1. That stuff on Gillis is easily found. Surprised he wasn't better vetted by SNL. Or of course, maybe he was and they didn't care ... until they did care.
2. There's an inherent irony to comedians complaining about people being overly sensitive.
3. I wish the "offensive" argument would be reframed as simply "not funny." I'm not denying that it's offensive to some, but comedians can get away with pushing boundaries when they're actually funny and clever about it. Part of the issue to me is that these jokes and impressions in Gillis case are just basic, lame, low-hanging fruit. 10-year-olds know how to swap their L's for R's and do an Asian "impersonation." It's both insulting AND not funny. It makes no clever point. It doesn't advance any discussion or make you think. It's lame and dumb. If you're going to be "edgy" and "push boundaries" have an actual damn edge, have a thought you want to convey beyond "durrr, these people speak this way."
4. Comedy evolves. It always has. It always will. It's evolving again.
5. I'm not as hard on the recent Chappelle and Burr specials as some, but I do think it's far from their best work. I laughed some, but I get why some of the jokes offend people. Again, I'd say at least part of the problem is that the actual jokes aren't particularly clever. These are smart, accomplished, funny men. And they've said ostensibly "offensive" things before and haven't gotten in trouble. Why? My theory is that they're not as funny and they're leaning on the crutch of "pushing buttons" because they really don't have anything clever to say. Toss out a slur or come up with some weak parallel to being trans.
6. Just like rock and rap, I think comedy is a younger person's game at heart. Success and age takes your edge.
7. Being offensive is basically Anthony Jeselnik's brand. But he doesn't catch flack (or nearly the flack of some others). I'd argue it's because he's actually funny.
Thank you for attending my TedTalk.