CBS’s Smith: Olbermann Thought Sykes Joke ‘In Bad Taste’

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On Monday’s CBS Early Show, co-host Harry Smith and weatherman Dave Price described attending Saturday’s White House Correspondents Dinner and Smith commented on the controversial joke about Rush Limbaugh made by comedian Wanda Sykes: "She told a joke about Rush Limbaugh as being one of the -- one of the hijackers and the reason he didn't make the flight was because he was, you know, on drugs or whatever...And the whole place -- yeah -- so the whole place groaned, and I ran into Keith Olbermann afterwards...And he said 'I'm not sure, I think that was probably -- probably in bad taste.' I said 'what do you think her job is?’"

In one of many jokes attacking conservatives, Sykes remarked: "I think maybe Rush Limbaugh was the 20th hijacker, but he was just so strung out on oxycontin he missed his flight." Apparently, while even left-wing bomber thrower Keith Olbermann thought that was over the line, Smith defended Sykes: "Well, you know what, any comedian, anybody who does that job, their job is to push the envelope...You can't go home -- you can't go home to the community of comedians unless you've gone too far."

Co-host Julie Chen later wondered: "But how did the room react, you guys, who was there?" Smith replied: "They groaned, serious groan...And Michelle Obama, in particular, was very uncomfortable with some of Wanda Sykes." Dave Price explained: "It was pretty much the only groan. I mean, there were a couple of other small ones. But she was -- she was pretty much en fuego [on fire]."

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Price went on to observe that left-wing Hollywood was back in force at the dinner: "And of course, you had the whole Hollywood community back in. They typically have shied away from Republican presidential candidates. And they came back in force, because to the -- you know, Obama's a rock star." Co-host Maggie Rodriguez remarked: " Obama's so popular." Price added: "...particularly in Hollywood."

In addition to the conversation centered around Sykes, all of the Early Show hosts went out of their way to mention how funny they thought Barack Obama was. Earlier in the show, Smith declared: "It was a star-studded event as President Obama added ‘comedian-in-chief’ to his duties over the weekend." Later, after playing a clip of Obama at the dinner all of the hosts chimed in:

HARRY SMITH: Let's listen to a little more of the funny stuff.

BARACK OBAMA: Now Sasha and Malia aren't here tonight, because they're grounded. You can't just take Air Force One on a joy ride to Manhattan.

RUSS MITCHELL: That was pretty good.

MAGGIE RODRIGUEZ: That was very good-

SMITH: Really lots of really funny self-deprecating stuff.

RODRIGUEZ: -referring to the Statue of Liberty picture that cost the guy who arranged it his job.

DAVE PRICE: He was very, very funny. First of all, whoever wrote it was brilliant and his delivery was right on target.

Here is the full transcript of the segment:

7:13AM TEASE:

HARRY SMITH: It was a star-studded event as President Obama added 'comedian-in-chief' to his duties over the weekend. We'll talk all about that, next.

7:19AM TEASE:

MAGGIE RODRIGUEZ: Coming up next, President Obama takes on Hillary Clinton, Dick Cheney, even Joe Biden. We'll tell you what he had to say at the annual White House Correspondents Dinner.

7:23AM TEASE:

HARRY SMITH: Maggie, Julie missed you at the Correspondents Dinner in Washington D.C. Here's a little bit of President Obama.

BARACK OBAMA: Which brings me to another thing that's changed in this new, warmer, fuzzier White House. And that's my relationship with Hillary. You know, we had been rivals during the campaign. But these days we could not be closer. In fact, the second she got back from Mexico, she pulled me into a hug and gave me a big kiss. Told me I better get down there myself. Dick Cheney was supposed to be here. But he is very busy working on his memoirs. Tentatively titled, 'How To Shoot Friends and Interrogate People.'

SMITH: He's pretty funny.

RODRIGUEZ: Very funny.

7:18AM SEGMENT:

HARRY SMITH: People still buzzing about the White House Correspondents Dinner on Saturday Night. Dave was there. I was there. Tom Cruise was there.

MAGGIE RODRIGUEZ: Oh, so all the cute guys.

RUSS MITCHELL: Of course, yeah. A-list.

JULIE CHEN: Name-dropper, Harry Smith.

SMITH: Ah well, we've got more names to drop.

DAVE PRICE: You were rolling around with Julia Louis Dreyfus.

SMITH: Please, I have stories to tell, but let's listen to a little more of the funny stuff.

BARACK OBAMA: Now Sasha and Malia aren't here tonight, because they're grounded. You can't just take Air Force One on a joy ride to Manhattan.

