Jimmy Carr Doesn’t Think He’s Punching Down | Conan O'Brien Needs A Friend

Jimmy Carr is aware that his fans are dragging their friends and family to his shows. Plus, Jimmy and Conan discuss cancel culture, filtering oneself, and punching down.
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ABOUT CONAN O’BRIEN NEEDS A FRIEND
Deeper, unboundedly playful, and free from FCC regulations, Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend is a weekly opportunity for Conan to hang out with the people he enjoys most and perhaps find some real friendship along the way. Watch highlights of Conan, Sona Movsesian and Matt Gourley chatting with celebrities and meeting fans, along with special segments like “Review the Reviewers” and “Big Dick History.”
ABOUT TEAM COCO
Team Coco is the KZbin home for all things Conan O’Brien and the Team Coco Podcast Network. Team Coco features over 25 years of comedy sketches, celebrity interviews and stand-up comedy sets from CONAN on TBS and Late Night with Conan O’Brien, as well as exclusive videos from podcasts like Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend,
Literally! with Rob Lowe, Why Won’t You Date Me? with Nicole Byer, The Three Questions with Andy Richter, May I Elaborate? with JB Smoove and Scam Goddess with Laci Mosley.
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[@mjr2451]

“Intention and context matter… There’s a big difference between homelessness and camping“. That killed me.

[@dimitrimozhovy230]

*Intention and context

[@INRamos13]

You didn't even understand it.

[@mjr2451]

I use voice dictation on my phone. Damn autocorrect :p

[@BleachDemon99]

⁠@@INRamos13could you enlighten me? I missed the point…..

[@Ou8y2k2]

@@BleachDemon99 I'll bite, assuming you're not joking: Carr didn't say that line in jest but meant that comics aren't usually malicious because of their 'intention and context'. Furthermore, Conan and co. didn't laugh at that point. What was there to laugh about when comparing camping and homelessness? You see, comedy is subjective.

[@treasonabledoubt7251]

If I ever meet Conan, I vow to thank him for the years of laughter from so many things, in so many ways, pause, and say "my wife, though... Not a fan."

[@NSGrendel]

Presumably your wife is a "reader". Conan is offensively stupid. The smartest thing to come out of Conan was his producer's, "preference". Watching Conan is like mining though retardedness to get to the gold of whatever his guest said. He has NOTHING to add. EVER. If you enjoy Conan - read more? I can't help otherwise. I would also ensure that your fiscal holdings are separate to your wife. Because I sense active contempt.

[@annyrisaponte4161]

"People laugh at the wrong thing because they know what the right thing is."

[@jpa_fasty3997]

Ricky Gervais, that one was originally from

[@BuildinWings]

That's a dangerously naive and sheltered way to think.

[@bradleydavies335]

Not really!

[@Pumbear]

Sometimes that is why the joke works, but sometimes it's cause it aligns with what they believe is right. One joke can be entirely ironic, while another is funny because it's true.

[@TragicGFuel]

@@BuildinWings it's not

[@KevRyanCG]

The funniest thing about Jimmy Carr is the disparity between his eloquent musings on the nature of comedy itself, and his actual jokes.

[@AntonGully]

Yup. He's funny. His comedy is dire. Some people like it. Which is also dire. Akuna matata.

[@thecocktailian2091]

You have to be bright to make dim funny.

[@whateverdope]

​@@AntonGullyit's "Hakuna", it is dire that you do not know this.

[@MrBrock314]

@@whateverdope And people complain about someone correcting their vs. there... ;)

[@whateverdope]

@@MrBrock314 it is a dire situation

[@ronhudson3730]

Carr has to be one of the most articulate people I have ever heard or seen. His ability to convey complex thoughts, at a machine-gun pace, while being comprehensible, is astounding.

[@morbidmanmusic]

it isn't rocket science though...

[@mikebrown8251]

Would you say that if he were a person of color?

[@TheLunarnotes]

agreed. Problem is, he's just not funny. He hasn't made me laugh once in the 20 years he's been on the UK circuit.

[@jesperjee]

@@mikebrown8251 Huh? What does that have to do with anything??

[@outlander234]

@@TheLunarnotes Does your cousin or mom like him?

[@marcbelisle5685]

I really like what Conan said about so-called “cancel culture.” It’s true that the people who complain the loudest about getting cancelled are not actually being prevented from saying anything.

[@thl205]

Harvard-educated comedian meets Cambridge-educated comedian and we get probably the most articulate and deep dive into the "cancel culture" subject I've seen. I've heard a thousand boring variations of "oh no, people are so sensitive these days" but no one ever explained the controversy -- or really, lack of controversy -- so well.

[@joshuafisher4241]

It's not really a lack though, they just don't realise you can't judge it by what happens to decades established comedians like Gervais and Chappelle. People tried to get them kicked off Netflix. That's cancel culture (the attempt). The real test is would Don Rickles be able to start today? I don't think he would and we're a poorer culture for it

[@jedinxf7]

​@@joshuafisher4241people with no power tried to get multimillionaires off a nearly trillion dollar company's platform, and the result was additional specials in the 10M to 20M range for them. if only we all had such problems.

[@kutark]

Thank you. Saved me having to type out the same basic post. It's great to hear 2 guys with 7 or 8 figure bank accounts and 20+ year careers telling everyone else that cancel culture doesn't exist.​@joshuafisher4241

[@thl205]

@@kutark I love people with no experience of comedy pretending like they know the industry better than working comedians.

