i made some funny

My friends Greg and Kim are brilliant writers, and wonderfully creative people. I met them at ACME, where I had the pleasure of performing with them both, and writing with Kim.

Greg has a company called Mediocre Films ("They're better than they sound") that has created some hilarious shorts, including Phone Call to God and Shoes. Kim is the executive producer on a web-based series called The Guild, which just won a YouTube award, (it will sit nicely on a shelf with the eleventy billion other awards they've won) and the two of them collaborate on the Gorgeous Tiny Chicken Machine Show.

Greg and Kim have a friend named Ponce, who has Down syndrome. Ponce is an actor and a comedian, and they worked together to come up with a series of comedic shorts they could release on YouTube. They call it Retarded Policeman, and it's really, really funny.

Greg and Kim are doing with video and sketch comedy what I'm doing with publishing: refusing to take the traditional route to reach an audience, and having a lot of fun while we do it. Greg and I have been trying to find a way to do a Mediocre Film together for a long time, so when Greg offered me a chance to work on Retarded Policeman, I grabbed it.

I'm sure this will offend some people, but I want to make it clear that nobody is exploiting or making fun of Ponce, or anyone who has Down syndrome. If that was the case, none of us would have done it. If anything, it's making fun of how arbitrary and, well, retarded police stops can be. This episode makes a reference to Episode 4, which was really funny until it wasn't.

If you liked this, you should totally watch Episode 6, which I think is absolutely hilarious and the funniest one yet.

Comments

[Sharfa]

I have to say you look mighty hot with the facial follicles Wil.

This was funny! PC goes too far most times and sucks the fun out of life. Someone will always be offended, usually those that take life way too seriously!

[Wil]

There's no need to apologize if you don't think this is funny.

That's the thing with comedy; what's funny to one person isn't funny to others.

Take the Cavemen TV show, for example: that was funny to a network executive, but wasn't funny to everyone else in the known universe.

On a more personal note, when we would put up shows at ACME, sometimes there would be a sketch that KILLED when we pitched it, but would just fall totally flat with preview audiences. At the same time, sketches we were all "eh" on would end up being the ones they were talking about in the lobby after the show.

Comedy is like all art, and what works for one person may not work for another person. I'm not offended or put off if someone doesn't like something I'm in, and I certainly don't expect everyone to like something just because I'm in it.

Either way, thanks for watching and sharing your feedback.

[Cherikooka]

Wil,
You were totally hot in this video. Oh, and it was funny too.

[notchcode]

Great, now my four year old is going to hear me singing:

He is a cop
And he's learning impaired
He's the retarded police-man!

All day.

;)

[Jim2]

I have a Down Syndrome, child and as much as I want to be an adult and divorce myself from my own issues to appreciate the humour, I can't do it.

Wheaton, you've blown it for me. I've religiously read your blog since 2003, gloried in your triumphs and empathised with the lows. It has been a good ride thus far, but my own inability to step beyond the the vast amount of daily injustice heaped upon people who have no control of their condition, the limits it places on their life and life expectancy, and sheer goddamn guilt of inflicting this on an innocent child has made me file you in the "unsavoury" box and tape the lid shut.

Good luck with your future endeavours.

alikitty619: you have no idea how far I would go to trade DS for mild CP and an exceptional IQ. You comment is typical of people who equate DS with fat, cuddly, happy people stereotype. Because of an accident of conception, DS are barely human, have metabolic and physiological issues, and thanks to a vastly different brain chemistry react badly to foods you and I take for granted, resulting in long term brain function and composition deterioration. These issues can be moderated with diet, but still everyone looks at the DS 'tard and sniggers about supposed defining personality sterotypes and exclaims that it can;t be that bad. I've had 2 friends watch their DS kids die with in hours of immunisation shots people take for granted. They might be DS, but we love them.

It rips me to the core to see people take the piss.

Sorry.

[angie k]

I watched the episode you were in a while ago but I just now watched episode 6. (And the rest.) It was awesome. (Stormtrooper?! FTW!) I don't feel dirty laughing at it. I'm laughing at the characterizations of a zany cop who asks weird questions and the deadpan reactions of the people he pulls over. Even though the word "retarded" is in the title I'm not laughing at the DS or the actor as a person. I'm laughing at scripted characters. Not all the episodes are funny to me and that's because I don't find some of the writing funny or some of the acting. Some people are going to be offended and perhaps rightly so from their points of view. Art is art. It doesn't work the same with everyone.

(For what it's worth, even though I think Ep 6 is the best you were still very funny. Your deadpan makes me laugh.)

[Bob N Mel]

Dang, Wil. That sinus surgery DID change your voice quite a bit! Sweet!

[Bob N Mel]

Incidentally, Bob thinks that it would be funny as Hell if Ponce pulled him over in his wheelchair.

[guesser]

I had an uncle with Down's syndrome. He died years ago and I barely knew him. But last night I played Wil's Episode for my mom and my aunt (ages 71 & 72 respectively) and they both thought it was very funny. We discussed the series title, (which I don't care for) and the idea of Ponce being "used", (my view). But both my mom and aunt, felt Ponce undoubtedly knows exactly what is happening and probably is enjoying the hell out it. They said my uncle loved things like this and they had no doubt he would have approved. So....I guess I'll watch it again, and try to enjoy it this time.

[Piper]

"I'm LAPD and I have a quota"

Worth watching all of them.

[Ian Coomber]

I just recommended episode 6 (obviously the funniest) to my friend, and the conversation went like this

Ian Coomber, BA (hons) says:
and episode 5 has wil wheaton in it

Muffin says:
Who?

Ian Coomber, BA (hons) says:
wil wheaton, he played wesley crusher in the next generation

Muffin says:
Ah

Ian Coomber, BA (hons) says:
only hes growed up and has a beard now

Muffin says:
He idolised Riker then

Ian Coomber, BA (hons) says:
you mean jonathon frakes, thats cos he knew him when he was cool

I love getting references into conversations that no ones else understands

[bbock]

People found Stepin Fetchit, Amos and Andy, and the ol' Minstrel Shows funny too.

[catherine buca]

You were right, Episode 6 is brilliant. The timing of the 'I have an itch on my back' was great :)
And I have to say, I like my comedy with a little random storm trooper ...