MITCHELL: That was pretty good.

RODRIGUEZ: That was very good-

SMITH: Really lots of really funny self-deprecating stuff.

RODRIGUEZ: -referring to the Statue of Liberty picture that cost the guy who arranged it his job.

PRICE: He was very, very funny. First of all, whoever wrote it was brilliant and his delivery was right on target. What did you think of Wanda Sykes?

SMITH: Well, you know what, any comedian, anybody who does that job, their job is to push the envelope. Remember Don Imus with Bill Clinton?

PRICE: Pushed it-

SMITH: Stephen Colbert with Bush, whoever's there is going to push it past-

CHEN: Okay, Harry-

SMITH: Yes?

CHEN: -you need to explain, because a lot of people don't know, unless we have the Wanda Sykes soundbite, do we have it ready?

SMITH: She told a joke about Rush Limbaugh as being one of the -- one of the hijackers and the reason he didn't make the flight was because he was, you know, on drugs or whatever.

CHEN: Oh, on Oxytocin, right.

SMITH: And the whole place -- yeah -- so the whole place groaned, and I ran into Keith Olbermann afterwards.

PRICE: Right.

SMITH: And he said 'I'm not sure, I think that was probably -- probably in bad taste.' I said what do you think her job is?'

PRICE: Right.

RODRIGUEZ: That's what she was aiming for.

CHEN: But how did the room react?

SMITH: You can't go home -- you can't go home to the community of comedians unless you've gone too far.

MITCHELL: Right.

CHEN: But how did the room react, you guys, who was there?

SMITH: They groaned, serious groan.

PRICE: Oh, no, they groaned. But-

SMITH: And Michelle Obama, in particular, was very uncomfortable with some of Wanda Sykes.

PRICE: True, but I-

MITCHELL: Was it the only groan? Was it the only groan that you heard?

PRICE: It was pretty much the only groan. I mean, there were a couple of other small ones. But she was -- she was pretty much en fuego. And of course, you had the whole Hollywood community back in. They typically have shied away from Republican presidential candidates. And they came back in force, because to the -- you know, Obama's a rock star.

RODRIGUEZ: Obama's so popular.

PRICE: To -- particularly in Hollywood. Steven Spielberg was there.

SMITH: Unbelievable.

PRICE: I mean, Tom -- Tom-

RODRIGUEZ: Tom Cruise, you mentioned him already.

PRICE: Right.

—Kyle Drennen is a news analyst at the Media Research Center.


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Let Them Keep Talking

Christopher Hitchens once said that you can tell the intellect of an individual by the number of times he laughs at the same joke.  Jay Leno rolled out a million 'Bush is Stupid' jokes that were essentially the same and the lefties just loved 'em. With DC already agog over so many Hollywood liberals in the same room with Obama, it was just too easy to start taking really cheap shots.

Conservatives have a lot to look forward to politically, though.  The deficit figures released this morning show that the inevitable inflation that accompanies excessive borrowing may be starting sooner than first expected.  Interest rates are also sure to rise.  Both of these things will kill off any jobs recovery.

Still.. there is a lot to work with here.  The Pelosi scandals - lying about lying - are only going to help.   For a top ten list of other things conservatives should be hopeful about, you can view:

http://firstconserva...

 

 

SMITH: And he said 'I'm not

SMITH: And he said 'I'm not sure, I think that was probably -- probably in bad taste.'

Not sure? Well Keith old boy let me clear it up for ya. It was definitely in bad taste.  And just stupid.  

Rush? The 20th....  I can't even type this. 

It's just astoundingly stupid and not the least bit funny, even in an arena where most everything is fair game.   

HAHAHA

Harry & Co. just keep digging deeper and deeper....when KO is the smart one in the article something is definetely wrong. As for comedians pushing the envelope heck they don't even lick the stamp with the Messiah!!!

 

 

 

" The Future Is X Rated"

I think even the lunatic fringe

has some bright moments here and there, lol

When the people fear the government it's called tyranny, when the government fears the people it's called liberty!

If Rush had said this

about ms sykes...the msm would have killed him   not really but it would have been front page news hatred

 

"Well, you know what, any

"Well, you know what, any comedian, anybody who does that job, their job is to push the envelope..."

Like Don Imus?

I think that quote was in

I think that quote was in reference to the host of what's usually a roast of sorts, as opposed to someone who does a morning radio show and isn't a comedian.

 

Bingo!

Imus isn't a comedian, neither is Rush. Remember when Michael Steele called him an entertainer? He got put in the corner and then he apologized to Rush.

