Rosie in hot water

by Brian McKim & Traci Skene on December 9th, 2006

A NY Post item says that The Asian-American Journalists Association was fuming after O’Donnell mocked the Chinese language and Chinese speakers. (On The View Thursday O’Donnell said that Danny DeVito’s drunken appearance made news internationally. “In China it was like, ‘Ching chong, ching-ching-chong, Danny DeVito!'”)

Kelly Ripa makes a vaguely anti-gay crack while busting on Clay Aiken and O’Donnell goes apeshit. (Ripa denies the remark was in any way a reference to Aiken’s vague and, as yet unofficial sexual leanings. O’Donnell would have none of it.)

Out of the blue, O’Donnell performs a schoolyard-caliber imitation of a billion Chinese folks and it’s A-okay. Hmmm… A double standard to match the double chin?

We were impressed by the scorched-earth policy of O’Donnell’s spokesperson:

“She’s a comedian in addition to being a talk show co-host. I certainly hope that one day they will be able to grasp her humor.”

Ouch!

We’re of the opinion that nobody should be immune to mockery. Chinese people, gay people, vaguely gay people, Chinese gay people, vaguely Chinese gay people, rotund talk show hostesses– all should take it in the spirit in which it was delivered. And keeping up the quality of the humor might go a long way toward defusing any anger on the part of the mockee.

And smug, humorless outfits like the AAJA should be able to issue fiery, indignant statements to the press.

Yes, even comedians are fair game for such mockery. All we ask is that it be delivered with a sense of humor and that the humor be of a decent quality!

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