[Note: The original version of this essay first appeared in Eastern Connecticut State University's Campus Lantern student newspaper in the early '90s and as part of my unpublished manuscript "In Mediocrity We Trust... In Debt We Die" And Other Essays before record labeling was imposed nationwide.]
Since comedy is often on records, it would be a natural target for censorship. After all, most comedians, with few exceptions seem to use profanity and/or sexual or excretory humor. Self-appointed censors would most certainly like to ban comedians who act as if they were born with Tourette Syndrome. That is, unable to control their profanity. Andrew Dice Clay is arguably one of the worst of them, but he is also (or at least used to be) one of the most popular contemporary stand-up comics. It seems that most major young comedians use profanity in their acts, with the possible exception of Bill Cosby and a handful of others; but so what? As long as a comedian is funny, and as long as they do not slander anyone, there should be no problem. (to be cont'd)
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