Kramer has a meltdown on stage

Funkmasterr · Post by **Funkmasterr** » November 20, 2006, 9:35 pm

The actor that played Kramer on Seinfeld went crazy at the Laugh Factory in LA.. If you go to cnn.com under videos there is a link to it... I was absolutely stunned by how far off the deep end he went.

The worst of his quotes was something like "50 years ago we would have had you hanging upside down with a fucking fork up your ass".. He was absolutely not kidding, he was going off because he was being interrupted, but what he said was way out of line no matter what the situation was.

kyoukan · Post by **kyoukan** » November 20, 2006, 9:45 pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-T7uKvpzVXI

Maybe he can star in a buddy movie with Mel Gibson.

Pretty crazy to see a professional melt down due to some crappy heckler.

Paul Rodriguez owns that club and he said on TV earlier that Richards was just bombing so I guess he let it get to him.

Zaelath · Post by **Zaelath** » November 20, 2006, 10:09 pm

I wonder if there was some racism coming from the right of stage before he went off, or just after?

kyoukan · Post by **kyoukan** » November 20, 2006, 10:24 pm

From the looks of it, it didn't sound like it. Is that even relevant, though? He's the one with the microphone and the 4 video cameras aimed at him.

I wonder if there will be a major media circus over this with apologies and interviews with Barbara Walters or if he will just go underground and live off his Seinfeld money. He sure as fuck won't be seen in any network sitcoms anymore.

Zaelath · Post by **Zaelath** » November 20, 2006, 10:39 pm

Yeah, I agree there... the camera view we saw didn't look "official" though...

That said, the censored version makes him look worse if possible: http://media.fairfax.com.au/?sy=smh&cat ... &rid=23739

Funkmasterr · Post by **Funkmasterr** » November 20, 2006, 10:52 pm

They say somewhere in the clip that the camera was taken from a cell phone, so it was by no means official. That being said there is no possible excuse for him to say what he said, and I totally agreed that he absolutely crippled his career.

That being said, I am sure that he has a ton of money from Seinfeld still so he will probably be fine either way.

kyoukan · Post by **kyoukan** » November 21, 2006, 12:09 am

The stuff he did after Seinfeld crippled his career more than it would if he put on a white sheet and hung the guy from a tree.

Kaldaur · Post by **Kaldaur** » November 21, 2006, 12:12 am

Andy Kaufmann did this kind of stuff once and awhile. He planted hecklers in the audience and then had verbal spars with them, yelling and swearing from the mic as the "heckler" ruined the show. It was his way of keeping the audience on their toes and spicing up the act. I doubt Kramer did this, but who knows. Maybe a dead career needed something like this to put him back in the fold.

Nick · Post by **Nick** » November 21, 2006, 6:17 am

"Comic Paul Rodriguez, who was at the club, said he thought Richards' remarks crossed the line.

"Once the word comes out of your mouth and you don't happen to be African-American, then you have a whole lot of explaining," he said. "Freedom of speech has its limitations and I think Michael Richards found those limitations.""

Since when did freedom of speech have limitations?
Did I miss something? Or is he retarded and confusing taste with innate right to speak freely?

Regardless, he rocked as Stanley Spadowski.

Still, he went completely insane onstage shouting "HES A NIGGER" - what the fuck type of reaction did he expect? He's not making a cutting social comment, he's just being a douche.

Vaemas · Post by **Vaemas** » November 21, 2006, 9:46 am

Sure, freedom of speech has limitations. It's called unprotected speech, obscene, or pornographic speech. Granted, the definitions of each of these have changed over time. His words are dangerously close to being inciteful and it could be argued that what he said is not protected.

I don't think he's the only one at fault, but he does bear the most responsibility.

That being said, someone explain to me why it's OK for rap stars and individuals of African descent to use the N word? If it's such an ugly and offensive word, then why the FUCK does the African-American community still use it? Is it not self-demeaning for a black man to use it when referring to another black man?

Midnyte_Ragebringer · November 21, 2006, 10:54 am

He didn't say anything racist. He incited the idiots who came to a comedy show and disturbed the comedian. They were assholes and he let them know that by making a point about how that word is not just theirs.

I rather enjoyed it.

Vaemas · Post by **Vaemas** » November 21, 2006, 12:51 pm

Midnyte_Ragebringer wrote:I rather enjoyed it.

Why am I not surprised? I guess you wholeheartedly approve of lynching! Break out them white sheets boys, let's go stick a fork in that n****r's ass and string 'em up!

noel · Post by **noel** » November 21, 2006, 1:04 pm

He's just trolling. Best to ignore him.

