Of Ace and Seth MacFarlane's 'Boobs'

Few things about Ace’s interesting rebuttal, starting here:

I didn’t like MacFarlane’s “Boobs” sketch because it was born of the pleasure of malice — a genuine pleasure[.]

I sensed no malice. Like I said in my original piece, it was a good old-fashioned ribbing.  The actresses were obviously in on it (the “boobs” bit was pre-recorded). Also, MacFarlane targeted just about everyone that night, including the Christian right. So it’s hard to charge malice when no one is being singled out.

Come on. MacFarlane’s intent was not to advance some kind of modesty-of-the-body agenda. 

No one can claim to know MacFarlane’s intent, but mocking women who bare themselves before the world can be interpreted the way Klavan interprets it. That’s not unreasonable.

I reject the entire idea — which I imagine has wide currency among partisans of both sides — that a political mission can render what would otherwise be shabby behavior into exalted acts.

I don’t think anyone is looking to “exalt” “shabby behavior.” I just didn’t consider the behavior anything close to shabby.

There’s a big difference between “naughty” and “dirty” humor. “Naughty” has been a part of television for decades. If you watch reruns of  “The Carol Burnett Show” or Johnny Carson, it’s everywhere. MacFarlane didn’t cross that line, in my opinion, so there’s nothing to defend.

It could be a difference of opinion over taste. While I loath “dirty” humor (Will Ferrell and Borat suck), I love humor with no sacred cows: Rickles, Carlin, Pryor, “Blazing Saddles,” Monty Python…