#HMB 303 - Comedy is better than it's ever been, we've just never been worse.

The Homemade Broadcast this week: I saw Bill Burr's & Dave Chappelle's new special and it inspired me, can you imagine what life would be like if we cared about human's as much as we did animals? My dating life is in the pits and most likely so is yours. Get in touch with the show and leave a voice or text message at: (813) 693-2124

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The #HMB airs Sunday's on Radio St. Pete @ 6:10PM & Monday's at 10:15PM or on demand via your favorite podcast app, just search "HMBradio Tampa Bay". Leave a voice or text message for the show @: (813) 693-2124 or hit me up on our Facebook page or on twitter. Don't forget to tune into Stay Woke with Anna Hummel & myself weeknights after the Johnny B Show at midnight on 102.5 The Bone

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#HMBlog: The Internet is mad at comedian Dina Hashem for a premise involving murdered rapper XXXTenacion

Dina Hashem is a Muslim-American comedian. You’ve probably never heard of her unless you’re a chuckle-fucker or something along those lines. Well get this, she made a joke, as comedians are want to do and it involved a departed rapper named XXXTenacion, a mentally ill, woman beater who was murdered because he advertised that he had a bag containing fifty thousand dollars on him so some thug shot and killed him for it. It’s awful, really a waste of life, no one deserves that. He was a talented young man and it’s a shame what happened to him. So, Dina, being a comedian makes a joke regarding this tragedy as the premise. Keep in mind, the punchline isn’t his murder, she uses it to set up a punchline. No one is going to make fun of a man’s murder but these people are now tweeting out death threats to Dina and are either IQ deficient or purposely ignoring that fact because group-think gets things done (get’s people “canceled”). The joke in question:

Hashem stated in the clip, "Is anyone still mourning XXXTentacion? He’s a rapper, who was murdered, he’s dead now. He was shot, he was on his way to buy a car with $50,000 in cash and somebody shot him and took the money. Which is very tragic, but I also think it would be a very good Venmo commercial. That’s the first thing I thought when I heard that. Like, 'I don’t have Venmo, I should get Venmo.'"

Let me point out something too, comedy isn’t nice, it’s inherently mean. Sorry, but it is. I think John Cleese said that but I couldn’t find the clip online. It’s a tool to turn that negativity and meanness into something positive though which is why I have admiration for it. To make someone happy by using the “mean” is something special. It’s a contradiction, a glitch in the matrix. We found a portal into the great wide open here...

This is the currency of victimization being played out all over again- someone gets their feelings hurt, finds others online who are also mad, annoy the crap out of the person/company until they either go into hiding or the company they work for fires them and then the people who are mad take a ghoulish victory lap, very happy with themselves that they were able to ruin someones life. It’s really sadistic. The only antidote is for these companies and people to take a stand. It’ll be annoying for a few weeks but eventually these monsters find something else to be mad at and move along. She ended up apologizing on Instagram which is always a dumb move because when you give these people an inch, they take a mile. Just view the comments of these people in the post, they’re bitter ex-girlfriends…

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Dina Hashem (@dinahashem_) on Jul 19, 2019 at 7:17pm PDT

So, yea, don’t apologize for someone misunderstanding what you say, because they probably did it on purpose or they’re stupid and you can’t reason with cretins. The thing that always blows me away is when comedian’s are the ones getting mad at other comedians for stuff. That is just dumbfounding. I don’t understand how they don’t realize they are going to say something eventually that is going to piss someone off and the mob will come for them, this is how it works now. Everyone has “their thing”….

The girl I work with went through it really bad; an out of context comment was posted online and the numbskulls circled the wagons. She had to go through countless hours of sensitivity training, make a public apology and the company gave the foundation free ad spots as tribute. Finally they were satisfied and called off the dogs. She didn’t even say what they said she said but it didn’t matter. They’ll come for you too eventually because everyone has “their thing”. Maybe there’s a certain word you don’t like and you demand that no one utter that word. That’s silly for a few reasons: (1) you can just find another word that means the same thing & (2) why do you get to decide? These people generally have no problem with other words that may offend someone else and use them often because it’s not “THEIR THING”.

