CBS Show 'Mike & Molly' Makes Mean Anti-Trans Jokes
By GLAAD
Tue, February 12, 2013http://www.opposingviews.com/i/society/gay-issues/cbs-mike-molly-makes-anti-trans-jokes-cbs-commits-meeting-glaad# (http://www.opposingviews.com/i/society/gay-issues/cbs-mike-molly-makes-anti-trans-jokes-cbs-commits-meeting-glaad#)
The CBS sitcom Mike & Molly went over the line last night with an offensive scene predicated on the hateful notion that transgender people are inherently disgusting. After constituents and trans community leaders spoke out against the joke last night, GLAAD discussed the issue with CBS directly, with additional follow up planned.
The offensive scene came within the first few minutes of the February 11 episode entitled "The Princess and the Troll." In the scene, the show's main character Mike is talking with his police partner and best friend Carl about Carl's checkered romantic past of picking up downtrodden women off the street:
QuoteCarl: It's been a long time since I've trolled for bus pass ass.
Mike: (Laughing) Not since the ->-bleeped-<- incident of '08. You spent the whole night crying and gargling!
Carl: Learned a lot of lessons that night.
The use of the derogatory term "->-bleeped-<-" is offensive in and of itself, but Mike goes on to categorize what happened as a traumatic experience which left Carl disgusted and weeping with regret. The joke relies on the assumption that transgender people (and the thought of being with one) are revolting, and invites the audience to laugh right along. And last night that audience was 10.4 million people.
This sort of stuff makes me really mad to hear about. This is exactly why people are scared to transition and be true to who they are, I'm completely appalled by this. Even if I didn't get offended by this joke, it's a stretch at humor, it's ridiculous.
Just the first line in that dialogue was very offensive, even if it had been a cis joke.
I'll tell you what is really disgusting... the thought of "Mike & Molly" naked in bed together. Yuck! :icon_blah: :icon_blink:
CBS should do better than having a prime time show, starring two morbidly obese people, pandering to the lowest levels of humor in this day and age of nutrition, and healthy living. What sort of example is CBS setting for children? It's okay to sit around on the sofa all day eating junk food and to use pejorative terms towards people? I've never watched this show, and will be sure to avoid it.
The part that really shocked me was that people still watch CBS :P
You have to admit, it's kind of funny lol.
"bus pass ass"
I don't find it humorous at all, I think it lacks imagination and creativity.
says the transsexual.
Do you get what I'm trying to say?
Learn to laugh at yourself.
African Americans have been doing it for a while now with "black jokes", give it a try.
Nothing is funny with something is portrayed in a positive light.
No, the "joke" is simply not funny. Especially the "gargling" reference.
"Bus pass ass" might be funny, if the show claims to be on some "cutting edge" of humor...but imho sitcoms haven't been funny for a couple of decades now. What, did all the good writers die?
Quote from: Beth Andrea on February 18, 2013, 02:41:35 PM
No, the "joke" is simply not funny. Especially the "gargling" reference.
"Bus pass ass" might be funny, if the show claims to be on some "cutting edge" of humor...but imho sitcoms haven't been funny for a couple of decades now. What, did all the good writers die?
Once Roseanne was over.
I remember a story very much like that scene was told at my old job like it was funny. It's not.
As someone who was in the closet at the time, it's not funny.
Not now that I'm out either.
I am the last person who needs to laugh at myself. I have a good time with my friends and I have no issue at laughing at myself, I do dumb stuff in general just to make others laugh, so I'm not an extremely uptight person, but this joke lacks humor and it's offensive, it's as simple as that.
Quote from: =celestica= on February 18, 2013, 02:33:41 PM
says the transsexual.
Do you get what I'm trying to say?
Learn to laugh at yourself.
African Americans have been doing it for a while now with "black jokes", give it a try.
Nothing is funny with something is portrayed in a positive light.
+1
Someone once told me; It's a joke, not a dick. Don't take it so hard.
No one is taking it too hard. All you have done is blow it out of proportion.
Well, I frankly don't care about CBS. I don't even watch their programming. However, I think that the timing of this joke is off. I don't mind laughing at myself, but I don't think that all trans people should be thrown into this inescapable box. In today's society, people know that racist jokes are just examples of people poking at stereotypes. That's the biggest difference: the fact that people know that those jokes are simply stupid stereotypes and laugh not because they think the stereotypes are true, but because of how ridiculous everyone knows they are. I can assure you that if you were to walk out of a Chris Rock show and ask the audience what they sincerely thought of black people, they would tell you that everything you heard on stage may have been funny, but were just statements of stereotypes not to be taken seriously.
