'F--- Sister Jean'

The closest parallel I can think of is Jake Nevin, the old Villanova trainer who had ALS and had turned into more of a mascot by the time of their 1985 championship run.

If someone had started shit-talking Jake, he/she would’ve been tarred and feathered, if not worse, immediately.

There’s a fine line between being “edgy” and just being an asshole.

 

I think it was the "fuck jesus" line more than the "fuck touchdown jesus" that set people off.

 

Seinfeld's current show demonstrates how much of a comedy nerd he is. He can talk jokes all day.

What's interesting about him to me is that he's clean, but he's not nice. There is like a Punnett Square for comedians. Dirty/Clean and Nice/Mean. Carrot Top would be Dirty but Nice. Seinfeld is the exact opposite. Clean but Mean.

 

It's like people assuming that Bubba Watson is a good person because he is religious.

 

It's not just cursing, but sex also. Not hard to make people laugh when you're talking about sex.

Seinfeld the person may be mean, but his comedy isn't. The cheap laugh is making fun of celebrities. He doesn't do that. If he's not nice on stage, it's a detachment from and general distaste of other people or taking shots at a cartoon or composite, but I've never heard him joke at the expense of a particular person.

 

I don't mean shots at particular people. But there is a general sense of disdain in his comedy at the idiocy of people. And as a person, he doesn't seem "nice." He seems like he would be a very good friend, but he also seems like someone who spends a lot of his time judging people and almost always comes down on the side of: idiot.

In terms of shows and their philosophies, I'd put Seinfeld and Parks & Rec in opposite corners, because they have opposite hearts. Does that make sense?

 

Jerry's misanthropy was one of the character constants of Seinfeld the series. Was that taken from real life? I dunno, but I'd bet at least a little was.

 

I don't think we're disagreeing. I'm just saying that I find his kind of mean to be more of a general crankiness that to me doesn't compromise his act. Comics who curse, joke about sex or call people fat I think are less talented / skilled even if they get the same laugh.

 

Working clean allowed Cosby to easier hide who he was.

 

Perhaps, but that's not that relevant to the discussion. I don't think we now have to assume that working clean makes you more likely to be evil.

 

Might want to ask Keith Hernandez about that. Jerry refused to help him move!!!

 

Totally agree.
Remember the movie For the Boys ... scene between Bette Midler and James Caan, where Midler just finished her first USO act with Caan. He was ready to send her home, because a few minutes into the set she went straight for dick/sex jokes. He labeled her an amateur.
It was a movie, but I think that's true... I can't stand cheap comedies like 2 and Half Men that pretty much 20 minutes worth of sex jokes. It's cheap and easy.