Jim Gaffigan doesn't get horse racing

[Afleet]

I thought it was funny, others, not so much

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAhzNcCojg8

[illinoisbred]

I just posted the same...I'll delete. Gaffigan should stick to talking about his kids. He's clueless about racing.

[Grits]

I posted in the other thread. So, I'll note here, yes, I saw it and I wrote a pretty unkind comment. He knows nothing about horses, nothing about horse racing, and Lord, if it's possible, even less about gambling. ... Too, he lacks comedic talent!!

[dilanesp]

I thought it was funny as hell. He gets the BS surrounding the Derby exactly right IMO.

[Zydeco]

Horse walks into a bar...... the bartender says " Why the long face?"

[098poi]

I love Jim Gaffigan. He does some great bits about food, being lazy and exercise.



"What is Woodrow Wilson still president?" :D

[dilanesp]

"The Derby is like prom for gamblers, where people bet on horse racing while dressed like characters from 'Gone With the Wind'."

[illinoisbred]

"The Derby is like prom for gamblers, where people bet on horse racing while dressed like characters from 'Gone With the Wind'."

I have to admit...this line was funny.

[johnhannibalsmith]

Yay Andy Rooney is back.

[thaskalos]

I must be kinda slow today. I played the video clip twice...and missed the "humor" both times.

[Augenj]

I thought it was funny as hell. He gets the BS surrounding the Derby exactly right IMO.
You're right. It helps to know who he is and conditioned to his humor but I've always thought he is funny. :)

[JustRalph]

I must be kinda slow today. I played the video clip twice...and missed the "humor" both times.

Ditto....

[letswastemoney]

"The Derby is like prom for gamblers, where people bet on horse racing while dressed like characters from 'Gone With the Wind'."My favorite line. I don't understand why racing people are so angry?

The whipping bit went over the top for me, but other than that, I liked most of it.

[PaceAdvantage]

I posted in the other thread. So, I'll note here, yes, I saw it and I wrote a pretty unkind comment. He knows nothing about horses, nothing about horse racing, and Lord, if it's possible, even less about gambling. ... Too, he lacks comedic talent!!He's usually funnier...

I think I've watched at least two of his Netflix specials and I gave them both thumbs up...you can't win them all...

[burnsy]

I always thought he was pretty funny. The thing is he admits he doesn't know much about horses.....why should he?

What gets me are the people on sports broadcast that don't have a clue. I've heard paid professionals talk about 4 year olds returning to the Triple Crown races or Travers after they've already been in it at age 3...…..:bang:

More than a couple of times.


Most people don't have a clue about this game, that's why the days he makes fun of, are the best days to be betting.


He's a comedian, what do you expect? When half the people covering Horse racing don't have a clue?

[Nutz and Boltz]

I'm a Gaffigan fan , but not one of his best bits. Though probably 80 percent of the public has the same feeling about horse racing in general. I'm thinking that Sunday Morning gives him the subjects and he has to come up with some wry comments about them. Andy Rooney he's not!

[Tom]

He's a comedian, what do you expect? When half the people covering Horse racing don't have a clue?

Half the people RUNNING racing are comedians. :rolleyes:

[MonmouthParkJoe]

I didn't find it funny, but then again I don't find him funny.


I am honestly surprised that some comic, who clearly knows nothing about racing, does some off color skit and people are up in arms losing their minds. Yet there are a number of issues the industry is facing and everyone carries on like its no big deal. The outrage is better focused elsewhere.

[biggestal99]

man on horseback goes back a looooong time in history.

They use to fight wars on horseback (war horse anyone)

Read a history book whydontcha?

Then again this comic is prolly illiterate.

Yes we all get it. Horseracing is bad because people gamble on it.

so what are casinos? poker games?

sports betting? Heaven forbid exchange wagering?

what a puritanical jackass?

Allan

[pandy]

Gaffigan got a lot of insults from horse people on Facebook. I think people are going overboard on him. Comedians make fun of everything, that's their job. Sure it wasn't a great bit, but that doesn't make him a bad person. I actually saw people say that they won't watch CBS Sunday Morning anymore because of this. Wow, rough crowd. CBS Sunday Morning has always been one of the better shows on television.

[Nutz and Boltz]

man on horseback goes back a looooong time in history.

They use to fight wars on horseback (war horse anyone)

Read a history book whydontcha?

Then again this comic is prolly illiterate.

Yes we all get it. Horseracing is bad because people gamble on it.

so what are casinos? poker games?

sports betting? Heaven forbid exchange wagering?

what a puritanical jackass?

