Louis C.K.’s ‘SNL’ monologue was offensive, yes, but totally him

If you’re just now perusing your DVR to watch Louis C.K. host last night’s “Saturday Night Live,” you’re about to endure a true stand-up monologue from a comedian who is best known for pushing the envelope with his comedy and on his FX show, “Louie.” This was very different from SNL’s typical opening monologues, which are scripted and pre-approved by producers before they go live.

In this monologue–the final one of the show’s 40th-anniversary season–C.K. again pushed the envelope, and Twitter blew up at him.

Louis CK's definition of comedy is essentially digging up the most offensive things people in history have said and spewing it on a stage.

— natasha (@NatashaVianna) May 17, 2015

that's not humour, #offensive Outrage as Louis CK spends 5 minutes rationalizing CHILD MOLESTATION http://t.co/4IqFFGCJU0 via @MailOnline

— Myra Hayes (@MyraHayes) May 17, 2015

He talked about how he has “mild racism” because he grew up in the ’70s, then touched on relations in Israel and Palestine, and finally ended with child molestation.

“There is no worse life available to a human than being a caught child molester, and yet they still do it,” C.K. said in his monologue Saturday night. “Which from you can only really surmise that it must be really good.”

The shock and awe in the audience was instantly audible with a bunch of “Oohhhh”s and uncomfortable laughter filling the room. C.K. immediately recoiled by clarifying, “From their point of view; not ours. From their point of view, it must be amazing. For them to risk so much …”

The audience–and the house band members, who are visible behind C.K.–nervously chuckle as they slowly processed what he was saying. C.K. then said through a huge grin, “How do you think I feel? It’s my last show, probably.”

Will it be? We won’t know until he’s invited back, but to me, two things are certain:

1. C.K. only did what he is best known for doing, which is pushing the boundaries and talking about uncomfortable topics that make people feel–guess what? Uncomfortable. I’m sure to many non-Louis C.K. fans, his monologue was jarring and offensive, but he was only doing what his fans have come to expect from him. That’s his schtick, and his fame has only grown because of it. When he came to Chicago this year, he had to add a third show to his Chicago Theater performances because the first two sold out so quickly.

And for those unfamiliar with his weekly TV show, this type of offensive humor is nothing new. In fact, it’s expected. In Season 4, fellow stand-up comedian and overweight actress Sarah Baker, who had been trying to get C.K. to agree to a date the entire episode, goes on a seven-minute rant at the end of the episode about dating a fat girl.

“Have you ever dated a fat girl?” she asks C.K. while on a walk along a river. “Have you ever kissed a fat girl? … Have you ever held hands with a fat girl? Have you ever walked down the street in the light of day holding hands with a big girl like me? … What do you think’s gonna happen? You think your dick’s gonna fall off if you hold hands with a fat girl?”

It’s Baker’s monologue, yes, but C.K. is the writer and producer of that show, and it’s his vision that shapes each episode. The show is a comedy, and yet in every episode, he asks the audience to stretch their minds just a little bit and think more deeply about topics that sometimes make us squirm. When I watch “Louie,” my jaw often drops, I’m usually a little offended or uncomfortable, and after every single episode, I find myself saying, “God, that was a WEIRD one.” And yet, I keep coming back. I’m not alone. For every “offended” tweet about C.K.’s “SNL” monologue, there seems to be an equally C.K.-supportive tweet:

Are people actually surprised that Louis CK said something offensive? That's literally the reason he's famous.

— Josh Lopez (@joshlopez912) May 17, 2015

Recommend Louis CK monologue on SNL last night Not that it was so funny But a comedian finally said something uncomfortable and offensive

— Hedge Whisperer (@sellis1994) May 17, 2015

The most offensive thing about Louis CK’s monologue last night on SNL was that he tucked in his T-shirt.

— M¿tt Thom¿s (@mattthomas) May 17, 2015

2. C.K. was asked to be on the final episode of the show’s 40th season because “SNL” creator and producer Lorne Michaels wanted it to be talked about long after it aired. Looks like he was successful in that.

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