Too Hot For TV

Game of (Sticks and) Stones

I heard about the new Dave Chappelle special, Sticks and Stones, and couldn't wait to finish the long work day to get home and watch it.

A lot of it was hysterical and I was laughing loudly, sounding like some kind of sick donkey. I haven't liked all of his stuff as much, but found this one really funny.

I didn't realize the backlash it was getting until later, but I could have predicted it. Outrage and being offended is par for the course these days. Plus, I won't deny that Dave pushed the envelope on that special and said some shocking things.

They might not have been so shocking even ten years ago. Seeing older TV shows, movies and comedy now often surprises me as I realize how much things have changed, and how the vast majority of entertainment is walking on eggshells much more than they did back then. And this trend continues as you look back even further.

Dave Chappelle is one of very few who is willing to take on the current culture and face it head on. With his money, he doesn't need to fear anything on that level, but he's so high profile that I do believe it takes courage to do what he does the way he does.

I for one applaud him. The special was really funny, but even if I didn't like it, I would still have to give him huge credit for speaking his mind, being funny the way he wants to be funny, and facing up to so many issues that are so delicate. I'm very much a fan of people being allowed to say what they want.

There are many angles to this story - the outrage culture, politics, social dynamics…and recently our old friend RottenTomatoes.com.

As of this writing, only six critics have reviewed the special at all, and until youtube critic Jeremy Jahns added his review, it was sitting at a 0% from critics. Jeremy's single positive review brought it up to 17%. Kudos to Jeremy Jahns for that.

And the audience score for this initially 0% critical review?

The audience score was sitting at 99% last I checked.

There have been several high profile movies and shows with a wild disparity between the mainstream entertainment critics and regular audiences. Not many with THIS kind of disparity, that I know of.

Interesting, interesting times.

Have a good day!

-Banes


my previous Rotten Tomatoes posts:

https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/news/2019/feb/28/gag-orders/

https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/news/2019/feb/28/gag-orders-2/