Everything has to be okay or nothing is okay, that’s only fair. I vote for everything being okay, let’s give comedians the opportunity to make things funny, even the bad stuff. Laughing at horrible things and people is the best way to remove the power it or they hold. If laughter is the best medicine, open wide and take it. It may not always work but it’s worth a shot and better than nothing. Sometimes medicine’s have side-effects and the worst one from comedy is that you might be mad for a little while. Buck up, you’ll be fine.

#HMB-sides: Ep. 7: Leave Louis CK alone already.

#HMB-sides: Louis CK did a drop in set at "Skank Fest" a few weeks ago and some people are mad on Twitter. It's time to let Louis CK be, if you don't want to support him then don't but stop ruining it for the rest of us

#HMB-sides are available only at HMBradio.com and on your favorite podcast app. Please subscribe, just search "#HMBradio Tampa Bay" on your favorite podcast app, give it 5 stars and if you really like it, share it with a friend. These are all little things that you can do that really help the show grow & I really appreciate you taking the time to do it.

#HMB 236 - Take a Knee, I've Got Some News for You with Tampa News Force (@TampaNewsForce)

Hang on a minute, take a knee. It was kind of a back-burner issue at this point but the players who opted to take a knee during the National Anthem at NFL games are back in the news.  Earlier last week the NFL announced a policy to fine teams whose players opt to take a knee during the ceremony. So, everyone is freaking out again. For the vast majority, it's another tribal issue and you feels a certain way about it based on whether you have a D or an R next to your name on your Voter ID Card. If you're a D, Trump is an A-Wipe and all of a sudden you're worried about rights again and if you have an R next to your name you like the move because these players are disrespecting the country and military and those things rule. Again, however, this is another thing where it's not black & white, nuance exists. I thought a lot about it this week because I see both sides of the argument. I believe that people should have the right to protest peacefully but I also agree that you shouldn't necessarily have the right do it at your place of business. From what I can tell, the kneeling thing started as a statement against a perceived injustice of police brutality against black Americans. Now agree or disagree with the sentiment, it has nothing to do with military or America but that compartmentalized issue. You can't blame the other side for believing it's about bashing America though seeing as the protest takes place during the time when the anthem is played. It's a timing thing. When else would the players have the time during a game to make that statement during a game? They wouldn't, it's kind of the only time. Should they? I mean, look, the bottom line for me is these guys are at work and if the boss says "not on my time" then fair enough. If they're activists outside of the game then there's little the NFL and owners can do about it; so players, save it for interviews and social media and just stand during the anthem. It's apparently part of the job.

Well, now that issue is solved, get up and let's get to the goods. Tampa News Force is in the building. It's a fascinating concept trying to make the news entertaining and funny. It's not the Daily Show it's more hitting the streets and just asking people involved, "what's going on here"? It's weird, to be frank but oddly engaging. It's brought criticism from major news outlets like the Tampa Bay Times' Tony Marrero and Howard Altman who thought it was in poor taste and after a brief Twitter spat, John went to confront them and ask why they were upset with what he was doing...as journalists do:

It's just a different spin on news but it's not fake. Tampa News Force is just asking what's going on and trying to also bring some comedic flare to it. I know that most journalists see themselves us some moral gate-keeper but people are sick of it. Go cry on your blog and just tell us what's happening in the world, A-wipes...