[@hurrayforanonyms]

​@@joshuafisher4241I love how the argument that comedians are being cancelled is so easily disproven that you have to move to goal posts. So now it's about imagining that unknown comedians are being cancelled. Everyone can name numerous comedians famous for anti-woke comedy, so you have to pretend that it's nobody comedians, ones that people can't immediately name, who are being silenced somehow. At what point do you question your argument instead of making it increasingly niche? Since stand-up began there's been a never-ending string of comedians who court controversy and it helps make them famous. In 5 to 10 years the people you're pretending are suppressed will be famous. But you'll likely just replace '2024' with '2029', '2034', and blindly carry on making the same incorrect argument. Of course Don Rickles could start today. He just mightn't do as well with a few of the hacky racist jokes. Rickles would point at a black audience member and say 'your brother is robbing my hotel room'. He'd pull his eyes while saying 'ching chong' and call it an impression. Which of these jokes do you think is a huge loss to our culture? I'm not even sure how you think this junk has disappeared when Shane Gillis literally got famous by doing the same lazy asian impersonations that Rickles did in the 70s and 80s.

[@7dwyerm]

I love Conan. Thank you for using your intellect to spread laughter and joy ❤

[@jessi2077]

I saw Jimmy at OHare airport and I admit I didn’t go up to him…I just excitedly texted my family 😆

[@DavidAlvarado-js3qq]

Ironically, your family would have probably gone up to him to take pictures to send to you.

[@littleshopofrandom685]

My brother harassed jerome iginla in an airport line. I just felt so bad for the guy, he's been on a plane for 5 hours. leave the guy alone. haha.

[@otter011]

My dad accidentally bumped into an actor who I had a huge crush on when I was as teenager. He told him that I had a crush on him, bought him a drink, texted me that he’s sitting next to him, and left. I was so embarrassed. Plus mad that he didn’t ask for anything 😄 it hadn’t even occurred to him

[@chelsea-pv3bm]

​@@littleshopofrandom685I love this random reference to Jerome Iginla! The only celebs I've ever met are hockey-related: Iginla and Walter Gretzky, who came over to my family at the airport when we said goodbye to my dad for a NATO tour. The Iginla interaction was also completely unprompted; my family visited a close neighbour in the Stollery Children's Hospital in Edmonton, where one ward was for adult stroke patients at the time. That neighbour who's suffered a stroke was like an uncle to us and it was a difficult visit, but Jerome Iginla was doing rounds visiting kids at the hospital that day! He dropped by our room (my neighbour is a massive hockey fan) and gave my neighbour, my younger brother & I autographed photos of him on the ice, with personalized messages. I've never been a sports fan at all really, but that is a hockey hero right there - just a kind & altruistic person :)

[@coreybangs]

(3:40) I can relate to "Comedians, we desperately, desperately, want to be loved; entirely on our own terms". It is enlightening and a burden. 😆

[@pochatablet5948]

Love Jimmy. Always funny, articulate, and lightening fast.

[@todddavis7438]

I could listen to Jimmy Carr all day. Like his comedy, love his engaging conversation.

[@tonyjackson4078]

I've watched quite a few Carr clips, never seen him live, but it's obvious no one is safe. He doesn't target any specific type of person, the entire audience is fair game and he strikes like a viper if he sees you and decides you're next.

[@jeffpowanda8821]

Jimmy Carr just might be the most intelligent podcast guest I've ever seen. Also very funny.

[@Ailieorz]

Jimmy is so right, you can tell when a comic is punching down, a smugness that says "I think I'm better than you". Jimmy doesn't have that

[@fabianhammer2864]

that guy is nothing, if not smug

[@thoughtgale]

I've really enjoyed the spate of Jimmy Carr appearances on podcasts, the conversations have been interesting and funny!

[@nem447]

While touring in the USA you might as well get more exposure, and do the podcast rounds...smart!

[@PrimarchX]

Cancel culture is real for things like your relationships with sponsors, who will drop you like a hot baked potato when challenged. Some comedians are less susceptible to this than others.

[@esspyarrow8772]

That's the definition of selling out, in terms of sponsors.

[@Vyzard]

So glad that most of this discussion has been uploaded in video format. Now I wonder if they'll also upload the last bit where Carr thinks he need to do an ad read

[@badacob]

can we please get the whole podcast here on youtube insted of 10 min clips

[@lmac40762]

I agree with his bit about intention and context. It's not hard to tell if you are being laughed with or laughed at.

[@philwill0123]

True, but those laughed at, are told "suck it up, it's comedy", how dare you be offended that the target is you"

[@lmac40762]

Absolutely, and anyone being honest knows that's bullshit there are all sorts of things considered over the line, and certain groups are considered acceptable to be cruel towards. Andrew Dice Clay wasn't being brave or revolutionary when he did homophobic comedy he was just appealing to a common prejudice at the time. It's often just bigotry, but even worse, it's boring and unoriginal.

[@adamcoe]

you'd think so, wouldn't you

[@kool263]

I love horror for the different real life themes but comedy and comedians can cut through to the emotions and feelings of everyday life. It’s funny and they make it comfortable to talk about things

[@zane8116]

Spot on about dragging partners to the show! My wife is as intelligent as they come but she's just not very good with puns. I probably missed half of Jimmy's jokes because I was explaining the previous one to her 😂

[@Jayk129]

The two funniest people on the planet having a nice little conversation.

[@stormwildthing5321]

Just seen this clip, i saw a clip in which ricky Gervais said, i want people to stop saying something is offensive, i want them to say, they found it offensive, there's a difference a lot of people don't seem to realise,

[@philwill0123]

Maybe, but does Gervais care if someone found it offensive? Probably not. It's a semantic that makes him feel above anyone who criticises. First he tries to "correct" them, then he's going to dismiss them anyway. Gervais can't take criticism. That's why first 40mins of all his recent shows is "responding" to criticism of his trans jokes. At that point, is he trolling to deliberately provoke reactions for content for his shows, or is it he can't stand criticism and he's doubling down for content of his shows?

[@guinnessharvey4476]

“My wife. . . .not a fan “:)

[@somanytakennames]

How refreshing to hear a comedian, who tests the line as regular as Jimmy does, talk about how blown out of proportion cancel culture is.

[@marcomartinez8608]

Right. It's very original. No other comedian does that lol

[@francescaa8331]

💯

[@karlalden2076]

That's all comedians do ever anymore and it's not funny shut up

[@DoomPlague]

@@karlalden2076 Comedians are always claiming that cancel culture isn't real and isn't ruining comedy? Because I still hear many comedians whining about cancel culture.

