TVSquad

Not only is it in the context of comedy, but it's a good impression. If Eddie Murphy and Dave Chappelle can dress in white face and act like all white guys are doofuses, then I don't see a problem with one of the foremost impressionists on TV putting on a little makeup for the sake of comedy. Not to mention that SNL would need to hire another black guy in order to have Al Sharpton AND Jesse Jackson on screen at the same time (or maybe do the Dana Carvey presidential debate green screen trick). Also, while Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton are calling for justice and censure behind every corner, who's going to keep them in check?

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Darryl Hammond has been doing that impression for years, I don't see the problem.

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**"would allow a very Caucasian Darryl Hammond to dress in blackface to impersonate Jesse Jackson. Does anyone get the feeling this is a "do as I say, not as I do" situation? Did this make anyone uncomfortable? Or does this not count because it's in the context of comedy?"****

Darrell Hammond's been doing Jesse Jackson for years. Seriously, your indignation is about many years too late. in fact he's already done Jesse this season.

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it took an Imus situation to point out what hypocrites the media has become in their selection of what or who should be singled out and presecuted.

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Darrell Hammond has even done his Jesse Jackson impersonation on the air WITH Jesse Jackson.

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Do you even understand what makes "blackface" offensive? It is offensive because it MOCKS a race AS A WHOLE and perpetuates a derogatory stereotype. What SNL did was an IMPRESSION of a person. It did not mock Jesse Jackson or have any negative context surrounding him. These two situations are quite different and I can't believe you posted such a naive and uneducated remark.

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What a worthless post. First, he has been doing that impression for some time. Second, are we not supposed to recognize that people are of different races? Why did your post not criticize Keenan Thompson's impression of Sharpton's hair or Armisen's wearing of clothes similar to those of Prince? People have differences - to deny that is just naive and does more injustice to the prospect of eliminating racism... how could we ever expect to move forward if we are not honest in the present?

This is the most worthless post I think I've ever read on TV Squad.

I honestly challenge the author to actually articulate what was offensive about this skit, something they fail to do in their actual article.

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Actually, Darrell Hammond's black face has always made me uncomfortable. It has always seemed a bit disrespectful to dress up in black face to impersonate a black rights leader. Plus, Eddie Murphy and Dave Chappelle's doing 'white face' is a commentary on 'white' black face and the continuing state of racism. I think your indignation is right on, EC. I always wondered why no one else commented on it. Then again, CW's right SNL would need to hire more African-American actors. However, it would be far more interesting to have Kenan dress up as Bush than DH as JJ.

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Blackface maybe a delicate issue, but I think this situation is entirely different. Back in the days of minstrel shows, performers would use blackface to create and uphold racial stereotypes. The difference for SNL is that they are merely impersonating a public figure. It isn't like Hannah is just playing a generic black character used to make people laugh at black people. It is used to poke fun at one black person.

I think you might have a point that their is only one black guy on the show and anytime they want to have a skit with more than one they have to resort to blackface. However, that was not the case here. Even if they had more black people on the show, Darryl Hannah would still be better at playing Jesse Jackson than anyone.

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Pfffuah - you don't program TV - it programs you. The sheeple who are getting offended for a comedian doing a satirical impression are the same sheeple who fall for the "reason" Imus was fired.

Darrel Hammond is an impressionist on a satirical show - he could easily have done Jesse Jackson without the makeup but then what do you have?

Baaaaah Baaaaah

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Fox News had a piece on the air this morning detailing the funds accepted bu the Presidential candidates who recently all called for Imus's firing.

Fox then detailed the songs written and sung by specific contributors who also had fund raising events attended by these politicians. So these candidates appear to think it's OK to accept money from people who uses these words and phrases, but it's OK also to call for the firing of another entertainment who uses the same words.
So when it suits these political candiates it's fine and when it doesn't, it isn't fine! A good example of double standards.

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"D.H. has been playing Jesse Jackson for years"


Imus has been causing controversy for years as well, so I don't understand why they didn't fire him long time ago...

I think its hilarious they make fun of Jackson/Sharpton...they are idiots anyways.