Allan

You don't get it. He's a comedian. A comedian makes fun of things,and putting things down. What would you expect the man to say? Let's face it, there's nothing funny that's good about horse racing these days. The industry is in sad shape. A big to-do about nothing." There's no such thing as bad publicity." (P.T. Barnum)

[Inner Dirt]

Three minutes of my life I won't get back, not funny in the least.

[burnsy]

Half the people RUNNING racing are comedians. :rolleyes:


True Tom, well, at least they think they are. Then, there are others that are a joke even though they are trying not to be.


Plus, if this is all it takes to get their panties in a bunch...…...well, you can see why they can't take the criticism. "Oh, those damn complainers."


They can bitch at something like this but the complaints constantly fall on deaf ears. Its the real joke in all of this.

[dilanesp]

Years ago, the president of the LA County Bar Association complained publicly about lawyer jokes. He whined that they diminished respect for the law and the legal system and were corrosive. And of course he didn't think they were funny.

Of course, what was really the case is some members of my profession have a thin skin and no sense of humor.

Lighten up. Do people here really believe that it is out of bounds to mock the whipping of horses, or the ridiculous costumes at the Derby, or degenerate gambling?

Horse racing is conducted in public, therefore, it's a legitimate target, especially for people who aren't as enamored with the sport as we are.

[Nutz and Boltz]

Years ago, the president of the LA County Bar Association complained publicly about lawyer jokes. He whined that they diminished respect for the law and the legal system and were corrosive. And of course he didn't think they were funny.

Of course, what was really the case is some members of my profession have a thin skin and no sense of humor.

Lighten up. Do people here really believe that it is out of bounds to mock the whipping of horses, or the ridiculous costumes at the Derby, or degenerate gambling?

Horse racing is conducted in public, therefore, it's a legitimate target, especially for people who aren't as enamored with the sport as we are.

:ThmbUp:

[classhandicapper]

I actually saw people say that they won't watch CBS Sunday Morning anymore because of this.

Welcome to our new political environment.

You said something I disagree with?

You are a comedian and made fun of someone?

You are a horrible human being. You should lose your job and endorsements and be barred from social media!

People are no longer capable of humor, nuance, subjective judgement, or forgiveness for an error in judgement except when we are talking about someone that is on their side. Then suddenly forgiveness makes sense.

[Denny]

I'm not a TV viewer, don't even know who he is.

Thought it was marginally funny, but, not very clever.

He is right about one thing though.
The whipping gives people like him a reason to criticize the sport.
It does give the sport a sort of cruel image.
I'd like to see it eliminated - or at least greatly reduced.

[AltonKelsey]

This guy (and I confess to having never heard of him) came off as an ignoramus.





You can make fun of something and still retain the appearance of having a clue, which he failed to do.


You can do a hit piece on anything.

[biggestal99]

You don't get it. He's a comedian. A comedian makes fun of things,and putting things down. What would you expect the man to say? Let's face it, there's nothing funny that's good about horse racing these days. The industry is in sad shape. A big to-do about nothing." There's no such thing as bad publicity." (P.T. Barnum)

Yeah so is Roseanne Barr and nothing she tweeted recently was remotely funny.

The horse racing bit was unfunny bit by a two bit comedian.

But thats only my take on it.

Allan

[Nutz and Boltz]

Yeah so is Roseanne Barr and nothing she tweeted recently was remotely funny.

The horse racing bit was unfunny bit by a two bit comedian.

But thats only my take on it.

Allan

I do agree it wasn't funny.

[thaskalos]

Years ago, the president of the LA County Bar Association complained publicly about lawyer jokes. He whined that they diminished respect for the law and the legal system and were corrosive. And of course he didn't think they were funny.

Of course, what was really the case is some members of my profession have a thin skin and no sense of humor.

Lighten up. Do people here really believe that it is out of bounds to mock the whipping of horses, or the ridiculous costumes at the Derby, or degenerate gambling?

Horse racing is conducted in public, therefore, it's a legitimate target, especially for people who aren't as enamored with the sport as we are.

There is a big difference though. The MAJORITY of lawyers are douchebags...whereas only a MINORITY of horseplayers lose their life-savings at the track. :cool:

[AltonKelsey]

Most don't have any life savings to lose


Rimshot.

[Afleet]

Viagra's Revenge-thats at least a little funny:D

[Track Phantom]

Finally got around to watching this. My observations:

1. He had a chance when he started down the "are we still doing this" angle. There are a lot of corny things we do or pretend to appreciate in society simply because it used to be a real thing. The rest of his bit was inane.

2. It would take me 7 light years to write down all of the things in society I think are ridiculous simply because I have zero interest in it. For example, I think Wrestling is idiocy. I used to like it in 2nd grade when I still thought girls had cooties. I grew out of both rather quickly. I could spend all day taking pot shots at wrestling but I have no interest, no knowledge and haven't taken the time to understand the appeal. My opinion is rather meaningless.