Kilmoll the Sexy · Post by **Kilmoll the Sexy** » November 21, 2006, 1:19 pm

I am unsure as to why Richards thought they would have stuck a fork into their asses.

Lalanae · Post by **Lalanae** » November 21, 2006, 1:26 pm

Kilmoll the Sexy wrote:I am unsure as to why Richards thought they would have stuck a fork into their asses.

I believe he meant "pitchfork" as in sodomizing with (the handle) or stabbing, something that would have been done in the South during a lynching.

Boogahz · Post by **Boogahz** » November 21, 2006, 1:26 pm

Kilmoll the Sexy wrote:I am unsure as to why Richards thought they would have stuck a fork into their asses.

Yeah, that one didn't seem to make the history books...

Marbus · Post by **Marbus** » November 21, 2006, 1:48 pm

Yea I'm not sure on this, he just kind of lost it, really freaked out. The fork in your ass was totally uncalled for...

Now IMHO if he had said the N word and turned it into a joke about why is it ok for black guys to use it and not him, it might have been funny but again IMO it's wasn't a joke it was deep seated anger coming through.

Please note that I said anger and not racist anger. Lets face it guys, people are different and sometimes we promote and demote those difference.... and sometimes people are totally pissed off about 1 thing and end up blowing up about something else. You know it's happened to you before. Pissed about something and work so you blow up at your spouse for no reason, right? unless you are perfect of course.

So to me just because he blew up like this doesn't mean he is racist. Hell we see racist stuff in the media all the time, what better way to freak out on someone than to go that route. I don't think it means he actually believes it but rather just blew up. That doesn't make it right, just a different way to look at it.

IMO a racist is someone who displays a continued pervasive slant about what they do towards someone else based upon their race. While I like Mel Gibson and conscienously he says he isn't Anti-Semitic his actions and belief system (stauch pre-Vatican II Catholicism) definitely lends itself to that. But perhaps not, I mean we know his dad is from his writings, perhaps it just because it was drilled into him as a kid, who knows, but I would definitely be much more suspicious of him than Kramer.

Marb

Post by **Sylvus** » November 21, 2006, 1:58 pm

I saw Lewis Black live one time, in an audience of a few thousand people, and someone made some pro-Bush comment or something like that from the rafters and the guy absolutely flipped his shit. He did a terrible job of disarming the situation and he didn't do very well in torching the heckler, either of which is what a professional should do. It totally fucked up his set and made it one of the worst comedy performances I've ever seen, though I'm admittedly not a huge fan of his (I was there to see Dave Attell).

Some people just can't handle the audience doing anything other than sitting there quietly and laughing when they should. I don't think Michael Richards has a big history of stand-up, and after being one of the biggest TV stars in the world for a while, he's probably not used to having people not kiss his ass all the time. That said, to go on a tirade like that I don't think you can say that he doesn't have some race issues deep-down inside. Even when acting irrationally, people don't yell the word nigger five times and reference lynchings without having some issues.

Midnyte_Ragebringer · November 21, 2006, 2:21 pm

Sylvus wrote:
Some people just can't handle the audience doing anything other than sitting there quietly and laughing when they should. I don't think Michael Richards has a big history of stand-up, and after being one of the biggest TV stars in the world for a while, he's probably not used to having people not kiss his ass all the time. That said, to go on a tirade like that I don't think you can say that he doesn't have some race issues deep-down inside. Even when acting irrationally, people don't yell the word nigger five times and reference lynchings without having some issues.

You don't get comedy to well. Typical liberal. You scream free speech and open mindedness, yet you cannot handle it yourself. Keep throwing up those walls.

Keverian FireCry · Post by **Keverian FireCry** » November 21, 2006, 2:35 pm

You don't get comedy to well. Typical liberal. You scream free speech and open mindedness, yet you cannot handle it yourself. Keep throwing up those walls.

1.) This shit obviously wasn't part of his comedy act...

2.) Sylvus is just stating his own opinion about what Kramer said, not saying he shouldn't have the right to say it.

3.) You're a fucking idiot.

Midnyte_Ragebringer · November 21, 2006, 2:48 pm

Keverian FireCry wrote:.

1.) This shit obviously wasn't part of his comedy act...
.

You don't get comedy too well either. You must be one of those people who think Howard Stern is funny.

Lynks · Post by **Lynks** » November 21, 2006, 3:00 pm

Whatever happened to

Midnyte_Ragebringer wrote:You're right. This place is no longer for me. It causes me too much suffering. Be well everyone. I do mean every one. I wish you all the best.