[@rishabhpb]

​@@marcomartinez8608by blown out of proportion, they mean how it's a bunch of nonsense that isn't really a threat to anybody

[@mengshun]

TY Team Coco for getting Jimmy Carr on! Great comedian and great convo. PLEASE bring on more British talent like Noel Fielding, Alex Horne, Jennifer Saunders, Jow Lycett and the like. Yes, I'm an American - not British - but they have a great comedy scene there and deserve some love from us. Also, Katherine Ryan and Rich Hall would be great for the "North American comedians in the UK" discussions and perspectives.

[@DavidAlvarado-js3qq]

The Overton Window is indeed shifting. I must admit to getting a little thrill watching Conan go after La Bamba's lifestyle back in the naughties (2000s).

[@AcEo0]

best combo ever! ❤

[@Where_is_Waldo]

3:24 Great musicians haven't got that either. Sure, there's plenty of broadly popular musicians who think that way and they have many fans and, even if most of their fans just join in the trend, some of those fans truly think they sound awesome or think they're saying something deep and meaningful that needs to be said even if it's been said thousands of times by many different artists but I really think that all of the music I love is music that was created by people who really loved what they were creating even if no one else likes it. You can hear the passion in that music. It doesn't come and go with a trend, the people who love it *really* love it.

[@mohamed_m_hagag]

Jimmy Carr really looks like a young Nixon, I guess that is the closest Conan will get to his dream of having Nixon on the podcast, he might be subconsciously enjoying this interview just for this

[@pretzelhunt]

Nixon! by Mattel, maybe

[@Oohcnap]

I'm not a fan of Jimmy but he has good points about the reality of cancel culture. But the punching down joke at the end was disingenuous to what "punching down" really means and the vid cuts off and doesnt get to him explaining what he thinks about it. The title for the vid can probably be different

[@brucelee4996]

You sound like a whiny, sniveller. 🤫 🚼🍼

[@marcomartinez8608]

That's as deep as he gets into it

[@Oohcnap]

@@marcomartinez8608 thats a shame. The title isnt very good then

[@sqronce]

Yeah, with the cut so quick after the joke, I immediately got curious as to whether/how many people in the comments wouldn't understand that that bit was a joke (especially because of the video title.) I'm not keen to put a number on how many I've seen misunderstand it, because I'd need to mind read to properly categorise anyone, but, maybe 4-ish?

[@shiryu22]

sona seems like a huge fan!

[@summerrr1]

No she’s just a huge lump

[@Kyle-nm1kh]

Her ears are interested

[@DoctorFurioso]

I agree with Carr here and think he has a strong ethical stance about "dark" or "edgy" humour, but "punching down" clearly has everything to do with power and nothing to do with self-image. I've noticed comedians like Carr or Frankie Boyle reject this idea outright, but clearly they are, in a social sense, powerful figures on a stage, commanding an audience. Whether it's a fair accusation to say they're "punching down" is another story, but it's a term that exists for a good reason.

[@DarkMoonWayfarer]

Frankie Boyle does not punch down, in fact he's roasted Ricky Gervais for doing exactly that.

[@raidwipe]

It has been a while but doesn't Boyle punch up? He makes edgy jokes but I only remember them being about figures like the queen

[@lolz1317]

I think that's the point he's making. I'm gonna exagarate your point a bit, i know that it's not what you mean. But let's say you mean he is punching down because he's in command of an audience, it says more about your point of view then his. It is offcourse a discussion with multiple point of views, opinions and a lot of examples far left and right.

[@MrBrock314]

Does it exist for a good reason?

[@Stinkbug_Ab]

EXACTLY

[@roberthoward9500]

Ricky Gervais is the perfect example of using "cancel culture" to his own ends. When he tells a bad joke that the audience didn't laugh at he screams "your cancelling me" rather than being strong enough to admit to himself the joke sucked. Too easy for comedians these days to cry "cancel culture" whenever people don't laugh at their jokes. I am glad Jimmy Carr is not one of those comedians.

[@somanytakennames]

I always found it ironic that Ricky gets so much praise for his Golden Globe moments considering how important and amazing he sees himself to be.

[@jerekorsumaki437]

What are you on about. Ricky's literally saying 'I don't care, f*ck off!'. Cancel culture truly has gone too far. Actors (and others as well) have been fired for nearly decade old tweets. And Ricky has another motto: just because you're offended, doesn't mean you're right.

[@DrainYouOut]

@@jerekorsumaki437 people have always been "cancelled" and fired for saying things, its just that said "things" have changed into things you might not agree with

[@DrainYouOut]

while I might not agree with firing someone for something they said 10 years ago when they have since showed they don't believe such things, its still not something new and has been happening forever.

[@danielbeaumont3744]

@@jerekorsumaki437 brace yourselves, the gervais simps have arrived

[@Miss_Matched]

"Who is under me, in the hierarchy of humans?" Asked the wealthy, hetero, white cis man indignantly, completely oblivious to his privilege.

[@NoHandle537]

Jimmy Carr kills me. He's hilarious.

[@almost_harmless]

I agree that cancel culture has a hard time canceling comedians, but it has happened. When you lose your livelihood because you were fired from a job because you said the wrong word - or have the wrong opinion - it is all too real. It shouldn't be like that, but it has been and probably still is, depending on where in the world you live and in what line of work you are.

[@GuidoGrasso]

Preference Falsification

[@edwinicq]

carr is so thoughtful and eloquent

[@lonelyone]

It's not punching down when you're an equal opportunity offender. It would be worse if some groups got preferential treatment for "not being able to take a joke."

[@TrophyGuide101]

Exactly, punch up, down, sideways whatever you want. There are no sacred cows, if you want equality then you get the pros and the cons too.

[@philwill0123]

But if you are a group who constantly got attacked, aren't you allowed to ask, why consistently us being targeted?

