Performance Art Taken to New Levels
by Leigh ScottThe more I watch clips like Janeane Garofalo’s appearance on the Olbermann show, the more I’m convinced that its not real. That’s right. Allow me to introduce to the world a new form of “trutherism.” I have discovered a new conspiracy. I think leftist talking heads are faking it.
In the late 1970s the brilliant Andy Kaufman created an alter ego, Tony Clifton. Kaufman demanded that his “friend” Tony get a role on the show Taxi. He then proceeded to cause such a disturbance on set (including hiring hookers to accompany him) that his co-stars walked off the production. Not once did Kaufman admit or acknowledge that he and Clifton were the same person. He never broke character. It was a brilliant, immersive piece of performance art.
Kaufman’s legacy of blending performance art, comedy, and audacious behavior continues today. Witness Jon Stewart, Garofalo, Ed Shultz, Olbermann, Susan Roesgen, Michael Moore, Rosie O’Donnell and countless other performers. How else can you explain such over the top examples of derangement? What better way to distance yourself from the pack by espousing views and analysis that fly in the face of history and common sense? When Olbermann looks at the camera with a straight face and talks about Dick Cheney’s secret assassination squads, you have to admire his ability to not loose composure like Horatio Sanz in the middle of an SNL sketch.
How could anyone consider the philosophies of Ayn Rand and Milton Friedman, witness the awesome display of grassroots demonstration that is the Tea Party movement, and hear the pleas of average citizens to stop government spending and boil it all down to “racism”? You can’t. It’s a joke. An elaborate hoax. It’s funnier than Gallagher smashing a watermelon and more intricate than the Punk’d episode where Ashton Kutcher totally set up Frankie Muniz.
Actors also view never breaking character as a challenge of their thespian skills. A few years back, I had the opportunity to hang out and drink with Sean Penn. It was a blast. He was great.
I was dismayed when I read his New York Times op-ed about the Iraq war and downright disappointed when he took trips to Iraq and Venezuela. He really was “palling around with terrorists.” How, I thought, could such a fun, talented, rational guy do such a thing?
Then, I figured it out. Spicoli isn’t a terrorist appeaser, violator of human rights, and all around puppet for evil; he’s a SPY. What better way for Bush and Cheney to gather sensitive intel than have an inside man? My head filled with visions of Penn pretending to listen to Saddam’s boring tour while he placed tiny GPS targeting devices all over the royal palace. I mean, come on, he’s one of the greatest actors of our generation. He made me believe that he was the gay “mayor” of San Francisco, he could easily convince a Commie blowhard like Hugo Chavez that he was down with closing television stations and killing a few pesky protestors.
Just look at the new character that Jamie Foxx created for himself when he lambasted Miley Cyrus. Was it a coincidence that his remarks happened right before the release of his new film and right as her film topped the box office? I mean really, who pays attention to press kit interviews and behind the scenes clips when we can watch Jamie unveil a new personality who can pack enough insulting and hateful comments into one sentence to ruin Don Imus, Al Campanis and Michael Richards combined.
Making liberal comments like “Rush Limbaugh is a fascist” simply doesn’t generate the headlines that would revitalize a stagnant career. If Keith Olbermann simply reported facts and thought logically about what he was saying, his ratings would be a third of what Fox News gets. Wait. What? His ratings are a third of Fox News. Hmmm. Maybe he should channel Kaufman and bring some hookers to set. Oh, wait, Bill Maher already patented that routine.
Maybe it is just wishful thinking that some of the most charismatic personalities in entertainment are just trying to “Punk” the nation with outlandish comments. Maybe Janeane Garofalo really does think that Libertarian thought is a code word for racism. Maybe Rosie O’Donnell really doesn’t think that heat can melt steel. Maybe Danny Glover really likes Fidel Castro and wasn’t helping Dick Cheney make a 3-D digital map of Cuban military bases.
But isn’t it more fun, and a bit reassuring, to think that these people are uber talented and dedicated to their craft instead of intellectually lazy?
This man has a secret...
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50 Comments
Certainly fun to think about. Oh, I was thinking about taking in the new Foxx flick (I haven't seen any reviews but it looks interesting) but after his irrational, bigoted and racist tirade against the defenseless Ms. Cyrus I believe I will decline. If I end up the poorer for it, so be it. So will he-to the tune of about $10.
So Jeaneane is a mole? Or Keith is actually a conservative, but his schtick is intended to be so over the top it will nudge people back into the fold? Okay, thank you for that perspective, Mr. Scott. Maybe this will allow me to see them at various and random times on my television and in my print media without "sploding" my head.
I am forever in your debt. (And naively I will hope it is true.)
Ha, that was like a forum argument I had once where I called Stewart out for making a reference to those racist Republicans owning and selling slaves like their Founder Jefferson by pointing out the history of the Democrat party where they used to be the Democrat-Republicans and those would be the early slave selling Republicans like Jefferson he was talking about. The reply was something like, "Jon Stewart knew that. He was just so smart that he outsmarted your outsmarting of his intellect." Or something like it.