3. Horse racing has so many easy targets to poke fun at. This guy found none of them. That was hard to do.

4. CBS really sponsors or advocates this? Someone at the level of this comedian over delivering non-funny lines? You would think there would be a bit more given the network. It smelled to me like a different form of Peta.

5. Who cares?

[camourous]

Saw this on Twitter and it' pretty much spot on..



Breakage = Totally okay
Drugs = Cool
High Takeout = Sure
ADW Signal Wars = Fine
Some states won't let you bet = We'll get over it
Dead Horses = Sad for 5 mins
Kill Pens = Let's drive the price up so it keeps happening
Jim Gaffigan = Worst thing that ever happened to horse racing

[castaway01]

Saw this on Twitter and it' pretty much spot on..



Breakage = Totally okay
Drugs = Cool
High Takeout = Sure
ADW Signal Wars = Fine
Some states won't let you bet = We'll get over it
Dead Horses = Sad for 5 mins
Kill Pens = Let's drive the price up so it keeps happening
Jim Gaffigan = Worst thing that ever happened to horse racing

You read this site and really believe that hardcore players feel that way about all those issues? There are literally hundreds of threads with people complaining about all of them, and we've had long threads about trying to save horses from the killers. So you're wrong.

[thaskalos]

We WISH that Jim Gaffigan was the "worst thing to ever happen to horse racing".

[Augenj]

We WISH that Jim Gaffigan was the "worst thing to ever happen to horse racing".
:lol::lol:

[papillon]

I thought it was funny, others, not so much

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAhzNcCojg8

Sienfeld's was funnier, but I don't get the poutrage about it tbh.

Horseracing is about gambling. For Zayat of all people to freak out about that is what got the chuckle out of me. Zayat taking the high ground :lol: Have to admit, those HERE objecting that...cognitive disonance much?

The Derby has become a asinine, unwatchable farce. If you don't follow the sport it is your sole point of reference and it is Tara and Johnny and pointless, clueless celebrities, and Kid Rock, whose 15 minutes was up about literally a century ago, and cooking show bs, and stupid clothes. And drunks. And even in a good race, crazy bumper cars out of the gate, which nobody, esp true followers, likes to see.

My dad's family is old time Louisville, they stopped going to the Derby years ago and like a lot of natives go to Oaks day exclusively instead, which has apparently gone to hell too. This was their last year.

Then there is the race itself. In terms of a quality run race, it is not. This year's may just have done it for me. When you talk to average people who watched this year's Derby, they found it bordering on animal abuse. They do not understand why it was allowed to go forward in those conditions. The Preakness' conditions only increased the bad taste in their mouths. Likely that is what prompted this.

Justify may be worshiped here, but ordinary people associate him with an unpleasant experience and now there is 70% chance of rain for the evening for the Belmont. Should he win, he will be the least popular TC winner in history with the general public, simply due to the circumstances in which he ran.

The whipping will always be turn off for the general public. That is just reality. And let's be honest, races could be run without it. Let the horses' inherent motivation and will to win become the hallmark of winners. Riderless horses crossing the line first prove whipping isn't really necessary...jockeys either for that matter.

The amount of pearl clutching, suggests a nerve was struck.

[jk3521]

Sienfeld's was funnier.

Uhh.. not really.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRM-j1-AZdU

[turfnsport]

You read this site and really believe that hardcore players feel that way about all those issues? There are literally hundreds of threads with people complaining about all of them, and we've had long threads about trying to save horses from the killers. So you're wrong.

It was a sarcastic tweet by POTUScapper. With all the challenges the industry has, everyone is irate over a comedian's three minute bit.

The outrage was ridiculous, but I LOVE Gaffigan. It was not his best work.

[AlsoEligible]

The amount of pearl clutching, suggests a nerve was struck.

:ThmbUp::ThmbUp::ThmbUp:

Not surprised to see so much backlash against Gaffigan. That's a common reaction any time a group is attacked/ridiculed by an outsider.

But aside from a couple remarks (jockeys just go along for the ride, ownership is only for the rich, whipping), I don't think he said anything terribly off-base. And I'm not even sure that the validity of his statements are all that important...because the way Gaffigan presented it is exactly how many people outside the sport see horse racing:

The sport is dated, no one thinks about it outside of 3-4 days a year, it's just an excuse to gamble, events like the Derby are far more style than substance. And yes, to many people, whipping is borderline animal abuse.

We can nitpick each of these statements in our echochamber, and dismiss Gaffigan as an unfunny hack. But imo the headline here is not "comedian doesn't get racing", it's "the general public doesn't get racing", and it's a clear example of just how miserably the industry has failed to market itself and educate people.

