Open To Debate Podcast Goes Live On Wokeness In Comedy

 It's on conservative talk shows that you'll hear the charge that "wokeness is killing comedy." These pundits contend that so many topics are off limits to comedians that "stand-up comics can't be funny anymore," as one conservative podcaster whined.

 Yet, the hottest stand-up comedian in the field right now is a Tennessee-born comic named Nate Bargatze. His routine doesn't involve a lot of F bombs and curses. His material isn't blue. His humor is sly, understated, and situational. He doesn't talk politics. 

Bargatze talks about his parent's weird house, his sister's boat, his wife's inability to use clichés properly, a dead horse, and ordering at Starbucks. He is funny, popular, and self-effacing.

He was recently the host of Saturday Night Live, and his star is rising.

Over the weekend, two comedians debated the question "Is Wokeness Killing Comedy?" for the podcast Open to Debate.

Taped live at the Comedy Cellar, two comedians with extensive standup and sketch experience hashed it out. Arguing “YES” is Lou Perez, comedian, producer, and author of That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore. Arguing “NO” is Michael Ian Black, comedian, actor, and veteran of sketch comedy troupes The State and Stella.

Find the full episode at the Open to Debate website, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get podcasts.

More info:

What Lenny Bruce, George Carlin, or Eddie Murphy jokes would be deemed offensive by today’s standards? From comedy specials to TV shows and movies, what makes us laugh has come under scrutiny. Some old jokes and racy skits are considered off-limits in today’s context, leading to public apologies, cancellations, and backlash. "While society wants more inclusivity and awareness, comedy has now become a cultural battleground. Some argue that political correctness will stifle comedic creativity and worry it will affect comedy’s ability to tackle tough subjects, leading to self-censorship and lack of depth or free speech. Those who disagree say comedy, like all art forms, has always evolved with changing societal norms and it can still flourish without relying on harmful stereotypes or tropes. Instead, acting more sensitive or woke will refine and elevate comedy.

"Against this background, we debate the question: Is Wokeness Killing Comedy"

This debate was actually taped of a live audience, on Wednesday, September 20, 2023, at The Comedy Cellar’s Village Underground in New York City.

Warning that this content is not made for kids.

The Open To Debate podcast plays a critical role in our society today.

Open to Debate is a call to action: All of us should keep an open mind to solve the complex problems we face as individuals and as a nation.

Open to Debate is a reminder: To solve our greatest problems, we must operate in a contempt-free zone. We need to be able to sit in the same room and exchange ideas with people we disagree with. Being open to debate is a gesture of respect for the good faith arguments of those we disagree with, for the intelligence and integrity of those who watch or listen, and for the value of debate done right.

Open to Debate is a duty: The future of American Democracy depends on the strength of communities to work together and overcome our differences. “Us vs. Them” thinking is destructive to our social fabric, and we need a national model to guide debates to a healthy and free exchange of ideas.

The mission of Open to Debate is to restore critical thinking, facts, reason, and civility to America’s public square. Open to Debate is a platform for intellectually curious and open-minded people to engage with others holding opposing views on complex issues.

Check out Open To Debate. Perhaps you'll have a prejudice exposed or a firmly held belief questioned. 

"The unexamined life is not worth living" is a famous dictum supposedly uttered by the Greek philosopher Socrates at his trial for impiety and corrupting youth, for which he was subsequently sentenced to death.

Open To Debate can help us examine our lives, our beliefs, our biases, and dogmatism.