[@lonelyone]

Because you're human, just like everyone else.

[@DarkMoonWayfarer]

It's not just punching down that's a problem, it's inclusive humour vs exclusive humour. You've all seen it in action, when someone makes a joke at somebody's expense in a social setting. That makes them the joke and differentiates them from the group. When you do that on stage directed towards a group of people it's the same thing. When you do it to a group that's already marginalised in society, that's punching down and further compounds the problem.

[@Jnoooooo]

Why is it a problem when a comedian does it on stage? You can either watch them, or not. No big deal. PS I'm from one of these so-called marginalised groups, and I love the work of Jimmy Carr.

[@retrospectology]

Exactly. I think he's being a little dishonest when he tries to "turn around" the question and accuse the people criticizing 'punching down' as being the ones with a hierarchy. It shows that he actually doesn't understand what people mean when they talk about punching down. Social injustice creates the hierarchy, acknowledging the existence of that hierarchy and pointing out when a comedian's rhetoric reinforces it isn't advocating for the hierarchy. That's like saying criticizing slavery is admitting you think people should be slaves.

[@DarkMoonWayfarer]

​@@retrospectologyWell said. It's worth noting that Jimmy Carr was caught evading taxes for millions of pounds in 2012. When I take that into account, plus his Cambridge school education, plus working in marketing for Shell Oil....I come to the conclusion that this guy doesn't see his privilege and also doesn't have a very good moral compass.

[@Willbassyeah1]

Have you seen Carr performance? He literally insults the paralympics.

[@Banned4Life]

​@@DarkMoonWayfarer Read a bit about the taxes and what happened there.

[@byrne1916]

Jimmy punches down on Irish travellers alot

[@lachauntiswashington231]

This is great 👍 👌 😂😂

[@JMPT]

Very Nice 🧡🖤

[@caffedinator5584]

Speaking of conflation… the term “punching down” doesn’t refer to thinking people have relative worth, rather it’s an acknowledgment that there’s a power hierarchy in society based on numerous factors - whether you actively participate in it or not. I think he’s too smart to misunderstand that.

[@IAmebAdger]

If you work in education you realise that nobody is ever too smart to misunderstand something. Every person, no matter how smart, has stupid moments, or ignorant moments. It's the human condition.

[@theoriginaltommysteward]

He completely understands it and thinks it's irrelevant to comedy. As do most people.

[@RobertSaxy]

7:47 I think this is were he acknowledges what you’re saying and were he found the joke in this part of the conversation

[@chocolatechimichanga]

​@@theoriginaltommystewardand he's right

[@theoriginaltommysteward]

@@chocolatechimichanga I figured that would be implied in what I said but apparently not...

[@koho]

Jimmy is incredibly insightful and articulate. Oh - and funny. I'd ask him for a selfie, and I'd tell him that I like him.

[@BreakDownUnder]

That comment at the end was brilliant.

[@DeadeyeJim327]

Punching down simply means making cruel jokes at the expense of people who society oppresses, for the delight of the oppressors.

[@bendover7841]

If you can't take a joke, that's a you problem. You can't laugh at jokes at the expense of some and get mad when they're about others. If you think you can't take jokes, don't watch comedy. Watch something else. The "punching down" argument is delusional.

[@Gino565]

Which society? Go all around the world and you’ll find oppression everywhere. And to the delight of oppressors? Right so it’s only punching down if a comedian has an all white audience (I’m guessing that’s who you mean by oppressors) and if there’s a member of the oppressed group who finds the joke funny then what? The hint is in the word ‘joke’. Not to be taken seriously.

[@darthgon146]

"Can't take a joke" argument is completely delusional. Even Conan said it in this clip. Some comedians make jokes with malicious intentions. Some even have hatred toward humanity. Intention and context matter. Sometimes jokes are funny. Sometimes they are made purely to spread hate.

[@KanesTheName]

​@@bendover7841 the argument of the oppressor

[@bendover7841]

@@KanesTheName go explain to the people in Palestine how you are oppressed because a comedian made jokes. I'm sure they'd empathize.

[@jackprather81]

If I use vocabulary that is currently common on network television at my job on a consistent basis I would not be asked to return. I'm talking about vocabulary that has been treated this way since long before I was born. Censoring yourself to make your own life better has always been a thing. People are just salty that what they need to censor changes over time. Also, I'm betting many religious people wouldn't recognize that they've been exercising the same control of personal expression for centuries. These are the same people whining about "cancel culture."

[@patreekotime4578]

Well, the first example is more like code-switching. Your work personality can be Florence Nightengale while your off-work personality can be a filthy sailor. Code-switching isn't always censorship though... a mild mannered person may take on a "tough" persona when in a scary situation. Self-censoring would be that even the filthy sailor isnt saying things they really want to say because they fear some kind of backlash. And self-censoring is also different than genuine evolution which is when a person grows up a little and decides for themselves they no longer think that way or find thst thing appropriate to say. It's important I think to understand all three as different things. It goes back to intentionality and context as Jimmy said. So no, it isnt all "cancel culture"... that is a specific thing with a specific impact on people.

[@jedinxf7]

​@@patreekotime4578I think an honest look at most code switching would recognize it as a form of (potentially benign ) self censorship. it is "voluntary" (but with perceived or real consequences for not engaging in it) change of expression to accommodate social norms that are externally imposed. sure some of it is simply a form of bilingualism or a species of it, when some welcome personal or social contexts allow or demand use of other language or social register , but when it's about confirming to an employer's norms built around a particular dominant culture? calling it code switching doesn't mean it isn't self censorship; some rhombuses are also squares.

[@patreekotime4578]

@@jedinxf7 That's the thing though: maybe the first time you ever walked into a job interview it was voluntary self censorship. Like meeting your in-laws or attending a church service when you don't normally go. But after you have worked a few decades you don't even realize that you *arn't* using profanity until you accidentally do. It's no longer a voluntary conscious act, it's a persona you strap on without even thinking about it. That's code switching. Not only is it unvoluntary, but sometimes we don't even know when we are doing it, and it isn't until someone else points it out that we even realize it. Ask anyone who has worked in customer service jobs for a long time. It just becomes part of the "auto-pilot" mode we all go into in the day-in day-out of life.

