Seth McFarlane or Bill Maher?

[kentuck]

Who would have been best for the Oscars?

Personally, I enjoy the humor of both of them but they can go too far. We all remember how Bill Maher got kicked off Politically Incorrect for being politically incorrect about bombs being dropped from high altitudes versus strapping bombs to your body and the degree of courage required for each...

McFarlane is a very bright and entertaining fellow but he is similar to Bill Maher, in many ways. Perhaps he could have been a bright star for many years to come if he had not offended so many people. And it wasn't just the "boob" song, he offended just about everyone who got a mention.

But that is who he is. The frog knew it was a scorpion before he offered it a ride across the stream.

McFarlane has chosen instant notoriety over career longevity, it appears? I really hate to see that.

[randome]

1. Same with Daniel Tosh. Same with so many others.

It's lazy writing and a lack of true creativity to go for the easy, vulgar jokes.

[October]

8. I stopped watching Tosh and watch Family Guy less, too

They are funny -- but too often choose a 'brand of humor' that is more mean than funny.

That's my opinion. So, I've tuned out a bit when it comes to their shows.

HOWEVER -- this was the Oscars. It was not the Seth MacFarlane Show. It just felt like it.

Anyone who watches Family Guy knows how often they bash/insult the "Meg" and "Lois" characters. His misogyny is always on display. Yes, he makes fun of EVERYONE, but he is harshest to the female characters. It seems he doesn't know how to write/perform without that aspect. Now we know. I'm disappointed and moving on.

One needs to question WHY the producers were ok with this. Seriously, we who like movies, are going to watch no matter WHO hosts for the most part. So, I resent anyone telling me to lighten up or get over it. That's your opinion and mine is different. I don't bash people who enjoyed it, so don't bash me.

Anyway... at least the OP was thoughtful.

[Cleita]

2. Usually it is traditionally someone in the movie industry.

Bill Maher would be more suitable for the Emmys, which are for television. And are you so sure he offended everyone who mattered? I was watching Joy Behar's show yesterday that had three other comedians commenting on the Oscars. They pretty much thought he did what he was supposed to do and that was to do something edgy. Also, Joy said something really funny about it. She said something to the effect of 'was he really offensive or just putting out the new Republican platform?'

[kentuck]

4. He was not too edgy for me..

But I can see why a lot of people were offended.

[bettyellen]

10. the thing is he did make a truly awful movie- Ted, about the vulgar plush animal

I really wanted to like that movie, just the concept makes me laugh hysterically. But it sucked, bombed big time, have never heard of anyone liking it. So, I'm not sure what that loser plush bear was doing up there, or Seth. Seemed like a weird pic for this type of show. My friends were funnier than Seth was.

[Cleita]

14. I never saw the movie. On the trailers it looked cute.

But a lot of people felt like you do about it. He does have a fine singing voice.

[bettyellen]

17. it's all shock value /frat boy humor. kinda mean spirited but blah, you know...

like the loser song, I thought it was another outrageous idea, like the boob song, but the content that followed was really thin and repetitive. it went from "I can't believe he would.." to "Why'd he bother" pretty quickly.
I think you'd have to love watching people fall down- not Buster Keaton or Lucille Ball, but your 89 year old neighbor- to really enjoy it. Meh.

[Son of Gob]

34. I wanted to like it too but it just wasn't very funny, however it did not bomb at the Box Office

540 million worldwide. http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=ted.htm

[graham4anything]

3. Tina and Amy

[busterbrown]

5. This will hurt his ego more than anything..

The mistake was that a guy who makes his living by being way over the top should not be asked to hosts the Oscars. His whole problem was that he couldn’t let loose and more importantly the show was way too long.. Needs to be shortened .

[undeterred]

6. Waterboarding or Drone attack?

C'mon give us Billy Crystal or Steve Martin.

[southernyankeebelle]

7. I like them both. I thought McFarlene did a great job at the Oscars. I mean I tuned in and

out and I thought he was good.

[wryter2000]

9. Neither, thank you

Maher has called Tailhook "boys being boys" and suggested that, maybe, women just aren't too bright at math and science. And yay to the person who mentioned Tosh. I have to turn off the tv the minute i see his stupid smirk.

[JaneyVee]

11. I'm not sure Bill Maher can do non-political comedy.

[Spike89]

12. Depends on your goals for hiring them

The thing about most comedians, even the very best (maybe especially the very best) is that they "nail it" for a certain segment of the population. If you're not a member of that target population, well, you're either going to be at a loss for why some people like the act or you're going to be offended.

"Mass market" comedians generally are jovial pleasers who don't really "nail it" for any segment of the audience, but if they are good enough, they can amuse most people.