Until people are more educated about transgender individuals and know that we're more than just a bunch of ugly, revolting prostitutes, I don't think it's right to be making these jokes, especially with all of the sheep watching the television.
Quote from: =celestica= on February 18, 2013, 02:33:41 PM
Nothing is funny with something is portrayed in a positive light.
Not true. You can provide a smart retort and be considered funny, but smart nonetheless. For example, if someone asks you, "What's up?", you can say, "The ceiling." Badum tsh! :P
Quote from: EmmaS on February 18, 2013, 11:48:43 PM
No one is taking it too hard. All you have done is blow it out of proportion.
I see what you did there.
Or, what you might have done without realizing.
That's funny. :angel:
Quote from: JennX on February 13, 2013, 05:31:58 PM
I'll tell you what is really disgusting... the thought of "Mike & Molly" naked in bed together. Yuck! :icon_blah: :icon_blink:
CBS should do better than having a prime time show, starring two morbidly obese people, pandering to the lowest levels of humor in this day and age of nutrition, and healthy living. What sort of example is CBS setting for children? It's okay to sit around on the sofa all day eating junk food and to use pejorative terms towards people? I've never watched this show, and will be sure to avoid it.
I wonder if the classic television show, "All in the Family" would have ever made it on the air today. Archie Bunker was satirized as an out of touch bigot.
All this is political correctness run amok.
I'm one of those trans women that make trans jokes a lot. I love to make light of all the PC stuff. But, I do not like the term "->-bleeped-<-" and I do not think it is funny to say you had to gargle after kissing a trans woman. That kind of stuff helps perpetuate the idea that we are not "real" women.
Quote from: Pleasingly Plump Jamie D on February 19, 2013, 03:14:59 AM
I wonder if the classic television show, "All in the Family" would have ever made it on the air today. Archie Bunker was satirized as an out of touch bigot.
All this is political correctness run amok.
All in the family was a great show. I remember watching reruns of that when I was a kid back when we had 4 channels in the pre-cable days. Late night TV was also MUCH better back in those days with "Movies Til Dawn".
Awesome.
Quote from: Pleasingly Plump Jamie D on February 19, 2013, 03:14:59 AM
I wonder if the classic television show, "All in the Family" would have ever made it on the air today. Archie Bunker was satirized as an out of touch bigot.
All this is political correctness run amok.
No... it probably would've been blocked by the network censors. I like humor, and can take jokes and make fun of myself with the best of them. Cis or trans. But... and here is the big but... this is the same situation as a bunch of upper-middle class white kids using the "N-word" or a straight hetero person using the "F-word" in reference to a gay male. This sort of usage and context is never correct or acceptable. Let alone on Prime Time Network TV. I have a few MTF friends and yes, we will call each other ->-bleeped-<-, manly he-b!tch, and a few other phrases we choose... but guess what... we can and do use those words cause we belong to that group and we know each other, we do so in jest, and it's done in private. That's the difference. Just as when two African American people use the N-word in talking to one another... it's a different thing when a White/Latin/Asian person uses that same word. The meaning, context, and point of reference is not the same. That's the issue here.
Quote from: JennX on February 19, 2013, 11:24:33 AM
manly he-b!tch
Funniest thing ever! I have the power!!!!
Now cartoons are where it's at. ;D
Quote from: DianaP on February 19, 2013, 11:27:29 AM
Funniest thing ever! I have the power!!!!
Now cartoons are where it's at. ;D
I know. Trust me, if y'all heard my friends and I go at each other, then you would be on the floor laughing. We can be bad... very bad. But at the end of the day, we're still friends, and we all still love each other.
