Not an insult comic

THE controversy involving comedian and ABS-CBN TV host Vice Ganda is not about to end yet, so allow me to dip my finger into the mix. While the matter is not headline-grabbing, it is creating ripples not solely for its entertainment pull but also for its educative value.

The controversy emanated from a spiel in the “I Vice Ganda Mo Ako sa Araneta” comedy concert of Vice Ganda, or Jose Marie Viceral in real life, at the Big Dome on May 17.

Since the comedian is with ABS-CBN, some of the network’s executives and talents were in the packed coliseum.

Here’s my transcription of what Viceral said (courtesy of YouTube):

“Imagine ninyo kung paano kaya kung nag-bold na rin si Jessica Soho. Ang launching na pelikula nya ay ‘Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Sobra.’ Napaniginipan ko na rin yang si Jessica Soho nagpapatimbang. Nakakatawa.

“Lumapit si Jessica Soho sa weighing scale. Pag-akyat ni Jessica Soho, tumonog ang weighing scale: ‘One at a time. One at a time.’ So bumaba ulit si Jessica Soho, nagalit: ‘Ay, baka sira ito. I-try ko pa ulit.’ So umakyat ulit ng weighing scale si Jessica Soho. Tumonog ang weighing scale: ‘Please don’t play with the machine. Don’t play with the machine. One at a time. I told you one at a time.’

“Nagalit si Jessica Soho: ‘Ano ba naman ito? Last try na talaga.’ So umakyat ulit si Jessica Soho sa weighing scale. Tumong ang weighing scale: ‘You weigh one hundred and eighty per kilo.’ So ayaw nya nang magpatimbang ulit.

“Ang hirap nu’n kung si Jessica Soho ay nagbo-bold. Kailangan gang-rape lagi. Sasabihin nang rapist: ‘ Ipasok ang lechon!’ Sasabihin naman ni Jessica, ‘Eh nasaan ang apple?’

“Nakakatawa nga yan eh. Meron daw’ng boyfriend si Jessica. Ninakaw raw ng boyfriend nya ang panty ni Jessica, tapos pinalabhan. Nung dinala sa laundry, nang tsenekan: comforter.”

I don’t know Viceral much, but judging from how he handled the Jessica Soho joke, he obviously has been influenced by a form of comedy called “insult comedy,” which derives laughs from one

character insulting either another character, an audience or a third party. In the country, this type of comedy is usually found in comedy bars.

The subject of Viceral’s insult was a “third party” who was not in the audience, and did not even know she was being insulted at that time, the veteran and respected broadcast journalist Jessica Soho, who is also one of the top executives of ABS-CBN’s rival GMA Network.

Jessica has been overweight since she was a reporter, which means that her rise up the ladder and popularity is because of sheer talent and daring and not because of good looks-which makes her, in a way, unique.

Meanwhile, not everybody can be an insult comic. The stress in this genre is not on the “insult” part but the “comedy” part. Meaning, it also takes sheer talent to be an insult comic and be good at it. The key is to hurl insults without being considered “meanspirited.”

Practicing insult comedy in a country like the Philippines is tricky considering the culture. One should, for example, choose well the venue and the type and target of the insults.

Insult comedy in the country thrives in t he smallness of comedy bars but probably not, as shown in Viceral’s experience now, in the bigness of an Araneta Coliseum. It is not yet acceptable as stuff of TV comedy programs in the country and, in the case of Viceral again, even in YouTube (where his Jessica Soho spiel was posted).

Judging from the Jessica Soho episode, I don’t think Viceral is talented or sensitive enough to be an insult comic.

(khanwens@yahoo. com)