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They didn't fire him over the years because it is not illegal to say the things he said. It might be morally wrong or offensive but guess what - its Radio - you don't like it you can turn the channel.

Why was this on the news for a week while American soldiers are dieing every day in Iraq??

Go back to sleep people.

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Hmm, SNL aside - I'm a bit concerned that people think it's alright for a respected newscaster on a known news show to deliberately use racial slurs and derogatory language gender-wise on the air towards a university basketball team and expect that to be accepted. It isn't exactly double standards. This should still have happened if the team contained only white women whom he decided to call 'hos' - although it's doubtful he would have done it then. It's unprofessional and unacceptable. For Fox News to suggest otherwise is questionable, as well.

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Darryl Hannah is doing a Jesse Jackson impersonation? Wow.

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Is he even really in blackface? He looks kind of pale to me.

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Isn't black face when the actors painted their face black (really black) and their lips white and sang... in the 1940s?

Impersonations sometime require prosthetics, masks and/or makeup. That's not racist at all.

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Darrell Hammond doing Jesse Jackson in complete makeup is no different then Billy Crystal's impression of Sammy Davis Jr. in complete makeup twenty some years ago. It just completes the illusion.

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...*hangs head in disgust*

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Now posted at www.safecruise.blogspot.com

NBC Fires Imus for Bad Joke But Will They Cancel Royal Caribbean Ads because of Threat Aimed at Sexual Assault Victim Who Testified before Congress
NBC News dropped Don Imus yesterday, canceling his talk show on its MSNBC cable news channel a week after Mr. Imus made a racially disparaging remark about the Rutgers University women’s basketball team.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/12/business/media/12dismiss.html?ref=sports
By BILL CARTER and LOUISE STORYPublished: April 12, 2007We agree that the comment made by Imus was atrocious and unacceptable. If NBC has the balls to fire Imus, then they should also refuse to run advertising from media or record companies that make a profit from the sale of degrading comedy and music albums and CD's. Will NBC refuse to run ads for "Girls Gone Wild" which is Immensely more degrading? They should also refuse to run advertising for the Cruise Lines who actually do harm to people.
This is based in part on evidence submitted during the hearing entitled: "Crimes Against Americans on Cruise Ships," held by the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation. http://transportation.house.gov/hearings/Testimony.aspx?TID=599
They tried to prevent a sexual assault victim from testifying before Congress and were a party to a threat made against her. http://safecruise.blogspot.com/2007/03/speaking-with-enemy-royal-caribbean.html http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicsasusual/2007/03/nightmare_on_th.html
There have been no convictions of sexual predators on cruise ships for the last four decades. http://safecruise.blogspot.com/2007/04/perfect-recor-not-one-single-conviction.html
They have understated the number of sexual assaults. http://www.sacbee.com/111/story/147483.html
Their crewmembers work under sweatshop conditions. http://www.waronwant.org/?lid=2900 Safe Cruise: Florida Today Exposes Carnival "Sweat Ships": The Under Belly of the Cruise Ship Industry
Corporate fees paid to Liberia by Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines helped finance the armies of Charles Taylor, one of the worst war criminals in history. http://safecruise.blogspot.com/2006/04/did-royal-caribbean-and-celebrity.html
Please listen to the compelling interview on public radio with Laurie Dishman. She is a sexual assault victim who testified on 3/27/07 during the hearing entitled: "Crimes Against Americans on Cruise Ships," held by the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.
http://www.capradio.org/programs/insight/default.aspx?showid=3136&programid=
Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines RCCL were so desperate that they tried to bar her from testifying and also agreed that they would like to "nail this woman and her support group the www.internationalcruisevictims.org "
See the series of RCCL emails at the end of her written testimony at
http://transportation.house.gov/hearings/Testimony.aspx?TID=599
This is an important human-interest story that would be a helpful investigative report. We are also contacting Chris Hansen of "To catch a Predator" and Mira Sorvino to get involved. Ms. Sorvino is in a unique position to get the Cruise Lines to cooperate in prosecuting sexual predators. She is the godmother of Carnival's "Liberty" Cruise Ship and a spokesperson for www.rainn.org
The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network is the nation's largest anti-sexual assault organization

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