The Jay Leno Show should be cancelled.
Since his return to the airwaves, Jay Leno has accomplished two things: 1) to waste NBC’s airtime, which seems to be their primary objective as a company, and 2) to offend me with both the total lack of humor and a scandalous level of insensitivity that would have gotten Letterman into trouble. The other night, I was watching Leno – it was an act of penance for a particularly grievous sin I had committed earlier that afternoon – when I saw this clip:
Now I might be overly sensitive to these kinds of issues, but it seems to me that this video could be taken as something poking fun of people with autism.
I can admit that I am a flaming liberal, so I basically look for reasons to be offended. I can also admit that I am more likely to read into things like this because of my wife’s current work with kids with autism. But even if you don’t buy that, my second argument still stands:
Leno is not funny, wastes NBC’s decrepit airtime, and ruins their ratings. I honestly feel bad for local news shows that are losing ratings to other local affiliates because of Leno’s failures.
So, I’m begging you, NBC. Do the right thing here. Cancel Leno.
Oh, since NBC probably won’t listen to me: is there anybody out there willing to pick up 30Rock after NBC goes under? Because I want to go to there.
Don’t really see the making fun of autism part (& if it did I don’t mind that much, as long as its equal opportunity humor ala South Park) but you are right in the Leno is not very funny & never really has been. I remember thinking in ’92 when they chose Leno to replace Carson, “What? I thought was going to be Letterman or one of Carson’s good fill ins.”
I was looking for what was so offensive and didn’t really notice anything, until I read on. It’s kind of like when I was listening to “turning Japanese” in high school and one of my friends said “you know they’re talking about masturbating, right?” It’s still hard for me listen to that song without cringing… or giggling, depending on the mood.
I didn’t see anything offensive until you pointed it out. But now that it is pointed out I can’t help but not notice it.
This character was actually seen on Reno 911 when it was still on. I agree, I have a hard time finding what is offensive here. I just see a super awkward guy. It is sad that I know people like this in everyday life! But maybe that is just me.
Like I said, I’m totally willing to admit that my reaction to this particular video is probably an over-reaction. I’ve met some super awkward people whose shenanigans are pretty funny. And maybe I’m just becoming more sensitive to the way our culture ostracizes, marginalizes, and ridicules people who are different. But maybe that’s just me.