Generally speaking, if you are trying to bring in a younger audience, you should look for a comedian that will offend some segment of the adult/PC/careful/serious audience--kids laugh the most at people who take on authority. Whether we like it or not, sometimes the "authority" is us. More often, the joke just isn't intended for us--doesn't make it a bad joke. Othertimes, you'll find yourself gasping for air while laughing at a joke that isn't that good--it just connects with you at that point in time.

The Oscars wanted to reach a younger, and more male market (I'd imagine from their choice of host). Us older or female viewers may or may not like it, but either the producers don't care about us, or they know we'll watch it anyway (probably a mix).

[kentuck]

13. Well said.

+1

[PADemD]

15. Neither

I'd rather see Alec Baldwin.

[cordelia]

16. Neither, but thank you for asking.

[eShirl]

18. "McFarlane has chosen instant notoriety over career longevity"

He already has career longevity, and his notoriety is hardly instant.

[bettyellen]

20. is he known outside the cartoon world? i wouldn't have known him if I hadn't seen

the "Making of Ted", which sadly was only slightly better than Ted itself. And he has that cartoon wit the outrageous baby.

[eShirl]

21. Well I'm not "in the cartoon world" and I can recognize his face when I see it.

I'm not sure what personal fame has to do with what we were talking about.

[bettyellen]

25. noteriety= fame, more or less no?

well anyway, all dozen of us thought he really sucked.
but cartoons would work for him I guess. not enough personality to be in front of the camera.

[eShirl]

36. Guess he'll have to make do with writing and producing TV series and movies.

good grief

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

19. No career longevity for MacFarlane?

He's got three shows on television currently, a sequel to "Ted" and one other feature film in the works. He's working on another animated series and a live action series. Along with that, he's got a deal to create an update version of "Cosmos" starring Neil deGrasse Tyson.

I'm surprised the guy had the time to do the Academy Awards, frankly. It's no wonder that he's said he won't do it again.

[phleshdef]

23. Yea, he has already had a fairly long career and he isn't going anywhere.

People are just too fucking sensitive sometimes.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

24. I'm looking forward to the new Cosmos

The original show was on during my sophomore year of college and it was a life-changing experience.

[sofa king]

31. Agree. He had nothing to lose.

MacFarlane is already preeminent in comedy writing, song writing, animation, audio acting, live acting, event hosting, television and film production, and singing. He is among the most successful of anyone ever in more than one of those fields. He's as busy as he can be for the foreseeable future. (It looks like he's dropped the revamped Flintstones series he was going to do--no time.)

I notice that he didn't excuse himself, either, publicly poking fun at his own possible closeted-ness. ("No straight guy writes that many show tunes," was the charge levied against him by a fellow comedian in one Comedy Central Roast.)

MacFarlane is an interesting guy. His humor is often painfully cynical and hurtful, but he comes by it honestly. For example, a hangover and a travel agent's mistake combined to make MacFarlane half an hour late for AA Flight 11, from Boston to the North Tower.

A guy that lucky, that day, before, and ever since, probably doesn't worry too much about not being Billy Crystal. He doesn't have to do anything, anymore, which is probably part of what makes his comedy so fearlessly sharp.

[LadyHawkAZ]

22. Is there a "none of the above" option?

I don't find either one consistently funny.

[Blue_In_AK]

26. I personally prefer Bill Maher's humor,

although I don't think either of them is really suited for the Oscars.

[MrSlayer]

27. McFarlane's career will be fine.

And all those offended people need to get over themselves. The whole event is just a big circle of elites sucking each other off. It's nice to see them knocked down a few pegs on occasion. They take themselves way too seriously.

I don't bother watching such self aggrandizing crap as award shows but seeing some stick up their ass bubbleheads getting their feathers ruffled is fun.

[theKed]

28. A few thoughts

There's no such thing as bad press. It won't be long, in the grand scheme of things before everyone lets their offense fade away. What is important to remember is that today everybody is talking about the Oscars, and a lot of people who've never seen Macfarlane know who he is, and that he hosted one of the most watched airings of the most popular award show on the planet.

Career longevity? He's had numerous popular TV shows and films over more than a decade. He won't be going anywhere.

[donheld]

29. Ellen.

[Deep13]

30. Maher was right.

The network execs. were cowards.

McFarland takes prejudices that everyone has, but pretend they don't and puts them on TV unvarnished.

[Arctic Dave]

32. Both.

The two together might slap the lazy out of their slumber.

What better place to do it then the Oscars, the most vapid, idiotic show on Earth.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

33. McFarlane will be around a long time

Hell, the fact he got the gig while not really being an on screen talent primarily is amazing in itself.

Just like Chris Rock and David Letterman, who also got shit on for "not being nice" on the Oscars, he'll be fine.

[Warpy]

35. both occasionally brilliant comedians, both critical of reactionaries

and both share the same blind spot where women are concerned.

Then again, I'll watch Maher, heartily booing him when he gets tacky.