When is an unfunny Saturday Night Live skit more than just a waste of three minutes? When it angers GLAAD. The L.A. Times reports that Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation is demanding an apology for a sketch that ran during Saturday's Jesse Eisenberg-hosted affair. The sketch in question was the commercial parody that ran immediately after Mark Zuckerberg met Jesse Eisenberg and "Mark Zuckerberg" (read: Andy Samberg) on stage during the monologue. As such, it was likely one of the most watched segments of the evening. If only it was funny. Watch below.
Writes GLAAD: "There were no 'jokes' per se; all the laughs came from the commercial's offensive and dehumanizing portrayals of transgender women. By telling its audience that transgender women should be laughed at and ridiculed, NBC contributed to an environment that sees transgender people subjected to near-universal discrimination in the workplace and an environment in which at least one transgender person is murdered every month."
A serious issue to be sure, and the skit does appear to be mean-spirited for the sake of being mean-spirited. Though, as GLAAD points out, there were no "jokes." It's simply not funny! And by making such a big deal about it, more people are watching this sketch now than they would have if GLAAD had not said anything. It's certainly the double-edged sword of an advocacy group: Do you call out something for being wrong, only if it's popular? In this case, that answer might be yes.
Neither SNL nor NBC have yet to comment on the issue, but apparently the network will meet with GLAAD sometime this week.
Trans, Plans and Autogentiles February 1st, 2011 at 11:23 AM
I thought it was funny, but to me it was just men acting like women/transgender women. It's a parody. I think the majority of people would get this. It will not make me now laugh at transgender women in the street. It's like Seinfeld. Is nothing funny? No. But is a parody of nothing funny? Yes, it's hilarious!
Alexander February 3rd, 2011 at 03:34 PM
I’m transgender FTM and it's definitely much ado about a little comedy! People make fun of everything, for any reason. What’s more bizarre to me is that THIS is what GLAAD/HRC/people choose to fight over when there are more pressing issues for the trans and women community! A bullshit skit does not demand this much attention…but lack of resources for the trans community does. So does increased targeted violence for trans people, so does higher rates of suicide/murder/unemployment for trans people…I mean the list goes on. This skit doesn’t change minds either way. And it wasn’t funny…but it COULD HAVE been, had they consulted/involved transwomen. We make fun of each other all the time! I wrote about it, too, on my blog. FYI http://heyalexander.com/?p=134