Perception, reality, or wishful thinking, the results are the same. The left is truly unhinged
Kaufman was probably a clinical narcissist too. All I know about him says it was All About Andy.
You may be on to something here. Maybe that is how people like Janeane keep the media out of their personal lives, by inventing a complete repulsive alter-ego to play when not on set. Of course, that would require Janeane to have something of a social life to hide. Scratch that…………
http://lonewolfarcher.blogspot.com
it seems that if you are going to do this you ought to do it like Kaufman. Have a seperate identity. Otherwise you never know when one of the racists might spit in your bar-b-que'd bean curd.
of course no self respecting racist would work in a place that bar-b-ques that crap.
Interesting theory…but it would require Garofalo to have some acting ability. This season of "24" pretty much shoots down your theory.
Unless she has invented a character that pretends to be an actress that can't act….
I like it, I like it! So, Mahmoud, hear this. Sean Penn is a spy for the evil Bush government that you hated so much. Actually, he is a covert spy for Israel. He may speak kindly about you, but it is all an act. He is an actor, remember? Please tell your friends Fidel, Hugo, and Vladimir. Oh, he pals around with Janeane Garafalo, Rosie O'Donnell and Keith Olberman, so they are spies too. We will let you know if we can find any other spies for you.
(Now we can just sit back and watch the fun.)
An interesting theory, but something tells me that the simplest answer to this question is the true answer…
…These people are simply out of their minds.
"… dedicated to their craft instead of intellectually lazy?"
Hmmm… Could be…
Nah, they're just nuts.
Gotta love that Psy-war strategy!
Kudos! ; – )
Unfortunately, people like Penn, Garafalo, and Olbermann are not that smart. And, lately, they're not that original either.
http://the100mostannoyingthings.blogspot.com/
I remember when the girlfriend (now wife) dragged me to see The Truth about Cats and Dogs. I remember thinking it was stupid to cast JG as the homely girl to creepy-eyed Uma's "hottie." JG was cuter, smarter, and funnier.
Man, that was a lllllooooooooooooooooong time ago.
"Of course, that would require Janeane to have something of a social life to hide."
And the necessary talent to pull it off……Scratch that too…..
These people are just crazy.
Olbermann was entertaining on ESPN sometimes. Garafolo was actually kinda cute (I never thought she was funny). Penn used to be an uber-talented actor.
Now, Olbermann has morphed into the very definition of a foaming at the mouth liar. Garafolo is trying really hard to look like a man. And Penn, well he's always been unhinged, now he's just more vocal. And the message these nutbags put out there is left-wing extremism. Why aren't they named in a DHS report or something??
The piece is funny and all, but isn't that exactly the same thing the left says about us?
They don't believe we actually believe what we say we believe, as evidenced by David Letterman when talking to Bill O'Reilly, he said of Rush Limbaugh "he's too smart to believe what he's saying" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ag1AuzuDkUY (3:24)
This is part of the problem with the world, we don't want to believe liberals believe what they say they believe, they don't want to believe we believe what we say we believe, nobody wants to believe that the Jihadists believe what they say they believe.
Until we face the fact that people DO believe what they say they believe, (and more importantly assert that YES WE DO believe the things we say we believe) we're never going to get anywhere.
Look, when you're image is that of the angsty, semi-pretty (pretending she's not) leftist chick, you have two choices: Either become a raving leftist loon (aka an "activist"), or a lesbian.
I'm guessing she just couldn't bring herself to [censored] other women.
Hey, at least she's honest about her sexuality unlike a lot of these hollywood pop-tarts that like to go play lesbo for a few weeks so they can get their "edgy cred" and then go back to guys.
It's TV and it's all about the ratings. They say and show what they think will draw their target audience. Olbermann isn't a reporter, he is an actor reading his producer's script. Kind of makes you feel violated doesn't it?
Ya. I'll believe this when I find our Barney Frank is banging Miss California.
http://www.alistz.net
I really do feel sorry for all of these left wing loonies. They know not what they do. I like the part about hoping penn was a spy, too bad that wasn't true, that would have really been one for the books.
"Why aren't they named in a DHS report or something?? "
Yea with all that hate constantly spewing forth you would think that they would be.
It's what the likes of James Carville uses all the time. If anyone here ever gets the chance they should watch the documentary "Our brand is crisis" it's all about how carville and his team got a totally un-re-electable candidate re-elected in Brazil..Absolutely mind boggling.
Well, tt is for the sake of transparency!
Do not ever say that again. Now I have to bleach my brain to get image out…Bleeeeech…
Seriously. You don't see conservatives slobbering all over human rights abusers like Chavez and AquaVelvaJad. Those guys actually wish us harm, big time. They are the enemy and Penn and Glover and their ilk are giving them aid and comfort. If anyone has the resources to to do a terrorist-two-step it's those filthy rich celebrities and their ties to these ruthless dictators. Where is the DHS alert on filthy rich left wing extremist celebutards?
Jane (the traitorous swine) Fonda turned her back on America in Vietnam. She's a traitor. Penn is doing the same thing. Funny, seeing as how he makes noises like a champion of gay people and then bumps uglies with AquaVelvaJad……Everyone knows how tolerant Iran is of homosexuals…..
