Late Show Comedy Booker Accuses NY Times Of Taking Seemingly Sexist Comments Out Of Context

Jon BershadJan 16th, 2012, 1:29 pm

Here’s a portion of the lengthy comment:

“The quotes that shook everything up…were taken out of context. I wasn’t talking about all female comics or female comics in general. I was talking about a couple of comics the writer had brought up to me. If you do some Googling…you will see where I was quoted in the Washington Post saying that ‘some of the funniest comedians on the planet are women.’ The comedians and colleagues who know me…know that I respect all comedians…and that I am far from the neanderthal that people who don’t know me are assuming I am. The article was shocking to me…because it seemed like the guy had it in for me. And I don’t know why. Of all of the jokes in my set that I was trying out in front of the crowd…he chose to point out the one that was the weakest. As comics we need to try stuff out and then tweak…it’s a process. He made fun of my head! He took a quote from a comic who appeared bitter that I had the ‘market cornered!’ HA! I have nothing ‘cornered.’ I am very involved in the comedy world…because I LOVE IT! He just didn’t fit the kind of comedian we are looking for on the show and is understandably angry and lashed out at me. I have always been nice to him. That comedian’s girlfriend made up some facts about the show only booking middle-aged mid-western males.”

The comment didn’t do much to help Brill. Amy Schumer responded, pointing out that his decision to refer to her only as “that comedian’s girlfriend” instead of a comedian in her own right was indicative. And Zinoman jumped in as well to defend his article. Again, here’s a section of a long response:

“What I would like to respond to here are questions of fact, since he has been making allegations here and elsewhere about our interview that are simply untrue. I taped the interview, just listened to it again and would like to set the record straight.

1) Eddie Brill says the quotes were taken out of context.

He’s wrong. My question was this: “How come there aren’t more female comics on the show?” It was not in reference to a few specific comics as he says, and since my question followed another question inquiring how many female comics have been on the show in 2011, I find it hard to believe that he misunderstood.

…

4) Eddie Brill says I focused on the joke in his set that is the weakest.

What I did was compare how the same joke was received at UCB and the Late Show. And the joke did very well on the Late Show, which I pointed out. You can look on youtube and hear the audience applaud.

5) Eddie Brill says he was ambushed.

I don’t know what that means. I asked for an interview, got one and then asked questions about what he thought was funny and what kind of comics he is looking to book. When he asked to go off the record, I respected that.

Mr. Brill says that the good thing about this story is that the discussion is open now about female comics on network television. This discussion has been open, but I agree that it has started some new debates. It’s important that we have them honestly.”

Shortly thereafter, a now humbled Brill wrote one more comment:

“After writing the response to this thread at 4 am…I realized that I shouldn’t have sent it out. I am hurting in so many ways. I know that I am a good person with good intentions and that I should have been more accurate with my words and feelings in the interview. The bottom line is that I know what kind of person I am…and how I respect women comics and all comics. I apologize to Amy for saying ‘that comedian’s girlfriend.’ That was unfair. It is time for me to accept the consequences of my printed words..and to learn from this. I apologize to all who have been affected by this.”

It’s impossible for us to know whether or not the Times piece was fair (although that final apology from Brill seems to confirm that there was probably more truth than he wanted to admit, even to himself). What’s interesting was just how furious the blowback to the quotes were. Interesting but not surprising. Again, it’s now 2012. This shouldn’t even be a topic. Women are funny. Period.

However, until the ridiculous argument is finally put to bed, woe be it to any dinosaurs who still try to claim otherwise.

(h/t Splitsider)