[@MrBrock314]

@@patreekotime4578 Very true - my parents did it as teachers constantly. At home, they had one voice and as soon as the phone would ring and they were talking to a parent or even school related, they sounded different. Tone would switch. Not from "mean" to "nice" but from "casual" to "formal". They had a teacher voice and they had a parent voice and they were not the same.

[@zarazen8110]

LOVE YOU, CONAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@ThomasKameo]

As an autistic person, who has stated openly that I want to get into a job by merit, not simply because I'm autistic, and in saying that have been removed from support groups due to that line of thinking, I must argue that cancel culture is very much a thing, even to those the policies are supposedly advocating for. And good lord, even the single-digit-aged kids in my families are getting into divisive politics now. Manic times.

[@IntoTheWeeds71]

Fellow autistic person, here. I can understand wanting to get into a job by merit, but the practical truth is that opportunities are rarely given by merit alone. Opportunities are given by people, and people are flawed - having been on the other side of the desk, I know sometimes it comes down to whoever the hirer likes best or thinks will be a good culture fit. None of that is about merit, but it happens all the time, which is why diversity & inclusion policies exist. It's easy to think about the opportunities one might miss based on a policy, but it's important to also consider how many opportunities other people missed, despite how much merit they had, because such policies didn't yet exist. As a close-to-home example, I'm hyper verbal, but non-verbal autistic folk or those who need far more accommodations will likely miss out on a bunch of opportunities, regardless of their on-paper merit. Apologies if I misunderstood what you said.

[@MrBrock314]

@@IntoTheWeeds71 "I know sometimes it comes down to whoever the hirer likes best or thinks will be a good culture fit. None of that is about merit" That's a common misconception. Merit includes how you will do at that job and in that place. Not being a good fit for a job is being unqualified. It's not necessarily something you can change exactly but it's why researching the company you're applying for is important so that you present in such a way that they DO feel you'll fit the culture (or at least be beneficially positive towards it). If the company is all about the sharing of ideas and collaboration, you better not present as a grunt who just takes orders. And if the company is a "orders come from on high" place, you'd better not act all freedom-loving. It's not that you or your personality are inherently bad but no one hires someone they don't want to work with or who they feel will be disruptive to their community.

[@philwill0123]

​@@MrBrock314problem is, if your culture and fit are the same type of person, you likely to employ the same type of person, or rock the boat and hire someone completely different? It's that mindset which allows the narrow selection field. The most qualified person may be the worst cultural fit. So therefore it's not a meritocracy, it's just personal choice. If all ten candidates all have the same degree, it's hirerboas that comes into play, not meritocracy. Otherwise you wouldn't need an interview, you would be chosen purely on cv

[@jsquared1013]

@@philwill0123 intangibles such as "company culture fit" and professional bearing are part of being qualified or not, it's not just statistics on a resume.

[@Danetto]

jimmy carr is really funny

[@personalsigh]

"If Jim Davidson can steal your material then perhaps it's time to rethink it" Stewart Lee on Jimmy Carr

[@krylesangerbeaver]

Carr and Jeselnik are great for "crossing lines" and making it funny

[@Spaghettaboutit]

Cept Jeselnik never would pretend that he didn’t know what punching down was or what that means. He knows to toe the line and deliberately doesn’t punch down. He’s talked a lot about this and talks about wanting the challenge of making good jokes while working around hurting people that don’t deserve it.

[@Chimponaut]

Be sure to let me know when you find someone admitting to punching down.

[@SpecificallyDanielSwan]

I think his confusion at the "punching down" comment is a little disingenuous. He surely knows that the 'down' refers to power. You can't criticise journalists for pretending to not understand that the things comedians say on stage aren't necessarily things they deeply believe in, and then turn around and do the same thing with a very understandable phrase about structure of power in society.

[@daveubermensch]

Yes. To quote him, "intention and context matter". The people being made fun of might not be below the one making the jokes in the hierarchy of life. That doesn't mean the comedian isn't "punching down". Because if the intent was to belittle someone as though they were below you, in that context you've placed them below you.

[@darinsingleton3553]

I really like Jimmy .. and Conan; but the suggestion that "I'm not affected by cancel culture, ergo cancel culture doesn't exist," is rather myopic & self-serving. Further stating that part of the allure of comedy clubs, is as an arena where people can say or hear whatever they want .. the fact that there is a designated area for such freedom also belies that convenient dismissal of social / economic pressure.

[@TrophyGuide101]

Similar to the people who demanded Netflix remove the Chapelle special and when Netflix ignored them they used that as evidence that nobody tried to cancel Chapelle.

[@susandrakenviller3683]

Thanks Jimmy Carr for your realistic take on ‘cancel culture’ instead of the usual whining.

[@Mutterschwein]

Yeah, other comedians strangely lack self-awareness and think that them getting criticized or disliked is "cancel culture" even though they're wealthier than ever and has another Netflix Special lined up 😆😆

[@chinkasuyaro8983]

I believe they call it 'whinging'.

[@TrophyGuide101]

​@@MutterschweinMost of the comedians I've seen complain about it have been the target of a cancellation attempt. Luckily they are already so big and have an established fanbase so whatever platform is being pressured into removing their content or cancelling their partnership can freely ignore it. If you were in charge of Netflix and millions of people wanted to watch the Dave Chapelle special on your platform while a few thousand people who were offended by it wanted you to remove it so those millions couldn't access it the choice is pretty easy.

[@Mutterschwein]

​@@TrophyGuide101 Yet it never actually happens to anyone but they keep whining about it. They just wanna put up a "rebel" image so bad as if more than half of the population don't actually support them and agree with them.

