Jerry Springer

JohnnyLurg · Post by **JohnnyLurg** » Wed Dec 23, 2015 7:09 am

Do you think "Jerry Springer" could be interpreted as transphobic or transmisogynistic nowadays because of the usage of the terms "shemale" and "drag queen?"

Post by **anthontherun** » Wed Dec 23, 2015 7:39 am

The lyrics are a product of the show. The source material clearly doesn't highlight the best America has to offer, but I wouldn't find those lyrics any more inappropriate than, say, "TiVo now thinks I'm gay" in "Couch Potato," since that too was referencing an actual event. Not to get off-topic here, but thinking about it now, the "Touched By an Uncle" line seems atypically and distractingly dark for an Al song.

JohnnyLurg · Post by **JohnnyLurg** » Wed Dec 23, 2015 7:51 am

anthontherun wrote:The lyrics are a product of the show. The source material clearly doesn't highlight the best America has to offer, but I wouldn't find those lyrics any more inappropriate than, say, "TiVo now thinks I'm gay" in "Couch Potato," since that too was referencing an actual event. Not to get off-topic here, but thinking about it now, the "Touched By an Uncle" line seems atypically and distractingly dark for an Al song.

Poodle Hat was my first Weird Al-bum when I was 12 and that joke thankfully went over my head then but now it disturbs me.

Also the Richard Simmons/King of Queens line kind of bothers me because Simmons has never publicly discussed his sexuality.

Yankomaniac · Post by **Yankomaniac** » Wed Dec 23, 2015 5:32 pm

Wasn't that a crack at Kevin James' weight? I'm pretty sure it was.

minnick27 · Post by **minnick27** » Wed Dec 23, 2015 6:45 pm

In almost 13 years (holy crap) I have never thought that was a gay joke. I always thought it was just a bizarre guest appearance

Post by **Big Spoon** » Wed Dec 23, 2015 7:37 pm

Same here. I totally get how it is now, but that thought never crossed my mind before.

Bridger987 · Post by **Bridger987** » Thu Dec 24, 2015 8:55 am

JohnnyLurg wrote:Do you think "Jerry Springer" could be interpreted as transphobic or transmisogynistic nowadays because of the usage of the terms "shemale" and "drag queen?"

Not necessarily.

"Shemale" refers to a specific type of person falling under the trans* umbrella-- someone who has male genitals, but who has secondary female features such as breasts. A drag queen/transvestite is someone who dresses as someone of the opposite sex. A transvestite/drag queen may or may not be transgender. The contexts in which one uses these terms (not the terms themselves) determine whether or not they are offensive.

(Source: Having a couple of transgender friends and being an ally of a gay-straight alliance while attending college.)

I seriously doubt that Al has a transphobic cell in his body (with his support of the NOH8 campaign, his donations of proceeds from "Perform This Way" to the Human Rights Campaign, and his one-on-one work with Wendy Carlos for Peter and the Wolf.)

Post by **senorconebra** » Tue Oct 18, 2016 1:54 am

No idea if I've said this before but a really good friend of mine's dad is actually friends with Kevin Hearn, the keyboardist for BNL and I think about that everytime I listen to Jerry Springer or any BNL stuff. They're one of my favorite bands haha

RunningWithScissors · Post by **RunningWithScissors** » Sat Jun 23, 2018 1:27 am

Jerry Springer just got cancelled... guess someone decided we've been spending too much time on that Jerry Springer...

World of Weird Al Yankovic

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