Jimmy Carr Says He's Already Told The Joke That Will End His Career
The comedian is known for his risqué gags, and these days, they are immortalised and decontextualized online
Jimmy Carr reckons he's already told the joke that will end his career. Watch him explain why here:
The comedian is known for his risqué gags, and over more than two decades in the business, he's told plenty of them.
But when he was starting out, these jokes existed for just a fleeting moment in a comedy club, whereas nowadays, they are immortalised and decontextualized on YouTube and social media.
This has resulted in countless comedians coming under fire for jokes they told years ago; just the other day, Katherine Ryan was defending a joke from a 2013 episode of Mock The Week.
As such, Carr is confident he's already told a career-ending quip.
Speaking to LADbible to promote the release of his new memoir-cum-self-help-book, Before & Laughter, the 49-year-old said: "It's a weird thought to think everything I've ever done is being watched today, by someone.
"It's all out there, people are clicking on it, and watching it, and enjoying it. And it's all perfectly acceptable, until one day, it isn't.
"But I suppose that's a reason to relax and sit back and enjoy, because you kind of go, 'Well, it's already out there. The line that ends my career, I've already said it, nothing I can do about it now. Relax'.
"And it's OK, because it was a joke, and jokes are these very special things where you take a very serious thing lightly, and you try and process it and get through it through humour."
But there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to humour, and that's why in Carr's book he discourages readers from trying to be people-pleasers, instead urging them to find their 'edge'.
He preaches the importance of being authentic - in his line of work in particular - and focuses his efforts on entertaining his fans, knowing full well he will simultaneously offend others.
He said: "There is a weird sensation where you kind of go, 'I told that joke at 10:30 at night in a theatre to a paying audience, and now someone's watching it at 8:30 in the morning on YouTube.'
"I mean, I think it's not so bad when people watch them, because it's clearly narrow casting, not broadcasting - people are seeking out those clips. That's their sense of humour, which they share with me, and they like that stuff. So that's great.
"It's when it gets reported in the paper that I think some of those lines don't work written down. When it's reported speech it seems a bit weird."
He continued: "If you think I'm funny, you're right. If you think I'm not funny, you're right.
"Your sense of humour is like your taste in food, or your sexual preferences. Some people like it mild: plain meat and potatoes, no gravy please - it's a bit too much.
"And some people like the spicy stuff, they like crazy curries and kinky sex. Great, rough comedy. Fabulous.
"As long as it's all consensual, I've got no problem."
Before & Laughter is out tomorrow (Thursday 19 September).
Featured Image Credit: PATopics: Jimmy Carr, Celebrity, Interesting,
Jake Massey