[@TrophyGuide101]

@@Mutterschwein It occasionally works if the person isn't already established and hasn't got a huge fanbase. Shane Gillis got fired from SNL after the cancel culture mob demanded it. Luckily he didn't let that come to define him and since then he grew in popularity and now has deals with Netflix etc. showing that even if you cancel someone from one platform there are other platforms they can go to making the entire cancellation attempt futile.

[@jalavela]

Jimmy’s laugh makes me laugh

[@idde4345]

"Who is below me?" Come on Jimmy, you're an intelligent guy. I'm sure there are quite a few people you can think of who are having to deal with more crap in day to day life just by virtue of their skin color, religion or sexual orientation that you don't because you are a white, cissexual, straight guy. Who, as a most conservative estimate, is worth 15 million dollars. Other personal difficulties you or they may have not withstanding. And who are easy targets because of skincolor/sexual preference etc.. Surely you can grasp your place in a societal hierarchy, and how there are people 'below' you, and how punching down works. I don't believe for one second you actually think you're at the bottom of the totem pole in life.

[@davideberhardt6150]

I think the point he tried to bring across is that people talking about "punching down" project this social hierarchy onto other people and put these folks below "the comedian", which he rejects. In a way he's right, in actual society (what with him being a famous, well-heeled comedian) that's a bit of a moot point though.

[@MrBrock314]

This is a r/whoosh moment. You missed his point that the idea of punching down assumes a hierarchical structure to the world which he rejects as someone who believes in equality.

[@idde4345]

@@MrBrock314 I don't think I did. Nowhere in the video does he say he believes all people are equal, and therefore noone is 'below him'. He even says he's aware he's a white straight guy, indicating he's aware he has privileges others don't. So your read he doesn't believe in punching down because of equality? Nah, not my take away. He repeats that he doesn't think anyone is *below* him, clearly indicating that hierarchy exists. Nowhere does he say it doesn't, he just places himself at the bottom. Which is either a bit of self deprecating humor (which is fine). Or some sort of justification to keep making the jokes he likes to make at others he himself also deems to be vulnerable, but still wants to keep making jokes about. In which case: disingenuous and a bit less fine. And perhaps it's both.

[@emdiar6588]

"Go on then, who's under me?" - said the Cambridge educated multimillionaire global comedy star. Sorry Jimmy, but you are smarter than that. You know what 'punching down' is.

[@williamalexander7481]

I adore Jimmy Carr so much

[@Uouttooo]

Conan and Jimmy Carr? Together? Hell frozen over?

[@brianalbert8077]

Comedians who push the boundaries like Jimmy Carr owe a huge debt of gratitude to the immortal Lenny Bruce

[@ellan.124]

No, Jimmy Carr is a bigot while Lenny Bruce was an actual comedian.

[@guitarmatricide4834]

Practically every comedian since the 60s owes a tremendous debt to Lenny Bruce. Also, what the American justice system did to Lenny Bruce is a seriously unforgivable blemish on our résumé.

[@artemislogic5252]

why is that

[@brianalbert8077]

@@artemislogic5252 Lenny Bruce was the first stand up comedian to challenge obscenity laws that existed in the 50s and 60a. He was arrested multiple times for things he said but ultimately prevailed. He did more for freedom of speech than any human in the history of our planet. a true American Hero

[@scharaboosh]

It's really stupid to complain about journalists taking jokes out of context and then willfully misunderstanding what punching down means

[@RamblingMcGregor]

Conan and Carr host and narrate a documentary/biography series collab with Ken Burns on comedy and western culture

[@chrisdierking5108]

Am I the only person who thinks that Jimmy Carr is sort of like a British Jimmy Pardo?

[@CaptainCologne]

Comedy doesn’t have to push boundaries. It just has to be funny.

[@Uarehere]

Comedy is funny BECAUSE it plays with boundaries and expectations.

[@MrBrock314]

@@Uarehere That's not true all the time. There are a lot of good jokes that people know very well (ie. well within boundaries and expectations). Classic knock knock jokes for example.

[@user-gj7yb4rg9t]

Conan O Brian Is The Worlds Most Funniest Person Alive I Love Him To Death He Is So Funny I’m A Huge Fan Blessings To Him Always From Dee Rico Ramirez

[@BirdsElopeWithTheSun09]

If only you loved writing normal sentences as much as you love Conan

[@roosasainio3744]

​@@BirdsElopeWithTheSun09English isn't everybody's first language and also some people aren't talented at writing in a way that's found generally "normal". If only you had the same enthusiasm to creating an actual personality that isn't reliant on bashing on other people's grammar as you do for making dumb KZbin comments.

[@BirdsElopeWithTheSun09]

@@roosasainio3744 It was a joke lol, and English not being your first language doesn't mean you don't know that you don't Capitalize Every Word.

[@jedinxf7]

my wife though , not a fan

[@BigChiken44]

Seeing Conan and Carr being in the same room is weird ... I mean I knew they exist in the same universe, but still...

[@TheMichaeljmanzella]

i miss the string dance

[@highdownmartin]

You try doing some of the stuff that Carr and chapelle and gervais do on your up and coming twenty minutes slots round the clubs. You’re going to find out that the rich can do what they like and the poor have to toe the line

[@davidb5173]

Jimmy is great and very thoughtful, but he's playing dumb at the end of this video. Punching down is absolutely a thing - if your jokes have real world impact and make life harder for groups of people who already have it tough, you're a bully

[@DarkMoonWayfarer]

He has to play dumb because his entire act revolves around making fun of people.

[@MrBrock314]

By definition, that could literally be anybody. Nerds with pocket protectors would be considered punching down in that scenario even though they run the world.

[@lenaspiro6446]

The point about punching down didn't make any remote sense, and it's a redflag if he thinks one can't punch down with words.

[@IrvSauce]

The intention is everything. Does Gervais have good intentions? No. Does Chapelle have good intentions? No. But Jimmy Carr, Bill Burr, Tina Fey, Colin Jost, Michael Che, and Tracy Morgan, etc do have those good intentions. That's the crux of the conversation around comedy in 2024.

