Janeane Garofalo says…

“I’d like to point out to anyone who may be confused … the majority of stand-up comedians working in the latter half of the 20th and early 21st centuries are indeed social critics…”

Remember that the next time you see a comedian talking about how men won’t ever ask for directions. Social critics. With things to say. Not just jokes. No. Never. Pointed, barbed social commentary. Not cult of personality non-comics whose aspirations toward movie stardom were stymied by the utter lack of bullshit detectors in their selection of film projects. And who now are attempting to take the Michael Moore route.

For Garofalo, Moore and the rest, here’s a little ditty made famous by Pet Shop Boys. And wherever Bill Hicks is, I hope he’s laughing his ass off.

You live upon a stage, and everyone’s agreed

You’re the brightest hope by far that anyone can see

So when you take the limelight you can guarantee

You’re gaining fame and claiming credibility

Tell me baby are you gonna make any other claim?

Tell me baby are you gonna take any of the blame?

How can you expect to be taken seriously?

Ben Varkentine