If the media were to go after every comedian's controverstial or tasteless jokes, there'd be no actual news to report. lol

For the most part I believe the folks who are outraged over her jokes are just bitter that their guy lost and anything that is said will set them off.

 

As you may presently yourself be fully made aware of, my grammar sucks.
Family Guy

 Nah .. the issue is the

 Nah .. the issue is the double standard bull crap ... if during a "roast" of Bush... Dennis Miller went on a rant saying he wished Jesse Jackson's kidneys failed and made jokes that Obama was the 20th hijacker there would be calls for his head.

 A true comedian would have no problem coming up with Obama jokes ..Bush provided great material and Obama has as well ....ALL politicians lend themself to satire

this has nothing to do with "we"lost and are bitter ...well we are bitter and hanging on to our guns and religion but thats beside the point

_______ Him and the Unicorn he rode in on

According to your logic

for lack of a better word, then you Obamatards did the same over Bush.  I'm not so offended over the terrorist remark as I'm over the double standard.  She actually joked about someone dying because they didn't agree with a public official's policies.  Hmmm, if that ain't over the line than we can just let loose on everyone, as long as they are a conservative of course. 

You can keep crying about the whole "your guy lost" theory but that is just childish at best.  The problem with you mindless libs is that you don't realize a lot of conservatives did not vote for either McCain or Obama.  You bascially had two Dems running for office. 

So again, according to your ahem, logic, you're crying over the fact that your guy won and YOU can't take the heat over the criticism like the conservatives did.  You libs are the epitome of hypocrisy.

 

When the people fear the government it's called tyranny, when the government fears the people it's called liberty!

If a conservative comedian

If a conservative comedian joked about Olbermann's kidneys failing, I'd laugh. I'd think it was over the line, but that might be why I was laughing.

Why?

 If a conservative comedian joked about Olbermann's kidneys failing, I'd laugh.

 First off, it wont happen, but why would you laugh? Oberdude is pond scum, but it still isnt funny.

My Gov. thinks I am dangerous, so be careful

"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg

I think it's 'cause it's so

I think it's 'cause it's so outlandish, and I would know that the comedian didn't mean he ACTUALLY wanted Olbermann's kidneys to fail. 

Bal you still dont get it

 Bal you still dont get it ...some are bothered by what she said .... I am bothered by the double standard .... PCism doesnt apply to the left .....it only applies to the the evil hateful right wing extremists ( a proud member) not to the hateful lefties.  Try to defend that

_______ Him and the Unicorn he rode in on

I understand that. But I

I understand that. But I don't think the Imus incident is the same as this one, and we were discussing that in particular.

gmac..

'for lack of a better word, then you Obamatards did the same over Bush.  I'm not so offended over the terrorist remark as I'm over the double standard.'

I won't argue that if the roles were reversed, the left would be crying too. The only problem I have with Bush at one of those dinners is making a joke about not being able to find WMD's. I think that was innappropriate. I also thought Obama's joke about his kids taking air force one to NY was not appropriate (too soon after the idiot decision to fly over NY).  But, if it's a comedian, I give them a pass. That's their job. To push buttons and get a reaction...whether it's a ::gasp:: or a ::ROLF::.

I think it's pathetic that the pundits, left and right, are having a tissy over her remarks.

 

As you may presently yourself be fully made aware of, my grammar sucks.
Family Guy

"Pushing the envelope" not essential

I don't think pushing the envelope is necessary to being funny.  That's not to say you can't, just that it isn't a requirement.  Also, a lot of commedians seem to put "pushing the envelope" above being funny these days.  Or to put it another way, for many, shocking people seems to be the main goal. 

When you put the clowns in charge, don't be surprised when a circus breaks out.

I just heard clips

I just heard clips of Sykes on Hannity.  It sounded more like a Olbermann rant than a comedy routine: it was full of distortion, lies, vitriol, hate and illogic - thus, it wasn't funny. 

Of course, Obummer and his cohorts thought it was funny, because they are they type of people who think demeaning lies are funny, and honest truth is grating.

Good delivery, though....for what it's worth, which isn't much....

Keith Olbermann...

Keith Olbermann saying he thinks a joke about Rush Limbaugh is in bad taste? Talk about a pot and kettle sort of moment. He makes disgusting jokes about Conservatives and anybody else he doesn't like on a daily basis, but nobody calls his "jokes," "bad taste." Talk about hypocrisy!