[@jedinxf7]

bill burr's "intentions," like Chappelle's, are neither consistent nor always respectable. sometimes they are. the inability of people to agree on their intentions, though, is all the proof you need that they are not conveying them with enough clarity to expect applause where others get opprobrium

[@JohnSmith-ot3zt]

excellent points, IrvSauce

[@DarkMoonWayfarer]

It's also about self awareness and realising you have deep seated issues about something. Bill Burr knows he has issues with women, so that factors into his comedy. He didn't always realise this, so his older stuff has a bit of a different flavour and probably hasn't aged well.

[@moopsi-pupa]

Cancel culture is an easy hack for unfunny/untalented comedians who cant do anything else. Go talk to clubs & talk to real funny comics & you will 100% get a majority of them calling it BS. People in the past saying wildest things that were also unfunny, got the heat from the public & rightfully so. Jimmy, gervais have been doing comedy on most sensitive like religion,race etc & are still here today and not 'cancelled'.

[@TrophyGuide101]

Getting heat from the public isn't the issue, it's when they take it a step further and try to stop anyone from seeing it. Look at the Chapelle cancellation attempt for example. People were literally saying 'This offends me, therefore, nobody should be allowed to watch it'. I can't imagine how big of an ego these people must have to think they should get to personally approve of all media other people are allowed to consume. Just little authoritarians puritans who are enraged that people can enjoy things they don't.

[@aolson1111]

@@TrophyGuide101 Who was prevented from seeing Chapelle?

[@TrophyGuide101]

@@aolson1111 They weren't prevented because Netflix didn't side with the people who wanted to prevent them. When you have millions lined up to watch something and a few thousand demanding nobody be allowed to watch it then the choice is easy.

[@seanfaherty]

I like Mr Carr but this last special was not his best work. If in attempting to be edgy you are in fact just cruel you are no longer funny. That being said I did find his terrible joke about the Roma hilarious on many levels. I’m probably going to hell.

[@Minimmalmythicist]

I didn´t like it when he joked about Hitler gassing gypsies in an approving kind of way. I´m for non-PC humour, I love Frankie Boyle, but Frankie Boyle uses non-PC humour to undermine abuses of power etc.

[@Major_Lexx]

Very talented men.

[@keirbourne5323]

On Ricky Gervais latest Netflix special he spent 15 minutes talking about cancel culture and “you can’t say these jokes because people get offended”. But… like you’ve literally just been paid millions of dollars to say this on a platform broadcasted to 200 million people. Have some perspective…

[@brandonmcgregor9912]

You realise that what Ricky Gervais said is in of itself a joke making fun of people that are so self absorbed that they think being offended means no one can joke about it, right?

[@TrophyGuide101]

Sounds like he is being sarcastic. He isn't literally stopped from saying those jokes but there are people who would like to stop him from doing it which is why they try to pressure Netflix into removing the content and cancelling the partnership. Luckily when you have millions of people who want to watch the content then you have a few thousand people who want you to remove the content so those millions of people can't access it the choice is pretty easy.

[@JamesSmith-sw3nk]

Cancel culture doesn't exist once you get famous enough, average people still get cancelled from school or work opportunities because of 10yr+ social media posts.

[@TrophyGuide101]

It still exists, it just isn't as effective. A failed cancellation attempt (JK Rowling, Joe Rogan, Ricky Gervais, Dave Chapelle etc.) is still a part of cancel culture because it shows us that there are huge swaths of people who want to censor others and make it harder for people to access the content they find offensive. People who deny it exists can't deny people tried to cancel these celebrities unless they want to deny reality itself.

[@wrenbo4816]

Yeah, it's a hierarchy of who has the power in society, not a hierarchy of worth as a person, that's a bit of an intentional look the other way, Jimmy. In general love and respect him. Really like how poetic he is in his points, even when he's missing the point.

[@jedinxf7]

and the answer to that question that the Twitter mob refuses to acknowledge, is that the mob has the power. it always has.

[@wrenbo4816]

@@jedinxf7 did i ask a question? if your argument is something about how the proles can cause revolution and thus have the ultimate power then I agree but that is so far away from this conversation that I'm not sure why you're bringing it up.

[@azrielackerman4659]

Jimmy Carr is genuinely one of the best people in the world. The fact that he actually realises cancel culture doesn't exist as well is a breath of fresh air. The constant moaning about it in the papers is horrifically annoying.

[@bucyrus5000]

Jimmy has so much to teach other comedians.

[@silverwing4153]

I find an interesting idea behind it. Jimmy's jokes never come off as his serious opinion. I don't believe that his jokes about women are serious. I don't think his jokes about LGBTQ are serious. Nor about Africa, the middle east, or asia are serious. It's all the kinds of jokes you tell your friends at a party, but out loud and in public. They know you are joking. You aren't hiding your opinion behind a joke. And on top of that while he is throwing punches left and right up and down he also punches himself in the face just as offten.

[@andydixon2980]

All the best comedy is made by intelligent people because they don't take everything literally. Carr, Carlin, Gervais, Cleese to name but 3.......discuss.

[@deckenneth]

Two fo my absolute faves all-time.

[@TroubledTrooper]

I remembered listening to Don Rickles being asked by Larry King in the 90s if he could still do his act because people were "more sensitive now". Literally nothing has changed, do your jokes & ignore the people who don't like them.

[@noahdoss1967]

Trust the experts extends to comedians too. If a comedian says “cancel culture is a self-made illusion” and a bunch of schmucks in youtube comments say it’s a real, problematic thing, I’ll trust the experts, dummies.

[@thecocktailian2091]

What exactly makes one an expert in cancel culture?

[@MrBrock314]

@@thecocktailian2091 The ones that got canceled, if they exist.

[@TrophyGuide101]

By your own logic cancel culture exists because Chapelle and Gervais, two of the biggest comedians say it does. Just out of curiosity what did you call the people protesting to get their specials removed and partnerships with Netflix cancelled?

