Letterman and Jim Carrey Trade Offensive Gay Jokes in Top Ten
Last night on The Late Show with David Letterman, Jim Carrey appeared to promote his new movie Yes Man, and read the Top Ten list which was "Things Jim Carrey Will Also Say Yes To". Although late night hosts should know better, the list was punctuated by a couple of lame gay jokes.
#8 on the list of "things Jim Carrey will always say 'yes' to" was "A Fan Asking for a Hug, Unless He's a Dude." Classy, especially for a guy whose next movie, I Love You Phillip Morris, is out this winter and is a gay-themed movie about a con-man who falls in love in prison. If the cringe-inducing trailer for Phillip Morris didn't already convince you Carrey's film isn't one worth seeing, this top ten just might.
The final joke was a visual sight gag of Carrey drinking Champagne in a bath with Larry King.
Following the visual, Letterman says, "Those guys are so gay!"
It's certainly meant to look gay, and it's a funny visual to see Carrey in a bath with King, and certainly #8 on the list was more directly offensive, but what's Letterman's statement supposed to imply? That somehow, it's still embarrassing and a joke to be in a gay situation. You know, like giving someone your gayest look.
Maybe I'm just in a foul mood over the Warren pick.
Watch it, AFTER THE JUMP...
Posted Dec. 18,2008 at 9:14 AM EST by Andy Towle in David Letterman, Jim Carrey, News, Television | Permalink
This one doesn't bother me. It's funny because Jim C is straight. If we didn't know what his deal was, then I'd feel like they were making fun of being gay in general, but there's no reason Jim would like a man! I picture myself in the same jokes and the other person being a woman - still funny. I do NOT want a hug from a woman. ;-)
Posted by: Andy | Dec 18, 2008 9:24:51 AM
The bathtub thing would be much funnier if there were more bubbles coming up from under Larry King than there are in the champagne glass.
Posted by: David D. | Dec 18, 2008 9:37:05 AM
Dave needs to find better writers. The jokes weren't overly offensive but weren't funny either. Jim Carrey did say on Ellen yesterday that he voted no on Prop 8. Seems kind of two-faced though that he would be supportive on one show and make fun of gays on another on the same day!
Posted by: Becky | Dec 18, 2008 9:38:00 AM
imagine how creepy it would be to get a hug from David Letterman!
Posted by: Pbar | Dec 18, 2008 9:40:16 AM
Doesn't bother me. It's more a joke about narrow-minded straight guys (hence the word choice "dude") than about gays.
Posted by: Don | Dec 18, 2008 9:52:08 AM
Meh...I can't generate much outrage on this either.
I think Dave's humor is pretty tired, whether he's making mildly embarrassing anti-gay jabs or not, and my guess is that his writers are aging.
The rest of us have moved on.
Posted by: Andrew K | Dec 18, 2008 9:55:18 AM
I don't see the outrage either in #8... he is straight he obviously doesn't want to be hugged by a man.
The "so gay" thing on the other hand is so irritating.
Posted by: SJ | Dec 18, 2008 10:03:09 AM
I'm so glad many of you weren't offended. Now we can understand how boys are taught at a young age that hugging another man or any other seemingly close contact leads to a homo-situation that must be avoided at all costs. Its so funny to avoid anything "gay". That why Obama has to be sworn in by Rick Warren. Gays are the newest punching bag, right behind women of course. Its all in fun right?
Posted by: Glennmcgahee | Dec 18, 2008 10:14:32 AM
Just one holiday jeer. Let it pass.
Posted by: dell | Dec 18, 2008 10:17:46 AM
Jim Carrey is way past his funny expiration date.
Posted by: freddy | Dec 18, 2008 10:18:35 AM
One day this kind of humor will seen to be just as offensive as minstrel shows and performing in blackface; but not unless we defeat our own internalized homophobia and stop debating about whether this type of humor is offensive or not. Just replace "gay" with "black" or "Jew", insert a comparable stereotype and see if it is still funny.
Here, let's try it:
We see Jim Carrey and Larry King sitting together eating watermelon and fried chicken.
David Letterman says, "Those guys are so black!"
See, it's offensive. And if you think there is a difference, you're part of the problem. There. is. no. difference.
Posted by: Mike | Dec 18, 2008 10:21:06 AM
Lighten up. That's more of a joke about straight men's homophobia than anything else.
Posted by: Wells | Dec 18, 2008 10:22:30 AM
Wow, I don't see a single offensive thing about this. In fact, I thought it was hilarious! I think you might be acting a bit alarmist here, but yeah, maybe the Warren pick has you in a bad mood.
Posted by: Toby | Dec 18, 2008 10:25:02 AM
Oh, lighten up.
Posted by: Donovan | Dec 18, 2008 10:50:13 AM
I don't see this as particularly offensive. Then again I also haven't found Jim Carrey funny since I was 11.
Posted by: Sean | Dec 18, 2008 10:50:23 AM
Andy: I agree with your perspective. It's not a post-Warren mood issue. All that stuff is offensive.
There was deeply offensive homophobic stuff in Jim Carrey's movie "Ace Ventura."
Jim Carrey got his start in the TV series "In Living Color"; and while he wasn't in the "Men on..." sketches, that stuff was incredibly homophobic, and did genuine harm, particularly to African American gay men.
We should never be ashamed of saying to Carrey, Letterman, and anyone else (particularly advertisers): This stuff is NOT cool.
Posted by: Ryan | Dec 18, 2008 10:59:50 AM
I'm going to send a note to GLAAD...
Posted by: Ryan | Dec 18, 2008 11:00:43 AM
RELAX.
If you can't laugh at yourself...
Posted by: SLIDAR | Dec 18, 2008 11:00:57 AM
Paul Schaffer is gay. Can you imagine having to play side kick to that homophobe Letterman for all these years. Yuck.
Posted by: Paul is gay | Dec 18, 2008 11:30:12 AM
two perpetual adolescents. can't stand either of them.
Posted by: jerks | Dec 18, 2008 11:45:01 AM
Is this stuff offensive? YES!
But I'm a little too thick skinned to let it get to me.
Posted by: Marc in Chicago | Dec 18, 2008 12:00:44 PM
This is inside baseball. Carrey is a notoriously big hugger.
Posted by: anon | Dec 18, 2008 1:15:07 PM
Oh Jesus, guys, grow the fuck up. Jim Carrey was just on Larry King Live expressing his total support for gay marriage and gay equality. When will some of us stop reacting to every little perceived slight like bitchy, ignorant queens? The chronic defensiveness has to go...
Posted by: bryanD | Dec 18, 2008 1:17:14 PM
David Letterman is a silent supporter of gay rights and if the members of his staff were not offended, then neither am I. His producer, Barbara Gaines, is a lesbian and has been with him from the very beginning. Likewise, his cue card guy Tony Mendez is also openly gay and has worked with the show for 25 years or more. There are other less visible gay and lesbian members of his staff, so I don't think Dave is homophobic or intended to offend anyone. I'm sure Worldwide Pants scores high on the HRC scale.
Posted by: Michael in Austin | Dec 18, 2008 1:29:01 PM
I'm a gigantic fag and I thought it was funny.
Posted by: David | Dec 18, 2008 3:30:52 PM