Not Funny Lah

I read in the papers that Zaibo (you know, the bald comedian fella) was slighted that a participant on Raja Lawak cracked a joke on him being bald. He insisted that jokes shouldn't touch on physical traits, and there's a line to be drawn. No wonder we don't have that many noteworthy comedians around, if this is the kind of mentality they have. Actually I struggle to even think of one, Harith Iskander?

I mean, come on. You're a comedian (or comic, I dunno which is the correct term), lighten up for goodness sakes! Have you watched Comedy Central (on Youtube of course) lately? Are there any notable comedian whose set involves being very polite and touching only on generalistic and neutral issues? Take Russell Peters, he must've slighted 90% of his audiences with his racial topics. But I don't think anyone take it to the heart, because he pokes fun on his own heritage too. He does not slander, he does not accuse. He put it in a matter-of-fact way, that you have to agree with it. So why is it that Zaibo is feeling slighted over bald jokes referring to him? Denial ke bang? Next time wear a toupee if you hate it so much that you are bald.

Of course, we can't touch on religion or race here in Boleh-land. Too sensitive, fireworks might fly from an innocent remark. But I'm sure there's a helluva lot more to poke fun at. The politicians maybe? Or would that land them in a certain detention area in Kamunting? Poke fun at yourself if worse comes to worse, self depreciating can be very funny if done in the right way. Trust me, I've been watching Comedy Central and Last Comic Standing almost religiously.

We've had a long string of bad comedians that we've had to endure. Badul? Mr Os? Saleh Yaakob? Jalil Hamid? Goodness gracious me. Then it's Senario dominating the scene. They all say they're not here to serve cheap slapstick humor, but they all do in the end. Though cliched, I still find the jokes from P. Ramlee movies of old funny even though I've watched them dozens of time and even memorized some of it. Those jokes are very tongue in cheek, sarcastic, pokes fun at each other and most importantly funny.

If you are too sensitive, don't be a comedian. Lighten up, or get the hell out. I enjoy sitcoms and comedies a lot, but yet to find a good local equivalent. I have seen glimmers of hope in Afdlin's and Mamat Khalid's works, but they still have some way to go. Perhaps someday Ho Yufang might come out with a full fledged comedy, since his TV ads are hilarious. He can be the Yasmin Ahmad of comedy you know, maybe with less Sharifahs on the bandwagon. Maybe.