 |
| SWITCHED AT BIRTH stars Sean Berdy and Marlee Matlin |
The show included two over-enthusiastic signers in a sketch which mocked Mayor Bloomberg's Hurricane Sandy press conferences and his interpreter Lydia Callis, who has become a viral hit.
Matlin - who is legally deaf - complained on her Twitter page that the scene was "childish and insulting".
"Millions of deaf people use sign," she said. "Why poke fun/fake it? Poke fun at ME but not the language. Would they do that to Spanish or Chinese? FAIL. I'm referring to sign language parodies. Sign is not mime; it is a legit language. As I've said, I don't mind fun poked at me, as I poke back. But at the language, that millions use? It feels childish and insulting."
Matlin also suggested that jokes about sign language could be funny if "done right", saying: "Here's my point. Deaf people HAVE a sense of humor. Ever see me on FAMILY GUY or SEINFELD? But faking signs that we use isn't the same.
"Imagine if a show started making fun of Spanish (using fake Spanish) or Japanese. Do you think they'd actually get away with it? Uh, no..."
Matlin concluded: "The jokes about sign could be funny if done right.. Seinfeld, Family Guy, My Name Is Earl WERE funny. This stuff is just dumb."
Watch the SNL sketch in question below:
I can see why Ms. Matlin might personally take offense but she has probably never visited the Twitter handle Miguel Bloombito where whoever tweets does indeed use FAKE SPANISH to make fun of Michael Bloomberg's use of halting, American accented Spanish in his press conferences.
ReplyDeleteAlso, in that same episode of SNL, they made fun of Abraham Lincoln and his assassination, Slaves, Australians and Australian Cinematic History among others.
Color me insensitive (and I am indeed a Person Of Color, by the way)but I didn't see it as making fun of the interpreters but of what was being said by the Mayor of NYC and the Governor. I guess perception is always influenced by personal experience?
"Millions of dead people use sign"
ReplyDeleteDid Marlee really say millions of DEAD people?
Or that a typo on your part?
If dead people are using sign, then there's another good parody for SNL.
The show is "Saturday Night Live" not "Saturday Night Lights"
ReplyDeleteagent, I laughed at the time. It didn't even cross my mind. They made fun of Obama's ears, the political scene and so much more. Not being in Marlee's position I'm sympathetic to her feelings and it made me think about it in a new way. That seems to be what she wanted so I'm glad she spoke out.
ReplyDeleteI am not even sure I respect Ms. Matlin's opinion on this as she cited her participation in several crass jokes on episodes of The Family Guy. I don't think the SNL sketch targeted deaf people negatively. I saw ASL being used as a tool to lampoon several of the politicians involved in Hurricane Sandy. Ms. Matlin has every right to her opinion but I happen to disagree with her.
ReplyDeletei agree with you Josh. The sketch was downright funny, and did not mock deaf people in a negative light at all. I have several deaf friends who thought it was riot. I sign language and I thought it was quite hilarious. but everyone has their opinion and thats okay too.... *sign languages* PIZZAZZ!!!
ReplyDelete