Dark Side of Comedy

There are some big names that I know and I've see some of the work they have done and there are some where I think I've never heard that name before. There are some where the dark side is past trauma, mental health issues, drug and alcohol abuse and even death but others seem less dark or serious along the lines of oh you got canceled because people disagreed with you or because of reports of abusive behavior. There is a big difference between psychological issues linked to past abuse leading to drug use and death and your show was canceled because of racist and sexist comments. One of those is much more self inflected than the other.

They repeatedly say from the beginning through the end of the second season that comedy is a male field and women are not welcome and do not reach the same level as men. What about Lucille Ball? She is considered one of the greatest comedians ever and her work is still being copied and redone because it is so good and timeless. Add in Carol Burnett and Vicki Lawrence from Mama's Family and the cast of Golden Girls. If you watch the Bewitched tv series the husband is the punch line, I Dream of Jeannie again the man is the punch line and yet they claim that most of the time women are just there for men to make fun of. Yet that doesn't seem to be the case. Lucille Ball was the president of a production company that was at the one of the largest and most profitable, it was started because nobody wanted to work with her husband Desi Arnaz because he was Cuban. Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz separated because he developed a drinking problem. Where is Lucille Ball's story she is a bigger cultural icon than Ellen Degenerass whose dark side was leaving her talk show after reports of racist and sexist remarks. The one created a company to film and produce a sitcom she wrote and starred in, the other went from staring in a sitcom someone else wrote to talk show host to scandal and out of the public eye. Don't complain comedy I a male dominated field and then ignore one of the biggest comedians in pop culture history who happens to be female. Then again they didn't have anything about Adam Sandler or Jim Carry or Will Smith. Sandler and Carry might not have a dark side to discuss despite being great comedians but Smith does and not just because he punched someone on live tv during an award show.

"Vice" has again another interesting series this time "Dark Side of Comedy" which looks at the tragic and often controversial pop culture changing stage days of Andrew Dice Clay, Rosanne, Richard Pryor, and Dustin Diamond and even John Belusi. As episodes show vintage stage footage and classic interviews with each and many historians of media and entertainment and pop culture buffs give their takes on how each comedian impacted society and it's times. And actors shown as they portray moments that involve the real life comedian and critical and real happenings of big moments in their life. Overall it's revealing and tragic showing that being funny and on stage is not always what it seems to be as underneath the clown is crying!

I love stand up comedy, huge fan of stand up comedy. I will watch any decent series that deals with, analyzes, dissects stand up comedy and stand up comedians. I understand his series is different and deals with the "dark side of comedy". However, a little balance would be greatly appreciated. Many of the subjects are great comedians who had a "dark" side in one way or another. But, how about a little more credit to their incredible achievements, perhaps in part a result of their "dark" side? I admit I am only three episodes in and thus my review is premature. But, thus far I am not impressed. For one thing, Dave Foley's narration: Dave Foley is hilarious, much admired, huge success. However, his narration comes across as monotone, too much of a bummer. We can highlight the positive and still get at the "dark" issues with which each comedian dealt. Even more so, I really hate the recreations. These are in every episode so far. They add nothing, they are artificial. I don't understand the rationale for using these recreations. I don't need some still photo of someone vaguely representing the comedian or the situation being described in the narration.

I've tuned in for the Chris Farley episode as I was a fan way back. So there is some behind the scenes stuff at SNL during Farley's run that's really interesting. There's a lot of cool talking heads who paint a good picture of the past. I watched the fall of Andrew Dice Clay. I was a fan of his movie. But I had never seen his stand up. Like jeez. So it was cool too see behind the scenes footage and the hidden stress of the production. Over in the UK I had no idea of the events around the release. But yeah he's a bit of a weird one. The Rosanne episode. Wow I vaguely remember some items in the news. Didn't know how far down the rabbit hole that she went. The later episodes I'm going to watch. I'll have to admit I only know Richard Pryor and Dustin Diamond! (Bit scared of that one) of the later episodes. Dave Foley provides a cool narration and the show is well produced. But yeah there is a car crash element which does make some parts of the show fastinating.

I feel extremely attracted to the topic, the way its brought to you as a timeline of comic revolution is great in each episode. The small drawback iso vice have the authority to degrade moralespeak every word a comedian is spittin out, even though its crushing and blowing people apart. I think its important that every candidate should have their say in a balanced documentary its not balanced at all, but still, the way they have smudged together the ''history of outspoken and partly misunderstood comedians'' , the use of clips from shows, media and so on are a magnificent throw of the dice.

Im a grumpy old man that loves slap stick more than snap lip, but there are some moments that are real good, rude and raw, so to everyone out there that wanna be stealin the show, this series may be a tip off what to let go on the stage...