I don't have a problem with humiliation humor if it's fictional. No one is really being humiliated, so it's okay. Kevin Kline's character's disdain for Michael Palin's stuttering in Fish Called Wanda is hilarious, but I wouldn't find anyone treating a real stutterer that way remotely funny. Some of the TDS/Colbert interviews squick me, but I've read interviews with Colbert and Stewart that make it clear that most of them are set-ups--the interviewee is in on the joke. As a matter of fact, Colbert says the trouble a lot of times is that interviewees are SO into the joke that they want to do "comedy" and they have to tell them just to state their case and not try to add jokes or anything.

I can't even stand most episodes of Frasier since they tend to be based on him humiliating himself.

But I think I'm going to make myself watch Borat because I think he's pretty much a genius -- my fondness of seeing people exposed as hypocrites and bigots is likely to outweigh my dislike.

I feel the same about The Office , Robin. Micheal and Dwight are so over the top that I just howl with laughter. If it's fictional, I love it.

Except Meet the Parents. That made me angry. But I still laughed my ass off.

I'm with Trudy. If the humor is there to skewer hypocrisy, then I'm okay. I didn't mind when Colbert asked the Congressman who was running on a platform of having the 10 Commandments in public places to name them.

I've read interviews with Colbert and Stewart that make it clear that most of them are set-ups--the interviewee is in on the joke

I was kinda the opposite, because when I went to the "Behind the Daily Show" presentation at last year's Comedy Festival, Colbert was on the other side--initially amazed, but now completely used to how people would dig themselves more deeply once the camera came on. Like it was some sort of veil they reached for and pulled over themselves.

I understand that the releases for that sort of stuff are clear and straightforward, so I'm additionally nonplussed at how often people will let this stuff go to air (Punk'd et al. included), but that doesn't make me enjoy it any more.

I didn't think about A Fish Called Wanda, but Robin's right:

Kevin Kline's character's disdain for Michael Palin's stuttering in Fish Called Wanda is hilarious, but I wouldn't find anyone treating a real stutterer that way remotely funny.

I think for me it all depends on how "everyday person" the character being humiliated onscreen is. Palin's character is waaaay over the top and obviously a comedic character, so it's okay to laugh at him. Ben Stiller's character in Meet the Parents, OTOH, was as Everyday Joe as could be, and I liked him in the beginning of the film as a secure, competent male nurse with a seemingly great life.

I have an embarrassment/humiliation squick.

Oh my goodness, yes. I don't find bullying funny. Which is why I get in to arguments ALL THE TIME with the local goth scene's version of the jackass crew.

Okay, I've eaten lunch, consumed caffeine, and taken pain meds to help combat the headache.

And yet I'm still waiting for my brain to come back.

I feel all gothy today, Jilli. I'm wearing dark grey leggings with a gorey-esque black outline flower pattern, a swooshy black skirt, my clunky mary-janes with the black cat buckles, and a black hoody with silver sequins on the hood. And I have newly purpled hair.

I feel all gothy today, Jilli. I'm wearing dark grey leggings with a gorey-esque black outline flower pattern, a swooshy black skirt, my clunky mary-janes with the black cat buckles, and a black hoody with silver sequins on the hood. And I have newly purpled hair.

Oooh, that sounds very cute! Plus, newly purpled hair is always good. (Says the woman who didn't manage to find time to dye her own hair over the weekend ...)