Midnyte_Ragebringer · November 21, 2006, 3:05 pm

Lynks wrote:Whatever happened to
Midnyte_Ragebringer wrote:You're right. This place is no longer for me. It causes me too much suffering. Be well everyone. I do mean every one. I wish you all the best.

I still wish you the best Lynks. *kisses*

Happy Thanksgiving to all. I hope you and your families enjoy another wonderful holiday season.

Post by **Sylvus** » November 21, 2006, 3:19 pm

Midnyte_Ragebringer wrote:
Sylvus wrote:
Some people just can't handle the audience doing anything other than sitting there quietly and laughing when they should. I don't think Michael Richards has a big history of stand-up, and after being one of the biggest TV stars in the world for a while, he's probably not used to having people not kiss his ass all the time. That said, to go on a tirade like that I don't think you can say that he doesn't have some race issues deep-down inside. Even when acting irrationally, people don't yell the word nigger five times and reference lynchings without having some issues.
You don't get comedy to well. Typical liberal. You scream free speech and open mindedness, yet you cannot handle it yourself. Keep throwing up those walls.

Could you please help elucidate me? What about my statement makes you think I don't understand comedy to [sic] well? Where have I ever claimed to be a liberal or screamed free speech? Not that I'm not all for free speech, but you're making several assumptions and applying them to something that I don't feel like I ever said. I don't think he doesn't have the right to say what he did, I don't even particularly care that he said it nor am I offended by it. I merely made a statement about not believing that someone who didn't generally harbor some racist feelings could be pushed to saying something like that out of sheer irritation; there had to be something there in the first place.

I can understand why you might not understand that though.

You don't get comedy too well either. You must be one of those people who think Howard Stern is funny.

That's ironic that you'd say that after fellating Opie and Anthony the last few years (I'm not saying Stern is funny, but they're essentially the same thing. You're making a Coke vs. Pepsi argument), as well as being about as unfunny a person who posts here. Cartalas, simpleton that he is, has at least made me laugh before. Congratulations on being wholly useless.

Cartalas · Post by **Cartalas** » November 21, 2006, 3:55 pm

"Cartalas, simpleton that he is, has at least made me laugh before. Congratulations on being wholly useless."

You complete me

Drolgin Steingrinder · November 21, 2006, 4:08 pm

http://www.ifilm.com/video/2798827 - painful to watch.

I'm guessing Midnyte will watch Richards' apology on Letterman and still be convinced that this was all comedy.

There are things that you don't say unless you've thought good and hard about it. You don't use hardcore racial slurs unless you absolutely know your audience. That doesn't mean that your speech is limited, it just means that you need to use your brain before you open your mouth.

Yes, *anything* can be funny in the right context. Anything. Cancer can be fucking hilarious, and I've lost most of my family to that shit. It can still be funny - but it's all about context. And your hypocrisy is amazing - I'm willing to bet you that had someone stood up and made a joke about the towers falling on 10/11 you would've been the first to demand their head. Context.

People disagreeing with Richards' tirade here is a sign of anti-free-speech, of rampant (and dare I say it, evil) liberalism? Get off your high fucking horse.

Midnyte_Ragebringer · November 21, 2006, 4:31 pm

Drolgin Steingrinder wrote:
I'm guessing Midnyte will watch Richards' apology on Letterman and still be convinced that this was all comedy.

.

Yup. It's comedy when blacks say shit in anger about whites, but it never makes news. It was comedy misconstrued and in this society if you don't apologize for every little honest thing you do, your career will be over.

You folks who hate freedom of speech so much, should be ashamed of yourselves.

Watch around the 5:00 minute mark and you will see where he was going.

kyoukan · Post by **kyoukan** » November 21, 2006, 4:52 pm

The most transparent attempt to troll I've ever seen, yet you people are rising to it?

You guys are forgetting that Mid has black friends and they discuss racial issues all the time. Also, he said he was fucking LEAVING.

Post by **Sylvus** » November 21, 2006, 5:00 pm

Don't think for a second I didn't know that was a troll attempt, nor do I forget him saying he was both leaving and that "I sure do get frustrated with the way people treat others on this board. I intend on staying away from the CE forum." I guess I was just hoping we could make him cry and shut up again.

I'm a man of simple pleasures.

Midnyte_Ragebringer · November 21, 2006, 5:33 pm

Sylvus wrote:Don't think for a second I didn't know that was a troll attempt, nor do I forget him saying he was both leaving and that "I sure do get frustrated with the way people treat others on this board. I intend on staying away from the CE forum." I guess I was just hoping we could make him cry and shut up again.

I'm a man of simple pleasures.

I tried to stay away, but the chance to defend a racist nigger hater like Michael Richards, was something I could not pass up.

