UTC-5, Joe Hass wrote:
Gabrielle Union went to NBC producers earlier this year after guest judge Jay Leno made an out-dated, racist joke. They blew her off. Then they didn't renew her contact at the end of the year.

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Kevin M. (RPCV)

PGage

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Nov 28, 2019, 3:20:37 AM11/28/19
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I think you are misrepresenting this incident. The Koreans did not say “Yes, your joke was true, but it makes us look bad so don’t tell it.” They said that while it was true that Koreans eat dogs, joking that most Koreans would eat their own pets is trading on an ethnic stereotype. Basically, their point was that Leno had told the equivalent of a joke about an African-American eating his neighbor’s pet chicken because Blacks like fried chicken so much. Jokes like that are ugly (not to mention Hack) not because there is no truth in the underlying premise (yes, Jay, many Koreans do eat dogs, and many African Americans do like fried chicken) but because they depend for their so called humor in reducing a marginalized other to a few decontexualized traits, thereby objectifying and dehumanizing them. It is one reason in groups can get away with telling jokes like that about themselves - they are not in danger of objectifying and marginalizing themselves.

As for Union, I have never seen the show, but I read in Variety that some reports say that “Union was subjected to a very specific critique — that her rotating hair styles were “too black” for the audience of “AGT,” a note she received over half a dozen times, according to four sources with direct knowledge of the exchanges who spoke on the condition of anonymity.” 

I’m sure it’s easier for NBC not to have cast memberS from different backgrounds who voice their different perceptions and embody their differences on camera. If the changes in the times are that it is now a little bit harder for NBC to try to have it so easy, then perhaps the changes are for the good.


On Wed, Nov 27, 2019 at 8:06 PM Diner <bway...@gmail.com> wrote:
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Diner

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Nov 28, 2019, 10:21:03 AM11/28/19
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You're right about me misrepresenting it. My apologies for my poor memory and gross simplification.
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Bob Jersey

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Nov 29, 2019, 2:02:01 PM11/29/19
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On Wednesday, November 27, 2019 at 2:50:47 PM UTC-5, Joe Hass wrote:
Gabrielle Union went to NBC producers earlier this year after guest judge Jay Leno made an out-dated, racist joke. They blew her off. Then they didn't renew her contact at the end of the year.


The activists Time's Up among others are getting on NBC's case, and Patricia Arquette called on the actors' union to jump in as well...


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Bob Jersey

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Dec 2, 2019, 1:00:55 PM12/2/19
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Moi, to Joe Hass, Friday (11/29):
Gabrielle Union went to NBC producers earlier this year after guest judge Jay Leno made an out-dated, racist joke. They blew her off. Then they didn't renew her contact at the end of the year.

The activists Time's Up among others are getting on NBC's case, and Patricia Arquette called on the actors' union to jump in as well...




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Bob Jersey

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Dec 3, 2019, 11:49:05 AM12/3/19
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Aaaaand as you might have guessed, an ex-AGT judge also kvetched:


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Bob Jersey

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Dec 4, 2019, 4:59:09 PM12/4/19
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Moi, Tuesday (12/03):

Aaaaand as you might have guessed, an ex-AGT judge also kvetched:



As did SHARON!!


Union met with NBC and Syco officials for five hours Tuesday, which she called productive:


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Bob Jersey

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Dec 5, 2019, 11:35:55 AM12/5/19
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Moi, in part, Wed. (12/04):
Union met with NBC and Syco officials for five hours Tuesday, which she called productive:



“The initial conversation was candid and productive. While there will be a further investigation to get a deeper understanding of the facts, we are working with Gabrielle to come to a positive resolution,” a network spokeser told Variety.


Not mentioned in earlier reports: Cowell's tendency to smoke inside the show's space, triggering Union's allergy.

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Bob Jersey

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Dec 12, 2019, 10:15:24 AM12/12/19
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His homeland partners aren't as of now caring about the stateside issues, as itv gives Simon a longer-than-before five-year deal...


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Adam Bowie

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Dec 12, 2019, 10:23:04 AM12/12/19
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I don't think the stories about Gabrielle Union have had much impact over here. But then we've been all Brexit and now elections all the time for the last few months.

(I voted this morning - in and out within about two minutes). 

