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I'm sure my opinion here is not going to be a popular one, but frankly, I never cared for the man and will not miss him at all.
This is a man who made his living by being loud, obnoxious, and insulting to every group of people imaginable. His "jokes" were based on stereotypes of different groups of people. Just saying whatever comes to mind without having any filter is not comedy in my opinion.
On the one hand, he was very funny.
But sometimes mean. I don't think telling a 70 year old Jimmy Stewart that it's time to go back to the home is actually very funny. And there were those entertainment figures who didn't like or understand his humor, and yet they were victims, as well.
But another big complaint I had about Rickles is that he just recycled the same gags over and over and over...for years. Go watch 10 of Dean Martin's roasts in a row where Rickles is one of the roasters. Repeat, repeat, repeat. Watch Rickles in 2 shows 10 years apart. Repeat, repeat, repeat.
But sometimes mean. I don't think telling a 70 year old Jimmy Stewart that it's time to go back to the home is actually very funny. And there were those entertainment figures who didn't like or understand his humor, and yet they were victims, as well.
But another big complaint I had about Rickles is that he just recycled the same gags over and over and over...for years. Go watch 10 of Dean Martin's roasts in a row where Rickles is one of the roasters. Repeat, repeat, repeat. Watch Rickles in 2 shows 10 years apart. Repeat, repeat, repeat.
I'm sure my opinion here is not going to be a popular one, but frankly, I never cared for the man and will not miss him at all.
This is a man who made his living by being loud, obnoxious, and insulting to every group of people imaginable. His "jokes" were based on stereotypes of different groups of people. Just saying whatever comes to mind without having any filter is not comedy in my opinion.
You have every right to your opinion. I half agree with you, since I thought he was very funny half of the time. As he got older, I think he ran out of material, but had to keep up the same image. I've heard for many years, however, that he was a wonderful, generous human being, so that was just a character he created.
All great comics go downhill at some point. George Carlin, maybe the greatest comic of all, was doing fart jokes near the end. Rodney Dangerfield was still milking "I get no respect" right up to the end. Henny Youngman---"take my wife...". Etc, etc.
But sometimes mean. I don't think telling a 70 year old Jimmy Stewart that it's time to go back to the home is actually very funny...
Or well thought out in the sense that it was an easy jab that could have been effectively used on anyone over 45 if one had a good delivery, and that he had.
Just as in life, someone can throw another a dig and disguise it as a compliment.
Rickles with a little more forethought, could have taken a classier approach and thrown Jimmy a compliment disguised a slam.
I say forethought because not only do the roasters write or have their act written well in advance, some, as in the case of the Comedy Central Roasts of the last decade or so, actually do a run-through of the whole show the day before the taping, so everyone can hear what is going to say and then rehearse their reactions.
I wouldn't be surprised if the occasional roast-ee supplied some of their own digs to one or more of the others.
I sure was sad to hear the news and watched a lot of clips. RIP
I've never found him funny and wonder why insult comics even exist. Maybe because some live vicariously hearing said what they would never have the courage to say out loud themselves.
I've never found him funny and wonder why insult comics even exist. Maybe because some live vicariously hearing said what they would never have the courage to say out loud themselves.
Oh please, insulting someone else for laughs has been going on in one form or another for literally hundreds of years.
Years ago it was things like "your mother wears combat boots", or whatever.
What career comics like Mr. Don Rickles did was elevate it to entertainment and a way to make a living.
You only have to watch vintage cartoons or films from recently as the 1930's or 1940's to see "insulting" humor. Much of the gags from Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Foghorn Leghorn et al were all insulting jokes. Much of them went over children's heads then and now which was as it should have been; those cartoons originally ran between "A" and "B" pictures at movies houses along with newsreels. Thus a good amount of content was aimed at adults.
Comedy from Mr. Rickels era was streets better than the filth you get today from so called "comedians" like Chris Rock. That man and others like him cannot go two words without dropping a "F" bomb or some other vulgarity.
Don Rickels was never vulgar and obviously loved and respected given the length of his career and honors awarded by his peers. Many of the latter weren't even born when Mr. Rickels was at his peak, but he never the less helped mentor and otherwise give younger generations their start. Jimmy Kimmel all but broke out into full wailing like a baby on his show talking about DR.
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As he got older, I think he ran out of material, but had to keep up the same image. I've heard for many years, however, that he was a wonderful, generous human being, so that was just a character he created.