Garafolo is just an ill-informed, mindless robot that's channeling burned-out hippies. Too bad, she could really be cute if she'd just shave her pits and take a shower…..and maybe get a few facts straight…..
I do think you have to look at the makeup of folks who choose to go into entertainment. This action alone might tend to attract the deluded. "Hey, look at me, please! I will do anything I can for attention, well to entertain you."
Self-selection at its finest.
In actual fact, celebrities have frequently been employed as spies- but the cover generally is complete apoliticism. Noel Coward worked for the OSS during WWII while touring as an 'entertainer'- because nobody would believe that his slightly alcoholic, wittily vague and completely shallow stage personality was all an act.
Since conservatives are racist, anti-intellectual, synapses lapsing bigots, she's really a conservative poorly playing a liberal.
You know, I do hate to think anyone could be that deluded or nuts, especially people whose work I (used to) enjoy a great deal.
If it's a setup, then I'm punk'd, 'cause I'm believing it.
It's all about the end of the world.
I dig the humor. It drives lefties nuts.
"If your opponent is quick to anger, seek to irritate him"
–Sun Tzu
If this article is correct (which it must be because Big Hollywood prints only truth), Foxx just did that to Miley to throw the public off the fact that he is actually an agent for The White Citizens Council. He can then openly root out all secret Obamists who are pretending to be white but are really black–or half-black. Foxx is so good at what he does, that you don't even realize he isn't actually black at all. Now THAT'S an actor. Penn is an amateur double-agent next to this guy.
Please don't mention Janeane's mole….I just had breakfast.
Nice. But don't forget Bob Zemuda, Andy's friend and manager. He was part of the ruse and often played Tony Clifton while Andy was out and about. Kaufman was genius. Stewart, Olbermann, and O'Donnell can't hold Andy's jock.
Please don't mention Janeane's mole….I just ate breakfast.
Leigh, I think this is a funny article, good job! I think it's meant somewhat in jest but I guarantee you at least one outspoken liberal…I mean over the top liberal…is truly a conservative. Like a gay person trying to act way too straight. If you were only concerned with your career in Hollywood it would be a good move. Has beens like Chevy Chase, Joe Piscopo and Hammer (though I have affection for Hammer) were really outspoken liberals recently in a shameless attempt to have some relevance and get some "love" in the industry. The late great Ron Silver gave credence to this idea in an interview when he revealed that he knew actors that were on stage with John Kerry at fundraisers who told him in private that they were voting for Bush.
… except Andy Kaufman wasn't brilliant. Performance art is rarely, if ever, brilliant. It's about the 'artist' doing something hideous or stupid because they lack the skill to be a real entertainer.
Andy Kaufman actually said "Am I supposed to go up there and tell jokes?", not understanding that this is the job description of a comedian. Everybody hated working with him because he was narcissistic and untalented and would ruin a good bit just to draw attention to himself. There are countless stories of how excruciatingly unfunny and self-centered he could be (reading an entire novel to a group who paid to see him do comedy, insulting people and wrestling them on stage, etc). He wasn't talented and he only opened the door for even more untalented people like Tom Green.
I think as a piece of performance art we should all register as Democrats…I mean every single Republican or Libertarian. Then as polling shows, we'd never lose any issue again, since most members of the public agree with us on capitalism, spending etc. I'm only half kidding. It's weird to think that our ideas are king among the public but only our brand id keeps us from being in power.
Save some of that bleach for me please. Ewwwwwwwwwww!
A very long time ago, she was also sort of cute in Mystery Men, but you could start to see the anger building even then. But I there's no way I can not love a movie with the line,"Boys, I give you…the disco room!"
Great piece!
"My head filled with visions of Penn pretending to listen to Saddam’s boring tour while he placed tiny GPS targeting …."
Reminds me of one of my all-time favorite films:
Gary Johnston: And just what does this have
to do with me?
Spottswoode: Our only hope is to have somebody
act like a terrorist who wants to help them
carry out the attack.
An actor convincing enough to make
the terrorists think he's one of them.
Gary: This is crazy. I'm an actor, not a spy.
Spottswoode: That's all spying is: acting.
And they say you're the best.
Gary: An actor with a double major
in theatre and world languages?
Spottswoode: Hell, you're the perfect weapon, Gary.
Be vewwy vewwy qwiet.. I'm huntin beauty contestants…
huhuhuhuhuhuhuhuh
And I'm not an actor, but I play one on TV.
America!!!! $&*K Yeah!
Sadly, your thought has probably occured to the Cubans and Iranians, as they doubt that the actors level of gullible could be faked.
Matt Groening, in Life In Hell, offered up this description of a performance artist's moment of ethical crisis.
"Given the vast number of things I could be doing with my life, why am I standing on this stage slamming meat on my head?"
Yeah, Carville is an Evil genius- too damn bad he works for the Dark Side…: – (
My poor SAN score is back in the negatives again.
Bonus points for Call of Cthulhu reference.
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