The recent comments by legendary comedians Jerry Seinfeld and Stephen Merchant have sparked a debate about the impact of cancel culture on TV comedy. Seinfeld claims that the "extreme Left" is killing TV comedy, while Merchant argues that the left is putting a "straitjacket" around comedians by enforcing cancel culture.
The recent comments by legendary comedians Jerry Seinfeld and Stephen Merchant have reignited the debate about the impact of cancel culture on TV comedy. Seinfeld, in an interview on "Varney & Co.," claimed that the "extreme Left" is killing TV comedy, while Merchant, in an interview with The Guardian, argued that the left is putting a "straitjacket" around comedians by enforcing cancel culture.
Merchant, who is famous for co-creating "The Office" alongside Ricky Gervais, explained that he feels there is a "sensitivity to the words before they've even heard the joke or the context," which he believes quashes experimentation and creativity. He carefully emphasized that there have always been limits in comedy, but he feels that the policing of comedy has shifted from the Right to the Left.
Merchant suggests that the response to jokes online can be disproportionate, leading stand-up comedians to become more careful in their material. He understands that the demands for comedy change with time, but he emphasizes the importance of freedom in comedy and the role of the comedian as the arbiter of their own taste.
Merchant's comments echo those of his "Office" co-creator, Ricky Gervais, who has famously pushed back against cancel culture. Gervais believes that "offense is a feeling" and that it is meaningless to argue against it. He has been criticized for making jokes about young cancer patients, but he argues that his comedy is about making people think and challenging society's norms.
The debate over cancel culture has divided the comedy community. Some comedians, such as Bill Maher and Dave Chappelle, have argued that cancel culture is stifling creativity and preventing comedians from taking risks. Others, such as Patton Oswalt and Hannah Gadsby, believe that cancel culture is a necessary tool for holding comedians accountable for offensive or harmful jokes.
The impact of cancel culture on TV comedy is still unfolding. It is clear that the rise of cancel culture has made comedians more cautious in their material, but it is yet to be seen whether this will have a lasting impact on the quality and diversity of TV comedy.
