Netflix has a new Ricky Gervais comedy special out today. Based on the news stories I’ve seen about it, he seems to have once again decided to make trans people the butt of a whole bunch of his jokes. Not exactly surprising. I watched a couple of the clips, and eh, oh well, what are you going to do, right?
I debated writing a whole post about the special in which I try to thread the needle between philosophy and media criticism, looking back on the history of stand-up comedy, blah blah, etc. — but then remembered that I already wrote that piece last year when Dave Chappelle put out a special, also on Netflix.
So rather than rehash those points (I think I take a fairly nuanced approach in that piece), I’m just going to recommend that people read last year’s story. Just replace references to Chappelle with Gervais in your mind:
There is one thing that I can’t help but think about…
Right-wingers love to yell things like, “Go woke, go broke!” I… do not get it. I especially do not get it when their example of “woke” is Netflix, which has been churning out “un-woke” content for as long as it’s been making original programming.
Ricky Gervais, Dave Chappelle, Joe Rogan, Elon Musk. All Netflix dudes! And yet…
…Sir, Netflix quite literally just made a documentary (which has been lambasted for being a fawning piece of SpaceX spon-con) about you! Starring you! Etc.!
Netflix’s stock took a tumble after losing subscribers after trying to raise prices in an increasingly competitive streaming arena, all while doling out tens of millions of dollars to “un-woke” comedians for specials. The right-wing response to that? “Go woke, go broke.” But that doesn’t make sense! They lost money after going all-in with “un-woke” content! How is that a “go woke, go broke” situation? How? It doesn’t make sense! Anyway, I don’t know. I’m tired. I don’t give a crap about Netflix or Dave Chappelle or Ricky Gervais. I am annoyed by the reactionary stupidity of the right’s “go woke, go broke” nonsense, though.
Until next time…
I don't think one can apply reason or logic to understand "go woke, go broke." It's not worth it. Their "woke mind virus" is another one, like, what is that? Made up BS to excuse their self-serving and ignorant behavior which is then projected on people who actually care about others. If anything, their level of selfishishness and antagonism seems more like a virus. They spread it to each other very easily. And again, not rational or logical at all. Meh.
It must be nice to be Ricky Gervais. He's so smug that he can feel sure that no one in his family or among his friends could possibly be gay, or trans, or anything he doesn't think is so fucking hilarious that he cannot help but laugh at them. I wonder how he'd comfort one of his gay or trans kids the way we parents have had to, when our kids cried because some moron thought their identity was so goddamn funny. Maybe someone could just explain to Gervais that the world is much bigger than he is.