Quote from: JennX on February 19, 2013, 11:24:33 AM
No... it probably would've been blocked by the network censors. I like humor, and can take jokes and make fun of myself with the best of them. Cis or trans. But... and here is the big but... this is the same situation as a bunch of upper-middle class white kids using the "N-word" or a straight hetero person using the "F-word" in reference to a gay male. This sort of usage and context is never correct or acceptable. Let alone on Prime Time Network TV. I have a few MTF friends and yes, we will call each other ->-bleeped-<-, manly he-b!tch, and a few other phrases we choose... but guess what... we can and do use those words cause we belong to that group and we know each other, we do so in jest, and it's done in private. That's the difference. Just as when two African American people use the N-word in talking to one another... it's a different thing when a White/Latin/Asian person uses that same word. The meaning, context, and point of reference is not the same. That's the issue here.
Jenn, you put your finger on the crux of the problem. Speech codes - hate speech - political correctness - et cetera. They stifle free thought, creativity, and the exchange of ideas. If a television show has odious characters and an unpleasant tone, it will fail - much like "Work It" did last year after two airings.
If the show in question bothers you, simply don't watch. I've never seen it, personally.
Quote from: Pleasingly Plump Jamie D on February 19, 2013, 12:09:46 PM
If the show in question bothers you, simply don't watch. I've never seen it, personally.
There you go.
I don't bother with most TV shows simply because they suck.
Quote from: Pleasingly Plump Jamie D on February 19, 2013, 12:09:46 PM
Jenn, you put your finger on the crux of the problem. Speech codes - hate speech - political correctness - et cetera. They stifle free thought, creativity, and the exchange of ideas. If a television show has odious characters and an unpleasant tone, it will fail - much like "Work It" did last year after two airings.
If the show in question bothers you, simply don't watch. I've never seen it, personally.
I hear you. But the thing is, network censors never would let "Mike nor Molly" use the N-word on the air (or a bunch of other pejorative words). It would be blocked. But ->-bleeped-<- is okay? That's not right in my book.
Quote from: JennX on February 19, 2013, 12:33:03 PM
I hear you. But the thing is, network censors never would let "Mike nor Molly" use the N-word on the air (or a bunch of other pejorative words). It would be blocked. But ->-bleeped-<- is okay? That's not right in my book.
Network censors are charged with protecting network ratings and appearances. Did you ever see "Roots"? That word was used extensively. And that is a landmark in network television history.
Though I don't particularly like "->-bleeped-<-," because of it's association with porn, I don't see it as a pejorative either.
I just think that these jokes can wait until a time when they are sure to be viewed as nothing more than jokes. Unfortunately, with a strong majority of trans depictions on TV, some peoples' only exposure to trans individuals, being negative, it doesn't sound like that will happen soon. :-\
Mike and Molly's demographic probably doesn't have long to live anyways so their opinions on the subject are of little interest to me.
Quote from: MaidofOrleans on February 20, 2013, 01:14:13 AM
Mike and Molly's demographic probably doesn't have long to live anyways so their opinions on the subject are of little interest to me.
^ Look there! ^
Fat jokes!!!
Now I'm a-gettin' steamed ... ;)
Have any of you seen hangover 2, funny but I do get where you all come from, suprised this even gathered a uproar, hangover went further...no one wants to be seen as a joke though. I see the world not acknowledging trans and being uneducated but complaining angry on a forum wont do much. Get active and help educate. Every safe chance you get or this will continue. How many of you actually have made a effort to educate. Not to bs anyone's feelings but I know guys and gals who whine in a circle but just sit back and take it. Screw fat and floppy of cbs the show is mediocre humor and filled with degrading things, even the sorry actors do not see they are a joke...sorry if I offended anyone my sleepy opinion of truth.
Ps I'm chunky so my fat jokes are laughing at myself too
I think we need to be very careful of not being precious. Jokes are jokes and in many ways break down the barriers no matter how stupid and crude they are.
I haven't met any lawyers suing over lawyer jokes.
And how about 'Little Britain' ?
Quote from: Cindy James on February 20, 2013, 03:49:41 AM
I think we need to be very careful of not being precious. Jokes are jokes and in many ways break down the barriers no matter how stupid and crude they are.
I haven't met any lawyers suing over lawyer jokes.
And how about 'Little Britain' ?
Well said
Quote from: Cindy James on February 20, 2013, 03:49:41 AM
I think we need to be very careful of not being precious. Jokes are jokes and in many ways break down the barriers no matter how stupid and crude they are.
I haven't met any lawyers suing over lawyer jokes.
And how about 'Little Britain' ?
Ditto.
Joelene
Little Britain stinks.
League Of Gentlemen was a million times better.