Check this out from October 15, 2006 - Michael Richards was getting NO LAUGHS

[Catherine Vincent]

Michael Richards at the Improv
by funnyman99(Sun Oct 15 2006 02:46:56 ) Ignore this User | Report Abuse

UPDATED Sun Oct 15 2006 17:46:31

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Let me first say that Michael Richard's Kramer is one of the best performances in the history of television. He was an integral part of making Seinfeld one of the greatest shows ever. Wow. A couple friends of mine were hanging out at the bar of the Improv in L.A. Someone told us that Michael Richards was performing there at that time. So we snuck in to watch a few minutes of what he was doing. Let me tell you...it was sad. Really sad. He wasn't even telling any jokes. He was just going on and on about politics. His rambling didn't even make any sense, and he was getting NO laughs. There wasn't much of an audience (as if he didn't look pathetic enough), but you could tell people were really shocked to see such an indelible comedy icon reduced to a washed up old guy muttering unintelligible comments on prostitutes and the bible or something. Whatever he was talking about didn't make any sesne and sure as hell wasn't getting any laughs. The drunken comedian that went on after him spent the first five minutes of his set just talking about how terrible Michael Richards was (that comedian wasn't much better, but at least he had some attempt of jokes) Sure he doesn't have to work another day in his life, but still...wow. Sad.

That must be why those guys were heckling him because he really wasn't funny.

[hippiechick]

1. Uhm, he's never BEEN funny, IMO.

:shrug: That he was heckled comes as no surprise.

[danalytical]

3. Yeah Kramer from Seinfeld wasn't funny

right..... :sarcasm:

[hippiechick]

5. ....never watched it ...

... sorry that you feel the need to devalue others' opinions because of your keen sense of entertainment. :eyes:

[Little Wing]

7. Yet

you're basing your absolute judgement that he's NEVER BEEN funny while openly acknowledging that you have even seen the huge majority of his work.

nice.

[Bridget Burke]

8. He could be funny with good writers.

On his own, The Guy Who Played Kramer apparently has nothing to offer.

[danalytical]

10. That's what I was thinking

Kramer was hilarious. I think the fact that Seinfeld is considered probably the best tv comedy ever is atestament to his comedic skills. OK, so Michael Richards turns out be a hostile racist. That's a shame, but it doesn't change the fact that he played Kramer and did superb job on the show.

[Parche]

17. steinfeld

The whole show was not even funny
and how many times can Kramer fall down, and wiggle around?
He isnt funny, and the show isnt and never was funny, it was the most excruciating pain to watch.
Julia Louis Dryfus is among the non-funny people of that show also.

[danalytical]

21. Yeah

and Star Wars sucked too. While we're are it, Lord Of the Rings was crap, The Beatles were overhyped, and Water isn't all that refreshing.

[Parche]

23. star wars

Yes Star Wars sucked, Lord of the Rings was good, The Beatles were fantastic
but drinking toilet water is for republicans

[danalytical]

24. Empire Strikes Back, not good?

Come on, it's a classic Greek tragedy. Excellent movie overall.

[WinkyDink]

28. SW? LotR? Were these comedies? Trying to see the relevance here.

[WinkyDink]

27. "Kramer" was a scripted character.

[valerief]

2. Wow, he must have a few loose screws. nt

[xultar]

4. First off good comedians know how to handle hecklers. That's what it is all about.

Second he sucks, he knows he sucks and the audience knew he knew he sucked.

The guy was frustrated cuz he sucked and went on a fuckin rampage and pulled the mask off his racist ass. People show who they really are when they are angry. MR is a racist fuck who isn't funny. That is the WORST kind of stand up comedian. If you're gonna be a racist you can get a way with a lot of shit if you're funny. Just about any non-black comedian can say the n-word if they are funny.

[hsher]

16. Jon Stewart used the n-word and it was funny

On TDS, he drawled, "nigga PLEAZZZZZZE." I have to admit I was startled at first, but it was funny.

