%*@#*$)!@#!

When I started comedy, I kept it clean – VERY clean.  I don’t know that for the first couple years, I had any naughty words come out of my mouth while doing a set. Those who know me in real life know this is a staggering statistic.  I oftentimes joke now that I say “fuck” more times a day than all of the people in the room with me, combined. That’s probably not that far from the truth.

When I started producing Comedy Under The Tap, I was faced with a difficult decision – should we, or should we not have any type of language restrictions.  The decision was made to say we ran a PG-13 show.

Over the next couple of months, folks pushed the envelope. Of course they did, comics are notorious for pushing boundaries.  And in their defense, some of the BEST comics were ones that didn’t adhere to many rules.  That being said, I constantly had to clarify the definition of PG-13.  Then, one day, a comic made sure to link me to the MPAA site to tell me exactly what the PG-13 rating meant.

All along, I wanted to set a standard in the room that made it a show that would attract the most fans.  I felt pretty strongly that words like “fuck” and “cunt” and phrases like “anal fisting” weren’t really punchlines… and comics continuously badgered me about the rule until I had to clarify that our room does not allow “fuck” or “anything more lewd, crude or obscene.”  To this day, comics still want to “run things by me” to see if it’s ok to say.

Ugh.

This rule initially was made because many of the comics on the early Comedy Under The Tap lineups were fresh, new folks trying comedy for the first time.  So, with a lineup of 8 comics, the first would say fuck once, the next 4 times, and by the end of the show it was a fuckfest.

I look back on my comedy experiences when I started doing comedy very fondly, and I believe, wholeheartedly the only reason I’m at all even moderately good (and I say that with some angst) at comedy is because I was ‘brought up’ not relying on “Fuck” for an easy laugh.

Now, does that mean I think “Fuck” is always an easy laugh.  Fuck no!  I think that words like fuck and even cunt can be used to make a very funny bit even funnier, but I also believe that’s an exception, not a rule.

I’ve taken some flack for this ‘rule’.  I’ve been told I’m censoring people.  I’ve been told that it means I don’t have a sense of humor myself.  I’ve been told that it means I’m an anal-retentive bitch who talks down to people (as a note, that one may be true).  The “flack” I’ve gotten has even led to some drama (and comics, oh man, we LOVES drama!)… but happily, it’s worked its way out with those involved who are worth working it out with.

Do I think “fuck” is funny? Sometimes, yes.  Do I think “fuck” is an easy laugh?  Sometimes, yes.  Do I think I need to get fucked?  Maybe… err, yes… any takers?

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