Simon Cowell To End Lazy Gay Jokes In Honor Of Gay Woman
I don't watch American Idol. For one thing, I am 102 years old. What is there for me in American Idol? Is there medicine in it? How about a comfortable place to sit away from the window because it's too cold by the window? No. There is nothing for me in American Idol. Besides, I watched season one in its entirety, and everyone who watched season one knows that no one on that show will ever be better than Kelly Clarkson, and no one on that show will ever be more hilarious and awful than Justin Guarini. We passed the peak years ago.
But even though I don't watch it anymore, I still remember Simon Cowell's constant insistence on the homosexuality of Ryan Seacrest. It was a pretty bold tactic for a man who wears shiny v-neck shirts to show off his chest hair and orders his teeth whitener and fake tanner in industrial quantities. Well, apparently that is all going to change. Now that Ellen DeGeneres will be a guest judge, the producers are suddenly second-guessing the lazy borderline hate-speech they've allowed to go on for years.
From the National Enquirer (via Celebitchy):
Don't expect to hear Simon Cowell needle Ryan Seacrest about being gay on "American Idol" this season, sources say."Idol" execs have warned both stars to cut out their usual gay banter when talk-show host Ellen Degeneres, who came out of the closet years ago, joins the series, insiders say.
Simon and Ryan have had their fun poking at each other's sexuality for eight seasons now, even though neither one of them is gay.
"With an openly gay woman coming on board, an effort is being made to make her feel welcome," a source divulged.
"Simon's been told, and to a lesser extent Ryan too, that the act is played out anyway, so no more ribbing each other about being gay. The 'Idol' bosses don't want it."
Simon has ribbed Ryan mercilessly about his sexuality for years, even advising him to "lose the beard" when he briefly dated actress Teri Hatcher. Meanwhile, Ryan has joked that Simon is a cross-dresser.
"Idol" boss Simon Fuller was never fond of the gay joshing, according to another source, but the show's former producer Nigel Lythgoe thought it was hilarious.
"Nigel thought the gay talk was over the heads of most of the kids who watch the show," the source told The Enquirer. "But Simon (Fuller) says with Ellen coming on board, he wants it stopped."
You know how kids are, they never pick up on things at all. That's why racism never really caught on, because of how it was just too over everyone's heads growing up, so they never learned to intrinsically hate each other. Racism: the Great Failed Experiment.
Ugh. On the one hand it is good that one of the most popular and influential shows on American television of the past decade, geared primarily to CHILDREN, has FINALLY decided that maybe they should cool it with all of the stupid gay jokes, but on the other hand it is incredible that it is only happening now and only happening because Ellen DeGeneres is going to be on the show. In a way that's almost worse? For one thing, it's condescending. Oh, America could handle the gay jokes for the past seven years, but Ellen DeGeneres is going to fall apart the first time Simon Cowell cracks wise about his embroidered jeans? Right. And for another thing: what about doing it because it's the right thing to do, and not because you want to make a half-hearted attempt at appeasing the politically powerful gay woman who is joining the show?
Boo, this show I don't watch. For this I will continue to not watch you.
Posted by Gabe at 3:05 PM in Backlashes
Tags: American Idol | Ellen Degeneres | Homophobia | Homosexuality | Randy Jackson | Ryan Seacrest | Simon Cowell | Yuck
Seacrest, Out!
Score = 14
Stop promoting the concept that racism is learned. Your baby is racist. Duh.
Score = 1
Though I'm actually somewhat serious. I'm tired of the old "Racism is learned" thing. Racism is innate through the natural fear of the unknown, reinforced and expanded upon by hateful parents, removed by a proper upbringing and overcome by decent people. Fixing minor flaws in old well meaning statements is a strange pet peeve of me.
People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones, but really no one should throw stones. General ban on stone throwing.
Score = -2
What?
Score = 3
Um. That the article doesn't really suggest that racism is innate, because that's a silly thing to suggest. Racism is a complicated social phenomenon, influenced by a large number of variables (many of which may have genetic components, sure) and realized differently in each individual.
But anyway, who cares? Even if people WERE born "racist," that wouldn't suddenly make it an acceptable perspective.
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Nowhere did I say that racism is acceptable. Far from that. You know, if you cared to read my comment at all or something like that. I was merely saying that "Racism is learned" is a trite and incorrect statement.
Beyond that, I don't agree with the article. That was the non-serious part of my first comment. But I do dislike the implication that racism is this inorganic thing that is perpetuated by bad people.
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You're right, I'm sorry. The second paragraph of my comment was probably not necessary (though I stand by the first). You weren't suggesting that racism was acceptable at all, I just kind of projected it onto your comment because I worry that whenever we identify a genetic component to a behavior or attitude, we run the risk of making a moral implication about it ("he can't help it, so it's not his fault, so it's okay!"). But, again, you were totally not saying that. Sorry!
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Not to be contrarian, but that's a great example of Newsweek's sensationalist headlines (another example: "Aliens exist!"). What the article really ends up definitively proving is only that babies are able to differentiate between races. The other observations (kids unable to imagine a black Santa, survey responses indicating negative feelings towards African-Americans etc) were traced back to cultural factors.
So in conclusion, Gabe is tots right and racism is kinda learned. Sorry to get all semantics on yo ass.
Score = 9
What's up with all the sensational newsweek covers of late? Don't get me wrong, the articles are still killer pieces of journalism, but the covers keep playing them up with Weekly World News headlines.
Douche chill, Jon Meacham.
Score = 5
Cool story bro!
Score = 0
Cool story bro!
Score = 0
You're just bitter cause that one unregistered troll called you "Gay-be" that one time. Get over it! Gay jokes are one of the laziest ways to be hilarious. The laziest way is scatology, and you can't tell me that poop isn't funny.
Score = 14
"and orders his teeth whitener and fake tanner in industrial quantities." Do you know this because their orders were mixed up once?
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* "your orders"
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Wait, Seacrest isn't gay? I thought that was one of those Anderson Cooper style open secrets.
Score = 9
fake.
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See, it sounds like Simon Fuller's the voice of reason in this story, until you read the phrase '"Idol" boss Simon Fuller'. I don't know what to believe now.
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i hope they dont bring back sanjaya then
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Simon Fuller 1, Nigel Lythgoe -100000000000000000000. Was it really hilarious, Nigel? Hilarious? You do know what hilarious means, right? Just checking.
Score = 7
Wait I thought they were both gay. Now that show doesn't make sense anymore.
Score = 11
after Adam Lambert and now this, I would stay the storm in no longer gathering, the storm is here! its raining tolerance and basic human decency! gross!
Score = 2
You don't watch "American Idol" but you source the National Inquirer? Your battle choices are amusing.
Score = 5
Well, at least they're stopping now. Also, Ellen DeGeneres. Awesome.
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