Nick · Post by **Nick** » November 21, 2006, 5:39 pm

Possibly the most openly retarded trolling of all time.

Yer man (Spadowski, whatever his name is) seemed pretty sincere in that Letterman interview.

Spang · Post by **Spang** » November 21, 2006, 6:15 pm

the difference between...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmZjnKPfb_E

kyoukan · Post by **kyoukan** » November 21, 2006, 6:19 pm

I watched him on Letterman last night. It was pretty difficult to watch, but I doubt it bought him any points. It was probably the most sincere attempt at an apology I've ever seen from a celebrity fuck up though. It almost made me wish it was a bit more scripted. All that mumbling and uncomfortable attempts at trying to find something to say.

Richards has always had a shitty temper I've heard. Andy Kaufman used to drive him fucking insane on Friday back in the 70's.

Cartalas · Post by **Cartalas** » November 21, 2006, 6:35 pm

kyoukan wrote:I watched him on Letterman last night. It was pretty difficult to watch, but I doubt it bought him any points. It was probably the most sincere attempt at an apology I've ever seen from a celebrity fuck up though. It almost made me wish it was a bit more scripted. All that mumbling and uncomfortable attempts at trying to find something to say.

Richards has always had a shitty temper I've heard. Andy Kaufman used to drive him fucking insane on Friday back in the 70's.

God forgives you

cadalano · Post by **cadalano** » November 21, 2006, 6:46 pm

his apology was lame imo. i only heard it on the radio so maybe if i'd seen him making sad faces i'd feel differently. i heard him deflecting it as though he lost his shit because of all the hate/rage/etc in the world. it was entirely his fuckup and i got the impression that he didnt feel like it was

i agree on lewis black standup btw- i love him in small, rehearsed doses... but the two routines i've seen him do were painful.

Truant · Post by **Truant** » November 21, 2006, 7:06 pm

kyoukan wrote:Richards has always had a shitty temper I've heard. Andy Kaufman used to drive him fucking insane on Friday back in the 70's.

IIRC Kaufman even pulled a gag on Richards, and completely blew a skit live on TV (on purpose), at which point Richards punched him or something. It's been a while since I saw the documentary where it was brought up.

Hesten · Post by **Hesten** » November 21, 2006, 7:27 pm

Midnyte_Ragebringer wrote:He didn't say anything racist. He incited the idiots who came to a comedy show and disturbed the comedian. They were assholes and he let them know that by making a point about how that word is not just theirs.

I rather enjoyed it.

Just out of curiocity, what do you classify as racist?
Personally i would say that "Shut up! 50 years ago we'd have you upside down with a fucking fork up your ass." and "thats what happens when you interrupt the white man, dont you know?" qualify as racist.

Would you say it was ok if a black comedian insulted female white audience members, telling them that white bitches are just there to be raped by black men? Would that be acceptable comedy too, or just making a point?.

That being said, i was actually pretty surprised by his apology, he seemed very sincere and genuinely sorry and frustrated over what happened, not like the usual "hey, lets get our agent to issue a statement that we didnt mean it" stunt that seems to be the norm for celebrities these days.
He definitely didnt just have something written down to safe face, but rather did speak his mind, and i think all this was more of a problem with his temper than anything else.
And i dont think he deep down meant all that he said, he just blew a gasket and fucked up, and are sorry for it, still its probably gonna hurt his career though. (since hated Seinfeld, and the only think i seen him in wer UHF, i dont care much about his career

)

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » November 21, 2006, 7:49 pm

Hesten wrote: Would you say it was ok if a black comedian insulted female white audience members, telling them that white bitches are just there to be raped by black men? Would that be acceptable comedy too, or just making a point?.

I'm not defending anything on this thread but you obviously haven't seen a lot of black comedians perform in the U.S. Making fun of white people is half of their material. The other half is making fun of themselves. Regardless of the race the actual comedian is, most racial oriented humor is pretty lame but it's the easiest material to come up with and people laugh. What's a comedian to do? Be original?

Zaelath · Post by **Zaelath** » November 21, 2006, 8:28 pm

Winnow wrote:
Hesten wrote: Would you say it was ok if a black comedian insulted female white audience members, telling them that white bitches are just there to be raped by black men? Would that be acceptable comedy too, or just making a point?.
I'm not defending anything on this thread but you obviously haven't seen a lot of black comedians perform in the U.S. Making fun of white people is half of their material. The other half is making fun of themselves. Regardless of the race the actual comedian is, most racial oriented humor is pretty lame but it's the easiest material to come up with and people laugh. What's a comedian to do? Be original?

Why would a black man need to rape a white woman? They're all falling over themselves to get some of that giant black cock.