[@TrophyGuide101]

@@thecocktailian2091 If they believe what I believe. According to this guy you have to trust the experts like Conan and Jimmy Carr but not the bigger comedians Gervais and Chapelle lol. Typical case of someone who says 'Trust the experts *that agree with me*'

[@JohnTuffin]

He’s right I dragged my wife along when he came to Houston

[@RabidIrishGuy88]

100% agreed on the concept of "punching down," it's overused and reveals how hierarchical the accuser thinks, rarely the accused.

[@laffingist218]

i love jimmy but this is 1) wrong; lots of people are lower than him 2) he's smart, he knows social bits like this are trying to move a needle; he's trying to move the needle the wrong way here sitting across from conan it's wild to joke that it's cool to punch down.

[@marcomartinez8608]

He's not smart, which is why he doesn't get that there's people below him. His comedy is just saying naughty things

[@Gino565]

Yes but what a lot of you seem to have trouble understanding is that if you start protecting certain groups from stand up comedy, then there will be no jokes left. Because anyone can claim offence at anything, and if you start saying “well actually you can’t joke about this group, but those other ones are fine”. Well then those other groups are gonna start asking why they aren’t protected in the same way. I don’t get what people find difficult about comedy being free for all. They’re jokes. JOKES.

[@marcomartinez8608]

@@Gino565 no one is protecting any group lol. It's just easier to punch down, and so it's less funny. You're right though that anything is open to comedy, but if you're being labeled as the punch down guy then you're doing it wrong

[@darthgon146]

​@@Gino565 You're really watching Conan, THE Conan O'Brien, and saying comedy is dead without offending minorities?

[@DarkMoonWayfarer]

​​@@Gino565thought experiment...if you went to a party and found yourself standing in a group with someone who was suffered brain damage in a car accident the previous year, would you make some jokes about him to the rest of the group? Because according to your logic you would, as "you're just joking" and if anyone gets offended it's their problem. If you say that you wouldn't, then your whole argument is flawed. It's all just jokes right? Hey... here's a better one...would you perform a stand up gig for active duty troops in the middle east and tell jokes about soldiers being killed or blown up? They're just jokes, so you should be fine....your argument is paper thin and it removes responsibility from the person who is telling the joke and placing all the responsibility on the person hearing it. It's actually an excuse used by narcissists for their behaviour.

[@Pagliacci_Rex]

Punching down is when your humor is targeting people or groups already facing oppression and hatred from stereotypes. George Carlin stated it very well in regards to Andrew Dice Clay's antisemitic jokes despite being Jewish himself.

[@fabianhammer2864]

like jimmy making fun of bert kreischer, for being fat and slow

[@shittyspeedpaints1012]

Jimmy: *inhales* Sona: Non-stop laughing.

[@jmclaughlin]

Cant stand her constant laugh.

[@shittyspeedpaints1012]

@@jmclaughlinI understand Conan likes hanging out with his friends, but she brings nothing to the conversations.

[@samwilliams7192]

@5:02 Preference falsification.

[@colonialstraits1069]

Not buying Jimmy’s line about him not being above anyone. It completely denies the role wealth and “status/class” play in the UK (and US). He’s a notorious tax evader and he suffered no consequences. Jimmy also has a tendency to overinflate or elevate the role comedy plays in society. Comedians are not philosophers. Comedy can be art and our culture fetishizes artists but that’s a bug of capitalism and it’s a perversion of the relationship that humans historically had with art. I do enjoy Jimmy’s comedy but I’m not convinced about him, as a person. Fortunately, I can separate the two.

[@IAmebAdger]

"Notorious tax evader" He did it once, then paid all the money back and apologised (although legally he could have kept the money, but he felt guilty).

[@sqronce]

The last bit about punching down was a joke. I'm obsessively going through the comments fascinated by the mix of people getting that it was a joke vs not, and I think the high portion of not is due to the quick cut off of the video at the end, which removes some tone information. But yes, he's not stupid enough to believe that that is a good argument.

[@michaelatuegwu2576]

He seem more like an actor than a comedian

[@DarkMoonWayfarer]

​​@@IAmebAdgerhow many times should people get involved in tax evasion schemes for it to count?

[@nicolad8822]

Notorious tax evader as in was advised a then perfectly legal scheme by professional advisers?

[@mrrd4444]

The title sure is misleading and should probably be changed - all that being said, they're both right. People reward jokes that are intelligent, empathetic, and understand what they're talking about, and punish jokes that are ignorant and lazy. A lot of people make really smart trans jokes, for example, with obvious knowledge of the trans community and riffing on that, whereas others are just lazy, disconnected rehashes of often harmful stereotypes, or complaining about cancel culture or whatever. And definitely the worst version of this is when a comedian is super rich and joking to an audience that isn't that, because then what's to laugh about?

[@Oohcnap]

i feel the same, the title is misleading and could have better talked about their points and not the shallow joke at the end

[@user-by8cl7wc9u]

The issue is, I don’t think human beings are a hive mind collective. We have different tastes as to what is “smart” or “intelligent” or “harmful” which is why some people love Bill Burr and some people want to…cancel him.

[@sharkh20]

Cancel culture definitely exists, but it doesn't effect comedians too much. They have an out.

[@TrophyGuide101]

It effects up-and-coming comedians. I knew a guy who was just getting started in his career. Got invited to perform at the student union and a bunch of nutjobs who never intended on going to watch him found a clip of him making a joke they found offensive. Deep down they are little authoritarians so they decided that nobody, even those who want to go watch the show, shouldn't be allowed to. They got the gig canceled because of security concerns. It was the guy's biggest gig to date and it was taken away from him. He started making fun of the people who got the gig canceled on social media and they hated that so they started to spam all the comedy clubs in the area and basically got him blacklisted.

[@sweetpain67]

He looks like…a 327 yo man with an endless supply of hair dye. Just me?