I know many are over-worked and underpaid and just miserable people in general. I work in radio, I get it but lighten up would ya? Anyway, Tampa News Force is bringing comedy and journalism together in one evening at the Tampa Improv on May 31st.  You can get free tickets if you enter code "TNF" at checkout. Listen to the podcast with the fellas here:

The #HMB airs Sunday's on Radio St. Pete @ 6:15PM & Monday's at 10:15PM or on demand via Stitcher (http://bit.ly/2wuLR7a) or iTunes (https://goo.gl/xKN5OY) Leave a voice or text message for the show @: (813) 693-2124 or hit me up on our Facebook page or on twitter.  Don't forget to tune into Stay Woke with Anna Hummel & myself weeknights after the Johnny B Show at midnight on 102.5 The Bone.  The Homemade Broadcast is brought to you in part by our sponsors: Taphouse 61 , Truvy Salon & Spa & Homemade Podcasts.  We like them more than a friend.

#HMB 230 - The Problem with Comedians but Brainquility is Cool.

I grew up watching The Simpsons.  It's been a staple of Pop Culture for three decades now and arguably the most groundbreaking cartoon of all time.  I never thought about race while watching the show.  I mean, The Simpsons are yellow but I guess they're supposed to be white(?)...I guess.  About a year ago, some unfunny, Indian American comedian made some documentary about how the character Apu, a character in The Simpson's who owns the Kwik-E-Mart is problematic because the character is voiced by Hank Azaria, a Jewish man and it propels the stereotype that Indian-American's run convenience stores.  The Simpsons finally addressed the allegations on last weeks show.  I'm amazed by how un-fun a lot of comedians are today and how many hold back in order to not potentially offend.  Comedy is mostly mean spirited and stereotypes are patterns that people have noticed over time because, well, many are true.  It never applies to ALL people of a group though.  NOBODY thinks that.  I think we are all aware that we are all individuals.  Of course, no stink was ever made about Groundskeeper Willie or anything because who the frig cares?  It's a joke.  It's time to start telling these bums to shut up, which The Simpsons essentially did in their response.  Comedians need to learn to take a joke too.

Anyhoo, Tom Eckelcamp is one of the founders of the Brainquility Music Festival happening on April 21st at the Safety Harbor Waterfront Park.  In this weeks podcast we talk about the upcoming fest.  I also have a pair of VIP tickets we are going to be given away.  Check out my Twitter to find out how to win & listen to the podcast:

The #HMB airs Sunday's on Radio St. Pete @ 6:15PM & Monday's at 10:15PM or on demand via Stitcher (http://bit.ly/2wuLR7a) or iTunes (https://goo.gl/xKN5OY) Leave a voice or text message for the show @: (813) 693-2124 or hit me up on our Facebook page or on twitter.  Don't forget to tune into Stay Woke with Anna Hummel & myself weeknights after the Johnny B Show at midnight on 102.5 The Bone.  The Homemade Broadcast is brought to you in part by our sponsors: Taphouse 61 , Truvy Salon & Spa & Homemade Podcasts.  We like them more than a friend.

#HMB 229 - Ku Ku for Racist Jokes with Zac Townsend (@smacktownsend)

First, I talked a bit about radio and podcasting with Creative Loafing Tampa earlier this week.  Check that out HERE.  Otherwise, another week and more comedians getting into trouble for making a jokes.  This one was even a bit more unusual since it was Esther Ku, a Korean woman who got scolded for making jokes about...Asians.  Yes.  Not kidding.  I wish I had 1/8th the confidence these people have who point these things out.  Humorless buffoons who are suddenly experts in comedy.  Of course, this is just a micro-amount of people who are really upset but the story gets picked up by the media which half point out it's absurdity and the others are oddly amplifying the cries of offense of the joke and those white's bold enough to defend her.  Of course, you will never convince these people that an attempt of humor is hyperbole and comedians should just stick to making fun of safe targets: airplane food and white men.  Genius!  This week, Zac Townsend stops by and we talk this crap and some other stuff.  Listen below and tell a friend about the show, would ya?  Thanks and I like you more than a friend.

