Breakdowns: SNL Thought Brownface Was A Good Idea, Not Racist At All

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Beejoli Shah

10/07/13 11:10AM

Filed to: Breakdowns

Saturday Night Live has found a new way to offend—and I don't just mean its subpar cast; The Mindy Project finally landed a guest star after two seasons of begging for one; your tweets are now being counted into what keeps a show on the air; and The Simpsons has been renewed the gazillionth time.

Saturday night's episode of Saturday Night Live wasn't just offensive because of how shitty it was—it also had Nasim Pedrad in (very poorly applied) brownface, to play Aziz Ansari. Racist jokes from a show that's been in the news for its lack of diversity? That's almost as good an idea as getting Miley Cyrus to host! [Aerogram]
Jenna Elfman becomes the 837th guest star on The Mindy Project. In related news, they will be changing the name of the show to The Stunt Casting Project. [Vulture]
Your tweets—you know, that website you visit to write about how fucking annoying your roommate is—are now going to be used by Nielsen to measure TV show metrics. Which means your thoughts are soon going to be monetized by advertisers. No, don't worry, the machines already won a long time ago, just go with it at this point. [Variety]
The Simpsons will not just go quietly into the night: the show has been renewed for an embarrassing 26th season. It is the Saturday Night Live of cartoons. [Rolling Stone]

Breakdowns is a daily roundup of all the news that wasn't interesting enough to deserve two paragraphs.

josh-rogan Beejoli Shah 10/07/13 06:37PM

This season's SNL cast includes three obese people, two Black men, an out lesbian, and an Iranian immigrant. What network television program has a more diverse cast?

Beejoli Shah josh-rogan 10/07/13 07:42PM

Obesity is not the same as diversity.

1

josh-rogan Beejoli Shah 10/07/13 11:41PM

Obese people are probably the most ignored class of people in entertainment, particularly obese women. Including this shunned group is diversity in practice.

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hawaiifiveo Beejoli Shah 10/07/13 03:07PM

Enough fucking white guilt on this goddamn site. Please for the love of gawd, enough.

Most of the Gawker staff came from upperclass white families who wouldn't have known what to do had a non white family moved next door. Stop with the fake outrage, assholes. I enjoy the site but I cannot stand the "SKY IS FALLING OMG" racist articles. 99.99 of your readership is white.

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Beejoli Shah hawaiifiveo 10/07/13 03:23PM

Though The Shah family is rumored to have sailed over on the Mayflower, I'm actually of first generation Indian descent, and while it may not have seemed racist to you, it sure as hell came across racist to me. Not sure why black face is deemed racist, but painting someone the color of tan shoe leather is socially acceptable. Nasim, who is of Iranian descent, could have played the role just fine without having to be slathered in brown makeup. Especially given the fact that they did a voice-over with each imitated actor's name to begin with, and an impression that was dead on to Aziz. The addition of the shoe polish wasn't what made me sit up and go "Nailed it!"

So no, this isn't white guilt. This is common sense and a refusal to turn an eye to racism in the name of unfunny jokes.

3

hawaiifiveo Beejoli Shah 10/07/13 03:33PM

But, but, but Shah, skits like this are as old as the Mayflower. I don't see any harm in it. Lets not single out the performer. Did you come from an upperclass indian family? I'm guessing that you did. I'm not asking about your grandparents who probably had to work/start a business to attain all that wealth. I am asking what kind of life you experienced growing up. I do love Gawker and read it everyday, I just think you guys are posting too many faux racist stories. Thank you for your reply.

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Beejoli Shah hawaiifiveo 10/07/13 03:41PM

I honestly don't understand how that's relevant, but no, I did not come from an upperclass Indian family. Probably best not to make assumptions about strangers on the Internet.

Also, of the 20 regular writer/contributors to Gawker, Valleywag and Defamer, only 12 are white. All of them reflect opinions that are their own, not some sort of editorial mandated "white guilt." Do with that what you will.

hawaiifiveo Beejoli Shah 10/07/13 03:46PM

Only 12? That is more than half? I too am not sure how that was relevant. I was ranting. Caught up in the moment. I'm not a disgruntled 75 year old grandparent, I swear. 30 year old liberal white guy. That is what people do on the internet. Make assumptions. Much like this article. Good day, Ms. Shah.

TheYupster Beejoli Shah 10/07/13 09:23PM

Please tell me how Nasim Pedrad wearing makeup to impersonate Aziz Ansari is any different from Sir Ben Kinglsey portraying Mahatma Gandhi.

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Beejoli Shah TheYupster 10/08/13 12:27AM

Ben Kingsley is half Indian, and didn't do the role IN BROWNFACE.

TheYupster Beejoli Shah 10/10/13 03:07PM

So you're telling me that Ben Kingsley wore zero makeup to modify his complexion?

http://www.imdb.com/media/rm388692…

AND GANDHI FUCKING WON THE FUCKING BEST MAKEUP OSCAR.

Seriously?

Plus...you're also missing the complete point. I posted earlier in the comments section that the point isn't LOLBROWNZ it is "Look at this tiny white comedienne do a funny impression of a a tiny comedian who also happens to be Indian." Did you watch the skit on mute?

What EXACTLY offends you? Should they have hired an Indian actor to do Aziz Ansari impressions? Should they have tinting makeup off of Nasim?

She was playing a character! How can you not see this?!

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Lt-Cmdr-Spork Beejoli Shah 10/07/13 11:16AM

The Simpsons will not just go quietly into the night: the show has been renewed for an embarrassing 26th season.

Because god forbid we not renew a show thats making our company money still...

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GenericScreenName Beejoli Shah 10/07/13 11:16AM

Having a Jewish guy made up to look like Obama was cool, though, right?

Pro Tip: It's not racist to use make-up to portray a specific person. It is racist to use make-up to portray a racial stereotype.