After 10 years off air, there was some fanfare surrounding the reunion specials of Australian variety program Hey Hey It’s Saturday. But the program received some negative attention last night when a Red Faces routine was branded as racist by judge Harry Connick Jr.
The Jackson 5 tribute routine went down a treat when first performed 20 years ago. But in today’s politically correct world the black-faced singers seemed a little … well … racist. American singer Harry Connick Jr. fumed, insisting he would never have appeared if he’d known what he was in for.
Host Darryl Somers apologized for any offence caused, but the damage was already done. Many say that the amateur comedy act may have undone all of Hey Hey’s hard work, damaging the program’s bid to regain its regular Saturday night gig.
But I have to wonder, have we simply become too sensitive? It seems like every week a comedian is in hot water for an offensive gag. Are they becoming more shocking, or do we just need to harden up?
