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this post was submitted on 04 May 2024
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The thing about Seinfeld and other comedians who aren't as popular anymore is that they blame the audience for not liking their material. Tastes change over time. The comedian either needs to change their act or live with the consequences that people aren't going to like their material as much.
Rodney Dangerfield was a great comic for his time. If someone tried to tell the same jokes today, I don't think he'd get very far. That's not the fault of the audience. It's the fault of the comedian. No one owes you a laugh.
Dangerfield was all about self-deprecation. That's like one of the most popular attitudes of the current generation. I think Dangerfield would find a welcoming audience today. He'd probably have to tweak his material when referencing women, but otherwise he'd nail it.
I probably used a bad example. I like his comedy, but you hear it and it's immediately dates itself. It's the same when you see a old 70s Friar's Club roast vs a Comedy Central one. The jokes are still funny but trying to take that sensibility and make relevant today would be difficult.