June 13, 2009

Leno:  Mobsters run Foxwoods

Jay Leno tickles valley's funny boneWhile network television demands on-time starts, the former host of “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” had his audience at The Show at the Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa holding their collective breath Friday night for a few minutes after the anticipated start time.

When he did arrive on stage—a few minutes late—the 2,001-member audience rose and gave the comic a hearty round of applause. And the comic launched right into his act.

First up, Leno complimented the room, “This is really a beautiful facility,” he said. “This is actually the first casino that has actual Indians that I've played,” he continued. “I played Foxwoods recently, it's run by a member of the Gambino tribe.”
Comment:  Leno has performed at a lot of Indian casinos. So every gaming tribe except Agua Caliente is phony? And the mob runs Foxwoods? Wow.

Sure, it was "just a joke." It's a phenomenon known as "kidding on the square." Leno is "joking" about what many people believe: that most gaming tribes are fraudulent.

Again, note the feedback loop between this posting, Chief Ron Lies About Gaming, and Calif. Tribes Are "Highly Questionable"? One reinforces the other, strengthening the message they send to the public. Namely, that Indians are cheaters and liars. They used to skulk behind trees and rocks; now they skulk behind slot machines and roulette wheels.

2 comments:

dmarks said...

Sort of a one-two punch from the "kings of late night", considering Letterman's recent sexist jokes and joking about Sarah Palin's daughter getting raped.

Victory for Conan O'Brien, who has managed to stay out of the "unfunny major comedian" headline derby.

Rob said...

I think Letterman made a mistake. He thought Bristol, the 18-year-old adult known for having premarital sex, was at the baseball game. And not Willow, the 14-year-old he actually joked about.