Some People Just Shouldn't Do Comedy

I tend to have a bit of an edgy sense of humor, and it has made some people mad a time or two. However, I have many years of public speaking and telling funny stories in concerts and have learned over time how to deliver a joke and how to pick material that will make the people laugh without getting me in trouble (video examples here, here and here).

Comedy is not something just anybody can do, as this guy is finding out:

A Greeley businessman apologized Wednesday after a joke about Illinois Sen. Barack Obama fell flat during the National Western Stock Show's annual Citizen of the West banquet.

William R. Farr was pretending to read telegrams congratulating this year's award recipient, University of Colorado President Hank Brown, when he pulled out a piece of paper and said, "I have a telegram from the White House."

Then he added, "They're going to have to change the name of that building if Obama's elected."

Witnesses said they could hear people gasp in the ballroom of the Adam's Mark Hotel.

"I gasped," said Gov. Bill Ritter, who was sitting at the table with Farr.

Some good advice: Racial humor - don't even try it, especially if you're white.

True story - way back in 1993 I was talking to an audience in San Jacinto, CA about how the new occupants of the White House didn't seem to care much for Christians. It wasn't a joke, just a comment on the political situation at that time (I don't do political jokes in concerts anymore - too many people lack a sense of humor in that subject). After the concert a lady came up to me with fire in her eyes and proceeded to rip me for being critical of Bill Clinton because she knew him when he was a little boy and she saw him go to church every week carrying his big Bible.

You can't please everybody.