Yesterday’s New York Times reported that Jackie Mason requested that his opening act at a Chicago comedy club, a comic named Ray Hanania, be dumped from the bill because he was "inexperienced,"not because he was Palestinian.
But the comedy club manager and Mason’s wife contradicted Mason’s story, saying it was because of Hanania’s Palestinian ancestry. On the Today Show, Mason said he dumped Hanania because of anti-Semitic writings on Hanania’s Web site.
Mr. Mason, you’re a bigot and a liar. The sad thing is that you squandered an opportunity to show that the hatred and bigotry that has poisoned both sides in this conflict can be overcome. Instead, you only showed how hatred has spread to America and your own heart.
I was wondering why he was on Today this morning. I was just looking for the weather and happened upon him but I didn’t have time to see what was going on.
I once found him to be very funny, then he did Caddyshack II.
I’ve caught Ray Hanania’s act, and he’s a snide, preachy bore. I’ve also seen Jackie Mason’s act, and he’s an obnoxious putz.
Frankly, they don’t have a drop of talent between them. I feel sorry for anyone who pays good money to be harangued by either of them. I’d feel even SORRIER for anyone who had to see both of them on the same bill.
While I wish he wouldn’t change his story, Mason has the right to have anybody open for him he wants, and if a potential opening act makes him uncomfortable or he feels it would make his audience uncomfortable or non-receptive, it’s his business.
Nonsense, that’s just cuddling up to bigotry. If we had let the " this makes me uncomfortable" excuse stand, we’d still have segregation and legal discrimination against women in the workplace. IMO, JAckie Mason canning the guy because he’s a Palestinian stinks. Now if he had fired the Palestinian because he’s a conceited, self-absorbed twerp (as Hanania came across on Today), that would be different. But discriminating solely on his ancestry is just plain wrong.
I remember (late '80s, I think) when Jackie Mason was starring in “Chicken Soup,” which was supposed to be ABC’s smash comedy hit of the TV season. And it SANK like a fucking STONE.
I saw Mason say that it was the club owner who canned the opening act. He also said he was thinking of suing the comedian for defamation.
Didn’t see the part where Mason changed his story. I kinda agree with the Cap’n there. Only I think that if you are going to be a bigot, at least be an upfront one and not a sneaky, pass-the-buck one.
At least our pal december has the courage of his convictions. It seems that Jackie knew it was a nasty, bigoted thing to do, did it any way and now is trying to weasel out of any repercussions.
Here’s another slant on what happened. This columnist says that Hanania’s comedy is offensive and he was dropped from the program due to objections by many Chicago Jews.
He gives these examples from Hanania’s political writing (NOT from his comedy performance.)