[Inner Dirt]

Geez, I was not offended in the least, I just thought he wasn't funny.

[clocker7]

The fake PETA-underground horse racing fans sure came out on this thread.

[thaskalos]

The fake PETA-underground horse racing fans sure came out on this thread.

English please...

[Poindexter]

Geez, I was not offended in the least, I just thought he wasn't funny.

+1

[thaskalos]

+2

[FakeNameChanged]

Most don't have any life savings to lose


Rimshot.
First funny thing in this thread.

[chiguy]

Asking a serious question and would like to hear responses. How much would the sport benefit if it were announced today that whips would be outlawed in American racing? I don't ride horses so I don't pretend to know if they are needed for some reason other than motivation.

[PaceAdvantage]

Uhh.. not really.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRM-j1-AZdUActually, Seinfeld's bit was infinitely funnier than Gaffigan...

[jk3521]

Actually, Seinfeld's bit was infinitely funnier than Gaffigan...
..but not up to Jerry's standards.

[Denny]

Actually, Seinfeld's bit was infinitely funnier than Gaffigan...

No way. Seinfeld stunk on that. He's pretty clueless on horseracing.

Hey PA,

Seperately,
Heard that Steve Crist was on Steve Byk today.
Wonder if something or someone drew him out with criticism of his disappearance from the scene.

I'll use one of your favorite lines. It could be true. Who knows?

Thank ME very much. ;)

[dilanesp]

The comic's job isn't to "get" horse racing, it's to mock it.

You guys just don't want to see your favorite sport mocked.

I mean, really, if you don't find what people wear at the Kentucky Derby to be a worthy subject of mockery, you just aren't going to laugh at ANYONE's mockery of the sport for any reason. Which means you don't get to judge what isn't funny on this subject.

[tophatmert]

The comic's job isn't to "get" horse racing, it's to mock it.

You guys just don't want to see your favorite sport mocked.

I mean, really, if you don't find what people wear at the Kentucky Derby to be a worthy subject of mockery, you just aren't going to laugh at ANYONE's mockery of the sport for any reason. Which means you don't get to judge what isn't funny on this subject.

I agree and I know comedy. I've got a picture of Pete Barbutti on my nightstand.

[thaskalos]

The comic's job isn't to "get" horse racing, it's to mock it.

You guys just don't want to see your favorite sport mocked.

I mean, really, if you don't find what people wear at the Kentucky Derby to be a worthy subject of mockery, you just aren't going to laugh at ANYONE's mockery of the sport for any reason. Which means you don't get to judge what isn't funny on this subject.

When one needs to explain the "humor" in such detail...then, how funny can the bit be?

[dilanesp]

When one needs to explain the "humor" in such detail...then, how funny can the bit be?

I'm not explaining the joke. At no time did I say "this is why that joke is funny" or anything similar.

I am observing that several people here are basically so protective of horse racing that they are holding Gaffigan to standards that would prevent any comedian from functioning.

[Fred Mertz]

I am observing that several people here are basically so protective of horse racing that they are holding Gaffigan to standards that would prevent any comedian from functioning.


I read his routine when it came out; I didn't watch it.


It wasn't funny at all IMO. It almost offended me, especially with a Triple Crown on the line.


I understand humor and maybe I'm a grumpy old man, but it struck me wrong. I don't know the comedian, but now I know his name...Mudd.

[dilanesp]

I read his routine when it came out; I didn't watch it.


It wasn't funny at all IMO. It almost offended me, especially with a Triple Crown on the line.


I understand humor and maybe I'm a grumpy old man, but it struck me wrong. I don't know the comedian, but now I know his name...Mudd.

Here's a good rule of thumb:

If you are offended by a comic routine, you probably aren't its target audience. Because TONS of classic comedy routines offend some segments of the population.

[Fred Mertz]

I get humor most times. I hope this gives you a laugh:


https://youtu.be/sxHnXajIex4


Sorry, I couldn't embed it.

[thaskalos]

I'm not explaining the joke. At no time did I say "this is why that joke is funny" or anything similar.

I am observing that several people here are basically so protective of horse racing that they are holding Gaffigan to standards that would prevent any comedian from functioning.

Speaking for myself...I have no problem at all with people who ridicule this sport. Heck...I've done plenty of that myself right here on this board. But if a comedian puts out a bit which gets a cold reception from the majority of the audience, as was the case here...then the act isn't funny, PERIOD. In comedy...the audience is never wrong.

[Valuist]

I'm a Gaffigan fan. I think some people on here need to chill. At least he ACKNOWLEDGED horse racing. That's more than 99% of the people in the public eye.