Please Mind the Mencia (commentary)
Bob Mackey
Issue date: 9/1/05 Section: ae
With Dave Chappelle's recent move to Crazytown, (not the boy band, rather, the state of mind) cable network Comedy Central is left grasping at straws, looking for the newest "edgy" persona to replace him. The bottom line was finding a new personality who could fill mouths of college students with witticisms that made complete sense, even out-of-context (Ex.: "I'm Rick James, bitch!")
Although they phoned Pauly Shore, in a desperate attempt to revive "the weasel;" he didn't answer. Mistaking "racist" and "unfunny" with "edgy," Comedy Central dug to sub-Shore levels and gave "comedian" Carlos Mencia his very own show.
Before Mencia's show, "Mind of Mencia," hit the airwaves, Comedy Central aired a marketing blitz showcasing just how funny and original the show would be. These promos showed that if you enjoy middle-school observations like how Adam and Eve's children were able to make more babies, or why certain people spend more on rims than on things that are necessary for well-being, then Carlos' show is custom tailored to your comic sensibilities. I also know of several joke-of-the-day e-mail lists that you may be interested in, and that your grandparents can subscribe to at this very moment.
I tried not to prematurely judge the show, even after seeing the terrible previews. Then I remembered Mencia's claim to fame. Shortly after September 11th, 2001, Mencia starred in a stand-up special, the gimmick of which being, "Hey, people from the Middle East, now it's your turn!" Letting Americans know they had the right to be racist and suspicious of those who are different propelled Carlos into some kind of perverse stardom. Mencia is familiar with racism, and has every right to be racist himself, after changing his name from Ned Holness, and subsequently pretending to be Mexican.
A pretend dream deferred is a pretend dream denied!
Mencia's penchant for racism didn't stop him from ending his act with the schmaltziest of moments, telling his audience "how it could all end just like that" and silently walking off stage. You know, it really makes you think about how banal that is.
Although they phoned Pauly Shore, in a desperate attempt to revive "the weasel;" he didn't answer. Mistaking "racist" and "unfunny" with "edgy," Comedy Central dug to sub-Shore levels and gave "comedian" Carlos Mencia his very own show.
Before Mencia's show, "Mind of Mencia," hit the airwaves, Comedy Central aired a marketing blitz showcasing just how funny and original the show would be. These promos showed that if you enjoy middle-school observations like how Adam and Eve's children were able to make more babies, or why certain people spend more on rims than on things that are necessary for well-being, then Carlos' show is custom tailored to your comic sensibilities. I also know of several joke-of-the-day e-mail lists that you may be interested in, and that your grandparents can subscribe to at this very moment.
I tried not to prematurely judge the show, even after seeing the terrible previews. Then I remembered Mencia's claim to fame. Shortly after September 11th, 2001, Mencia starred in a stand-up special, the gimmick of which being, "Hey, people from the Middle East, now it's your turn!" Letting Americans know they had the right to be racist and suspicious of those who are different propelled Carlos into some kind of perverse stardom. Mencia is familiar with racism, and has every right to be racist himself, after changing his name from Ned Holness, and subsequently pretending to be Mexican.
A pretend dream deferred is a pretend dream denied!
Mencia's penchant for racism didn't stop him from ending his act with the schmaltziest of moments, telling his audience "how it could all end just like that" and silently walking off stage. You know, it really makes you think about how banal that is.