I'm still a bit surprised, as the most recent season of The X Factor has had diabolical ratings. It was a celebrity one and basically nobody watched. Now they're running a band version that started this week, and it's not doing much better. 

But Britain's Got Talent still pulls in the numbers for ITV, and the only other massive hit they've got at the moment is I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here... which has seen ratings dip a bit in the most recent run. 


Adam

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Bob Jersey

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Dec 20, 2019, 11:33:04 AM12/20/19
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Moi, Dec 2nd:
The guild expands their probe to all of Fremantle after Orlando Jones was sacked from another property, "American Gods"...


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Bob Jersey

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May 27, 2020, 10:24:16 AM5/27/20
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Joe Hass, 11/27/2019:
Gabrielle Union went to NBC producers earlier this year after guest judge Jay Leno made an out-dated, racist joke. They blew her off. Then they didn't renew her contact at the end of the year.



"Union’s raising of this topic comes with eerie timeliness, (link) given the Tuesday resurfacing of a 20-year-old 'SNL' sketch in which former cast member Jimmy Fallon imitated comedian Chris Rock in full blackface." As much as I am an unashamed Colbert fan, I feel bad for Fallon...

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Steve Timko

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May 27, 2020, 7:05:59 PM5/27/20
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NBC, producers say 'America's Got Talent' cleared by probe

LOS ANGELES (AP) - NBC and the producers of “America's Got Talent” say an outside investigator has weighed in on Gabrielle Union's allegations about the show. 

In a statement, the companies said a review of her complaints of on-set racism concluded they were unfounded. NBC and the producers also said the investigator determined that Union’s claims were unrelated to her being dropped as a judge. 

Union is known for her roles in the films “Bring It On” and “Bad Boys II.” She appeared on “America's Got Talent” for one season and wasn't asked to return. The conclusions were based on some 30 interviews conducted by the investigator.  

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Mark Jeffries

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May 28, 2020, 11:29:30 PM5/28/20
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And just by following the news this week, it's safe to say that a lot of people will be saying BS to that study.

Surprisingly, "AGT" had good numbers Tuesday night, proving that the public is either easy to forgive or that there honestly wasn't much competition from the other OTA networks.

Mark Jeffries
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David Bruggeman

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May 28, 2020, 11:55:17 PM5/28/20
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The show had an act on this week who served 37 years of a life sentence for crimes he didn't commit.  I know that's a cousin of institutionalized excessive force, but if that didn't generate cognitive dissonance for the AGT audience, the rest of this month's news isn't likely to do it.

David

Bob Jersey

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Jun 2, 2020, 1:49:09 PM6/2/20
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Moi, May 27th: in part:

Union’s raising of this topic comes with eerie timeliness, (link) given the Tuesday resurfacing of a 20-year-old 'SNL' sketch in which former cast member Jimmy Fallon imitated comedian Chris Rock in full blackface." As much as I am an unashamed Colbert fan, I feel bad for Fallon...

JF blew off Lady Gaga to address his own sitch with Don Lemon and NAACP head Derrick Johnson, who admired his courage.

(original is prolly $, so via that site where sometimes we find the ex-Chief)


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Brad Beam

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Jun 2, 2020, 8:19:45 PM6/2/20
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From: 'Bob Jersey' via TVorNotTV [mailto:tvor...@googlegroups.com]

>Moi, May 27th: in part:

> 

Union’s raising of this topic comes with eerie timeliness, (link) given the Tuesday resurfacing of a 20-year-old 'SNL' sketch in which former cast member Jimmy Fallon imitated comedian Chris Rock in full blackface." As much as I am an unashamed Colbert fan, I feel bad for Fallon...

 

I’m still waiting for Cancel Culture to uncover Billy Crystal’s impressions (impersonations?) of Muhammad Ali from ‘80s-era SNL….

 

_   _

|_>|_>  Brad Beam- Belle WV

|_>|_>  http://www.facebook.com/74bmw

Kevin M.

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Jun 2, 2020, 8:23:36 PM6/2/20
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On Tue, Jun 2, 2020 at 5:19 PM Brad Beam <b.b...@suddenlink.net> wrote:

From: 'Bob Jersey' via TVorNotTV [mailto:tvor...@googlegroups.com]

>Moi, May 27th: in part:

> 

Union’s raising of this topic comes with eerie timeliness, (link) given the Tuesday resurfacing of a 20-year-old 'SNL' sketch in which former cast member Jimmy Fallon imitated comedian Chris Rock in full blackface." As much as I am an unashamed Colbert fan, I feel bad for Fallon...