I think Marbus got it right actually; these guys pissed Richards off and he just went to the first thing that came to mind that would piss them off. Real racists are much more coherent with their slurs as they spend a lot more of their time thinking about them.

kyoukan · Post by **kyoukan** » November 21, 2006, 8:49 pm

Zaelath wrote: Why would a black man need to rape a white woman? They're all falling over themselves to get some of that giant black cock.

you should be a defense attorney in the south.

Zaelath · Post by **Zaelath** » November 21, 2006, 9:27 pm

teehee.

vn_Tanc · Post by **vn_Tanc** » November 22, 2006, 7:23 am

You can mock black people without using the word "Nigger". I can't think of a similarly poisonous word that describes white folks. Nobody I know ever cried about being called a Honky

And of course he has the right to express himself however he likes. He also has to take responsiblity and accountability into consideration though. See Mel Gibson.

Free Speech lets you say whatever you want. It IN NO WAY guarantees people won't be offended by what you say.

Kwonryu DragonFist · November 22, 2006, 8:19 am

The Apology on Letterman

Kramer says he's sorry
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HC3nqiK785U

Boogahz · Post by **Boogahz** » November 22, 2006, 11:28 am

vn_Tanc wrote:You can mock black people without using the word "Nigger". I can't think of a similarly poisonous word that describes white folks. Nobody I know ever cried about being called a Honky

Surely that's not the "similarly poisonous word" that you know...

Zaelath · Post by **Zaelath** » November 22, 2006, 11:48 am

Boogahz wrote:
vn_Tanc wrote:You can mock black people without using the word "Nigger". I can't think of a similarly poisonous word that describes white folks. Nobody I know ever cried about being called a Honky
Surely that's not the "similarly poisonous word" that you know...

He said he can't think of one...

Post by **Sylvus** » November 22, 2006, 12:58 pm

I listened to the interview with the people Richards was shouting at on the Today Show this morning. They came in a limo in a group of about 20 people. They were walking into the show while Richards was already on stage, and he made a comment along "here come the blacks and mexicans". He made a couple more comments before someone in that group said "You're not funny" at which point he flipped his shit and said the things quoted earlier in this thread. Apparently the club has a whole video of the entire performance (that clip on the internet is from a cell phone or something) that they have not yet released.

The difference between a black comic making fun of white people, and white comics I've seen who make fun of black people, is that they're making fun of foibles and stereotypes. They aren't specifically picking on audience members and using racial slurs against those individuals. In my opinion, that's the problem here. It wasn't comedy, it was the ravings of a guy crazy with rage.

Boogahz · Post by **Boogahz** » November 22, 2006, 1:03 pm

Zaelath wrote:
Boogahz wrote:
vn_Tanc wrote:You can mock black people without using the word "Nigger". I can't think of a similarly poisonous word that describes white folks. Nobody I know ever cried about being called a Honky
Surely that's not the "similarly poisonous word" that you know...
He said he can't think of one...

whew, thanks. I was still waking up when I read that one!

*~*stragi*~* · Post by ***~*stragi*~*** » November 22, 2006, 1:21 pm

kyoukan wrote:The most transparent attempt to troll I've ever seen, yet you people are rising to it?

You guys are forgetting that Mid has black friends and they discuss racial issues all the time. Also, he said he was fucking LEAVING.

HERE'S YOUR PATRIOT ACT

*~*stragi*~* · Post by ***~*stragi*~*** » November 22, 2006, 1:30 pm

kyoukan wrote:
Zaelath wrote: Why would a black man need to rape a white woman? They're all falling over themselves to get some of that giant black cock.
you should be a defense attorney in the south.

QUOTING
IRONY

hehe

Tyek · Post by **Tyek** » November 22, 2006, 1:43 pm

Patrice O'neal, a comedian, was on the radio the other day. He says he was talking to comic that was on that night and that the group Richards was screaming at had been in several nights in a row and was consistantly interupting the comedians. He says that Richards probably was pissed off the moment he saw them since every comic there was sick of them. That does not excuse the incident, it was terrible, he did have the opportunity to turn the whole thing into a comic moment about the power of words, he even tries for a second at the end, but he lost it badly.

The other interesting thing was that no one notices the people involved also call him a cracker-ass motherfucker. None of those idiots are being called on the carpet for that comment. I agree that word is nowhere near as bad as the N word is, but it shows what other people have already said. You go for the first word or thought that can hurt someone when you are that angry.

oh and "you were only good on Seinfeld" is the lamest heckle ever. So he was only good on one of the most highly rated and acclaimed sitcoms ever!! OH NO!! What a wasted life!