The #HMB airs Sunday's on Radio St. Pete @ 6:15PM & Monday's at 10:15PM or on demand via Stitcher (http://bit.ly/2wuLR7a) or iTunes (https://goo.gl/xKN5OY) Leave a voice or text message for the show @: (813) 693-2124 or hit me up on our Facebook page or on twitter.  Don't forget to tune into Stay Woke with Anna Hummel & myself weeknights after the Johnny B Show at midnight on 102.5 The Bone.  The Homemade Broadcast is brought to you in part by our sponsors: Taphouse 61 , Truvy Salon & Spa & Homemade Podcasts.  We like them more than a friend.

#HMB 223 - ...but it's my Turkey Leg & Going Viral with Zebra Corner

I really love comedy but I've grown to really despise comedians.  Most are really nice people when you talk to them in person but most tend to fit a profile. They're many things at once on opposite sides of the spectrum. They tend to be the most un-confident-confident people in the galaxy.  The way they speak on the internet is far from how they talk in person.  Online, you'd think they had a spine.  Most, are also horribly unfunny which is a problem for obvious reasons.  They seem to not understand their craft.  Many don't understand satire and in an effort to be "inclusive" have made many subjects off-limits so most of them just bitch about their Dad's and other heterosexual white men, comic books or the worst of the worst...REPULICANS.  Granted, those are also some of my favorite people to trash but I also like the variety of anyone being a target because there are a lot of A-Hole's in every subset.  Also, their only "People of Color" friend is the black dude who is nice to them at Open Mic's just in case they ever put on a show and want to be booked.  One of our friends that moved to Los Angeles to continue a comedy career said it's even worse over there and I believe it.  Make an off-color joke that doesn't pop and you might be banned forever.  Poof, your dream is dead because the dunce that runs the open mic is thinks your "having a hard time with chop sticks" joke bombed.  I saw it with my own eyes; a pink dreadlocked, drunk woman curse out a comic out in the middle of the open mic because he refereed to his dog as a "bitch".  I heard about one of these local "comics" calling for a boycott of Dave Chappelle over his transgender joke in his latest Netflix special.  Yea, good luck with that.  I saw on Facebook, a comic who now lives in Portland, Oregon post a picture of a swastika with a heart drawn around it on her car with a "This was on my car this morning. Fucking. Portland." caption because as we know, Portland is known for it's large intolerant Nazi population.  They can't decipher basic satire because they're either dumb or intentionally naive, perhaps both.  Dude, it's a JOKE.  They are MESSING with you.  As Zac pointed out, it's the equivalent of drawing a penis.  Go to any public school bathroom and it's filled with drawings of dicks and swastikas because they're awful things to draw.  It's a juvenile act that still makes most of us giggle, even as adults.  THEY'RE FUCKING WITH YOU!  If you're going to make jokes the first thing you need to be able to do is to take a joke.  Nothing should be off limits, give things a chance to be funny because trust me, if you don't laugh with all the things going on in this world, you will certainly cry.

They're not all bad though.  Ali from Zebra Corner, a homegrown Tampa Bay sketch comedy collective anchored by the fan favorite character "Mahk" stopped by this week to talk about how the group got started and going viral earlier this week with their hilarious parody of an Apple and NASCAR commercial: 

Zac Townsend, banned occasional co-host is on this one too.  The ban was temporarily lifted, however, it is now back in full effect.  We talk about the local comedy scene in Tampa Bay, the challenges of navigating the entertainment industry and the rise of new media.  Check out the podcast here:

The #HMB airs Sunday's on Radio St. Pete @ 6:15PM & Monday's at 10:15PM or on demand via Stitcher (http://bit.ly/2wuLR7a) or iTunes (https://goo.gl/xKN5OY) Leave a voice or text message for the show @: (813) 693-2124 or hit me up on our Facebook page or on twitter.  Don't forget to tune into Stay Woke with Anna Hummel & myself weeknights after the Johnny B Show at midnight on 102.5 The Bone.  The Homemade Broadcast is brought to you in part by our sponsors: Taphouse 61 , Truvy Salon & Spa & Homemade Podcasts.  We like them more than a friend.