That's it

Shall we take bets on how soon MSNBC gives Olbermann his walking papers for this?  Or maybe he'll just get a slap on the hand and sent to Indoctrination Camp for a refresher on the Media Socialist Agenda.

traditionally this is a roast of the President

 The problem is, traditionally this is a roast of the President ... so Sykes should have been pushing the envelope regarding Obama ... I dont think Rush cares that Sykes wishes his kidneys would fail .. I think the issues is that comedians and others cant bring themselves to joke about the "One"  like its some kind of blasphemy .. Which in the lefts mind is probably what it is for them.  I can sit here and write 3 minutes of Obama jokes .. its not that hard.  I love satire ... I even used to enjoy Colbert and Stewart's poltical satire .. until it became obvious (especially in  Stewarts case) that they are just partisan hacks

_______ Him and the Unicorn he rode in on

If, as Harry says the whole

If, as Harry says the whole place groaned , how come you heard all the cheers...plus the Prez smiling and laughing...

Olbie is also full of bull....nothing new there though.

Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart

They're Nazis. Nazis Don't Know What Humor Is.

They think hate is humor.

They think hating and mocking the Special Olympics is funny.

So what do you expect?

I wrote Applebee's

I wrote Applebee's regarding Wanda Sykes and her voiceover stint, and here's the ridiculous response I get from them...

"Thank you for contacting Applebee's.  Wanda Sykes provided voiceover for Applebee's advertising from Oct. 2007 - Feb. 2008.  Ms. Sykes has not been affiliated with the company for nearly 15 months."

What's ridiculous?

With respect, Maideneer, I don't get what's ridiculous about Applebee's response.   You can't fire someone who isn't working for you.  If Sykes was still in their employ, I hope Applebee's would can her.  But we'll never know. 

When you put the clowns in charge, don't be surprised when a circus breaks out.

Jen 7

Here's an Obama whopper: Is it true Obama didn't know coke came in a bottle until he graduated from Harvard Law? LOL. I'm neither outraged or bitter.  You got your degree in psychology where?

I'm good with pushing the envelope

So now it is safe for Imus to call Michelle a knappy-headed ho?

→ Maybe for Imus

But though I feel these hateful jokes are taunts, pure and simple, aimed at extracting off-colorremarks from the right, I won't respond in kind.

LYDSEXICS UNTIE!

It is so sad how pathetic

It is so sad how pathetic the media has become. These people step-n-fetchit more than a plantation slave with a brown-nosing addiction.

A nation cannot be free without a free, unbiased media. We are not free.

The media...

has been all over this story. What news are you watching. Even some left wing pundits said she was out of line. The first time I heard someone complaining about it was Pat Buchanan on MSNBC. GASP!

 

As you may presently yourself be fully made aware of, my grammar sucks.
Family Guy

So, does this mean Sykes

So, does this mean Sykes will get O-Man's 'Worst Person in the World" award?

No?

Didn't think so.

As it is, what Obamerann supposedly said is hearsay.

One of the 34% who thinks George W. Bush was a great President. One of the 61% who wants to bring back the stock and pillory (yep...approval for Congress now at 39%...do you believe that!?).

Obama's Adore,,Admire, Popular,Rock Star, THE MESIAH

Hello! Mr. K. Drennen your column always thanks.-Give me a break!!  Our country are been screwed. At least Night Television NBC/CBS,ABC etc. only in America. Comedians are professionals  every one of them are which the BEST.-!   But your MEDIA  liners,or speech,sometimes "Opening up" an Alligator Mouth" The PRESS Anchors, Columns Editorials, Media feel so demagogues, & hypocricy  individuals love and "Butter by Up" and feel!!!!! sooo Adore, Admire, Obama's is they are really Cool, Oh! my White House will have a court Basket Ball  "Formidable" NOW LOOK AT THIS ADMINISTRATION INCOMPETENCE,  Study really  Homosexuality (Closet) Birth Control, Abortion, Preservatives (Condons), Chrysler , General Motors 800 Billions today What?  50 Millions to Health Care ,where? 350 Millions to Dept. Commerce Computers,  the sale Commision when? $650 millions for digital TV Coupons minorities are being who is getting there truth?  1.2 Billion youth summer(part of USA) Florida? Here in South Florida schools are not having Pencils, or Papers and two Schools cancelled Building no Budget. Yes Hospitals? money Abortion. Period.-$ 89 millions for Medicaid, 30 million COBRA Were are they? What happening foreign  individuals  in legal or not what the politicians are doing what? Nicaragua,San Salvador Venezuela, Mexican, Canadian, Middle East (Muslin) what we have in our Country "OPEN" all foreigners look at the DIASPORA.-

Thanks & Cooperation.-

Charles H. Garrido, Miami Fla.