Edited to add: It was the episode where Tony Snow has his first press conference at the White House, and right off the bat lapses into several unfortunate racial stereotypes. Jon then turned around and said, "I had high expectations for Tony Snow coming into the WH... but I guess I'll have to JEW DOWN those expectations... as long as Tony pledges to keep the White House SPIC... and span..." and so he went. He ended this cute monologue with, "And you thought we wouldn't catch you on that, Tony?" And he looked sidelong bemused at the camera, and said, "nigga PLEAZZZZZZZE."

As a black girl, though, I noticed Jon unfortunately looked a little scared as he said it, and a little apologetic after he said it. I was like YOU GO HONEY! Don't be worried! You have my permission! LOL

[Catherine Vincent]

19. I wish I had seen that episode. I'll bet it was funny.

I love Jon Stewart!

[hsher]

20. I'm a Jon Stewart addict... he's like crack

I gotta have some JS rock every single day. Have you seen my blog, the one with the regular Daily Show comic strip?

[Catherine Vincent]

22. No, I haven't.

I will check this thread tonight and check it out. (can't view blogs while at work) :hi:

[xultar]

26. The thing is Jon is funny. He doesn't need to feel like he should apologise.

Second. Jon isn't a racist so his shit is cool. I hope this situation doesn't cause other comedians to clam up. If they are funny it's cool. If they suck and are racist it ain't. Even a black comic who sucks can't say nigga.

[casus belli]

25. "People show who they really are when they are angry" ------ Nail. Head. n/t

[Roland99]

6. Going from acting to stand-up is not an easy thing

Notice it usually goes the other way around?

[undeterred]

9. Kramer was hilarious on Seinfeld

In fact, the 3 non-Seinfeld characters were all incredibly funny and original. The fact that Kramer is a lousy standup comedian and is apparently racist doesn't detract from his excellent performance on Seinfeld, any more than the strange behavior of Tom Cruise with regard to his personal life takes away from his excellent performances as a movie actor. Mel Gibson is at least a good actor, whether or not he is a despicable human being.

Actors and comedians are just that, not moral leaders.

[danalytical]

11. And there it is

in plain English.

it's called...

Reality.

[Catherine Vincent]

12. Unfortunately I didn't think he or the show itself was funny.

But apparently a lot of people did think the show was funny.

[danalytical]

14. You know I can understand not liking a show

but it seems to me like a lot of people here are jumping in and saying things like that because of this racist diatribe by Richards. It's silly. The two things have no bearing over one another, why does it matter if you or someone else "never liked him or Seinfeld anyway"? It's the same as when people started claiming South Park isn't funny and the creators are a bunch of neocons, because they made fun of Al Gore or Liberals.

I don't know, all this disingenuous self important high and mighty stuff irks me. It's like. "look at me I knew this person was no good before this happened, I'm better than everybody else because I think this person has no value anyway".

I'm not referring to any specific person, it's just the general concept behind that sort of response.

Michael Richards is a tool, but his work was obviously good. You ropinion may be that he isn't funny, but what does that have to do with his racist remarks?

[Catherine Vincent]

18. Yes, that's my opinion only. I just don't think he or the show was funny.

And everytime the topic of "Seinfeld" comes up, I always give my opinion that I didn't think the show was funny. But I try and always state that apparently a lot of people thought it was or else it wouldn't have lasted 12 seasons. So no matter what the situation, if it's about "Seinfeld", I give my opinion of that show. Sorry.

[The Deacon]

13. THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

A point I gave tried to make many times in the past: if a celebs actions (outside of in-performance characters) disappoint you, it is because of your expectations, not the performer's failings. I frankly don't care about celebs' marriages, trips to rehab or political leanings - unless, of course, their political statements involve actions over & above some pointless mouthings at the Academy Awards or something.

[Graybeard]

15. Years before "Seinfeld" Richards was...

...on a show playing a drugged-out weather man. His routine
was exactly the same as the one he used for the Kramer
character. On Seinfeld the spastic movements were not
attributed to drugs ( too controversial ) but rather to
stupidity. Richards is a one-trick-pony. Does one thing well,
but lacks range.