Couple of things to consider before saying Larry David crossed the line with his controversial SNL monologue (see video below) which included a Holocaust joke and some Bob Weinstein material. First, is there still a line of conduct to be crossed? After all, the President of the United States won election after the entire nation heard tapes on which he boasted of sexually assaulting women because he’s a star. Second, SNL tapes right up the street from Broadway, where one of the biggest hits of all time was The Producers with its hit song “Springtime for Hitler.” (see original below). The Producers didn’t just contain Holocaust jokes — the whole show can be considered a Holocaust joke. So start there. Now here’s Larry David with his disgusting Holocaust joke. That’s no insult — David doesn’t shy away from “disgusting” and he surely meant to get under people’s skin. (Disgusting definition: to arouse “strong indignation.” Check.)
The joke: “I’ve always been obsessed with women, and I’ve often wondered if I’d grown up in Poland when Hitler came to power and was sent to a concentration camp, would I be checking women out in the camp? I think I would,” David said, though he acknowledged there are “no good opening lines in a concentration camp.” People were also offended by the Weinstein jokes, but how can you do a tasteful Weinstein joke? Besides, David is playing catch-up in the Weinstein matter, since late night talk show hosts have rippedt the disgraced movie producer for weeks already — ever since Weinstein’s abuse scandal “rocked Hollywood” as tabloids like to say. But is Larry David’s Holocaust joke just too insensitive? Is it more offensive than any other Holocaust joke? Are Holocaust jokes not allowed at all? That seems to be the question. Did Larry David cross the line? On YouTube the monologue currently has more thumbs up than down — 4,000 to 763. David’s monologue below:
“Springtime for Hitler” from the original Mel Brooks movie.