 

I’m still waiting for Cancel Culture to uncover Billy Crystal’s impressions (impersonations?) of Muhammad Ali from ‘80s-era SNL….

If memory serves, Ali thought they were great


 

_   _

|_>|_>  Brad Beam- Belle WV

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Kevin M. (RPCV)

Brad Beam

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Jun 2, 2020, 8:31:43 PM6/2/20
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From: tvor...@googlegroups.com [mailto:tvor...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Kevin M.

>>I’m still waiting for Cancel Culture to uncover Billy Crystal’s impressions (impersonations?) of Muhammad Ali from ‘80s-era SNL….

> 

>If memory serves, Ali thought they were great

 

…and then I’d see their collective head explode from the cognitive dissonance.

Dave Sikula

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Jun 3, 2020, 6:34:12 AM6/3/20
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Not to mention his Sammy Davis Jr. on "Jackie Rogers Jr,'s Hundred-Thousand Dollar Jackpot Wad" (or Christopher Guests's clueless Indian): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slVF0XSCQ4w

--Dave Sikula

Steve Timko

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Jun 4, 2020, 6:46:08 PM6/4/20
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It still ain't over.

Union files complaint against NBC, 'America's Got Talent'
By ANDREW DALTON
AP Entertainment Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Gabrielle Union has filed a complaint with the state of California over her firing from “America’s Got Talent." 

The complaint filed Thursday says NBC and the show's producers subjected Union, who is black, to racism and retaliated against her when she reported it. It cites producers' complaints about her hair and an environment that tolerated racist jokes and remarks. I

n a statement, NBC denied that Union was mistreated and said the show has a healthy culture of diversity. Last week the network released the results of an outside investigation it commissioned that said race had nothing to do with Union's firing. 

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Bob Jersey

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Jun 4, 2020, 6:52:13 PM6/4/20
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Steve Timko, to Dave Sikula and Brad Beam, today (6/04):
It still ain't over.

Union files complaint against NBC, 'America's Got Talent'
By ANDREW DALTON
AP Entertainment Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Gabrielle Union has filed a complaint with the state of California over her firing from “America’s Got Talent." 

The complaint filed Thursday says NBC and the show's producers subjected Union, who is black, to racism and retaliated against her when she reported it. It cites producers' complaints about her hair and an environment that tolerated racist jokes and remarks. I

n a statement, NBC denied that Union was mistreated and said the show has a healthy culture of diversity. Last week the network released the results of an outside investigation it commissioned that said race had nothing to do with Union's firing. 



Variety adds that she also specifically complained about NBC Ent. chairman Paul Telegdy "threatening" Union through her agent...


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bermuda999

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Jun 7, 2020, 9:35:10 AM6/7/20
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On Tuesday, June 2, 2020 at 8:23:36 PM UTC-4, Kevin M. (RPCV) wrote:


On Tue, Jun 2, 2020 at 5:19 PM Brad Beam <b....@suddenlink.net> wrote:

From: 'Bob Jersey' via TVorNotTV [mailto:tvor...@googlegroups.com]

>Moi, May 27th: in part:

> 

Union’s raising of this topic comes with eerie timeliness, (link) given the Tuesday resurfacing of a 20-year-old 'SNL' sketch in which former cast member Jimmy Fallon imitated comedian Chris Rock in full blackface." As much as I am an unashamed Colbert fan, I feel bad for Fallon...

 

I’m still waiting for Cancel Culture to uncover Billy Crystal’s impressions (impersonations?) of Muhammad Ali from ‘80s-era SNL….


 
If memory serves, Ali thought they were great

Crystal's imitation of Ali began before his time on SNL. In fact, he debuted his "15 Rounds" in front of Ali as part of a live tribute to the boxer in 1979. Crystal and Ali remained friends over the years, and he requested that Crystal speak at his funeral. After Ali's death,in 2016, Ali's family honored his request and Crystal gave one of the featured eulogies (including his imitation of Ali)

15 Rounds

Crystal's eulogy

Joe Hass

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Jun 16, 2020, 2:37:47 AM6/16/20
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I am still trying to wrap my head around how much wrong there is in that sketch while also being funny, if that makes sense.

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