The standard opening line

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February 03, 2006

The standard opening lineHumor

The standard opening line for a desi comedian in the U.S. is to get up and tell people s/he’s desi. You don’t see black comedians getting up and saying, ‘Hi, my name is David, and I’m black.’ They can see you, they can see your name, it’s a given.

And the standard first joke is a desi joke so lame that even Hollywood wouldn’t touch it today. Here’s comedian Rahul Siddharth’s opening joke at a NYC show (watch clip):

‘Papa, are we really Indian? How can you be so sure?’
[In horrible Indian accent] ‘[Because] your mother wears a red dot, and I sound like a Muppet!’

I’m all for supporting the brothas, but how about the brothas supporting us? If that’s your kind of humor, he’s doing a show tonight, and please don’t come near me

In all fairness, a friend of mine says the rest of the show is pretty good. It’s just that once I choke on an appetizer, I don’t stay for dessert.

Rahul Siddhartha and Vijai Nathan, ‘Don’t Tell Mamas,’ Friday, Feb. 3, 8pm, 343 W. 46th St., Manhattan, $20

manish on February 3, 2006 04:10 PM in Events, Humor · T·r·a·c·k·b·a·c·k address · Direct link · Email post

17 comments

1 · DesiDancer on February 3, 2006 04:31 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

[In horrible Indian accent] [Because] your mother wears a red dot, and I sound like a muppet!

EYEROLL.

2 · Luscious Moon on February 3, 2006 04:34 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

*groan* yet more recycled white-girl dates brown guy wanting to know about the kama sutra jokes...ugh..

3 · siddhartha m on February 3, 2006 04:49 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

ah yes, once again, self-deprecation versus self-vilification... unfortunately, we know which one sells best. as DD said, eyeroll.

4 · Ek_Chichora_for_debauchery on February 3, 2006 04:49 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

if you listen to the clip, it gets worse.....theres a beef joke...then a dowry joke.....ok, I have had enough.

5 · Ek_Chichora_for_debauchery on February 3, 2006 04:52 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

once again, self-deprecation versus self-vilification

In his case, its neither. He is neither deprecating himself nor is he vilifying himself. Hes deprecating and vilifying the FOBness of his dad/immigrant Indian community.
Lame!

6 · Ek_Chichora_for_debauchery on February 3, 2006 04:57 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

Promo for the show tonight:
FEBRUARY

I LOVE DESI with RAHUL SIDDHARTH & Vijai Nathan >
Get a fresh take on love, dating, and arranged marriages.
DONT TELL MAMAS
Thursday Feb 2 @ 8:00pm (doors open)
Friday Feb 3 @ 8:00pm (doors open)

love,dating, and arranged marriage.
How original!

7 · sk on February 3, 2006 04:59 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

Now I know why I get asked if I had a "normal marriage".

8 · dhaavak on February 3, 2006 05:04 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

minstrels redux i s'pose

9 · AChat on February 3, 2006 05:16 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

What a dooche. AND he's fat. At least our boy Aziz is holding it down.

10 · Kermit on February 3, 2006 05:37 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

What's wrong with sounding like a muppet?

11 · Bong Breaker on February 3, 2006 07:36 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

You dont see black comedians getting up and saying, Hi, my name is David, and Im black.

Actually, there are loads of comedians who do exactly that. I saw a fella the other day who started with "I'm black, right...man there are a lot of white folk here tonight."

I've got nothing against drawing on your own experience, but 'ethnic' comics need to break out of the same routine. Ricky Gervais interviewed Larry David on the BBC the other day and was remarking how he went to an LA comedy night and every single comic that night was from a minority group. He said they all did the same thing, they talked about their Korean/Indian/black upbringing, and then said "I mean, what the fuck?"

As for the line you quote manish, that is truly inexcusable.

12 · nofixedadderess on February 4, 2006 12:05 AM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

lame.....pretty lame....and all that sacred cows and the accent stuff,aaagh....

i feel sorry for the guy and even sorrier for the desis who enjoy his brand of (non?)humor.......doesnt every brownie brought up in the us of a know that their parents' accent is different??how much can u try to beat any humor out of it.......russell peters' accents and impersonations are funny(for the most part) because of the context they are used in...same for dat phan.....trying to sell non-funny situations as funny by stamping an 'accent positive' seal is....well,lame.

13 · nofixedadderess on February 4, 2006 12:13 AM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

threadjacking i sure am but maybe my lawyer will be able to defend it since my remark is related to the theme of 'humor'that the original post is under.

saw rang de basanti yesterday.....it had what i think must be amongst the top 10 one liners in bollywood history(am not a bollyphile but i think i am a bolliterati).......the bit by amir khan about one foot being in the past and one being in the future and pissing on the present.....chortled out of my seat at that.

14 · Rishi on February 5, 2006 04:14 AM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

*yawns* Is it over yet? Was there any humor at all? Same old lame material and he can't even put it out good. I don't know when desi's might come up with some good 'varied' materials and not those "accent" and "arranged marriage" stuff. They put it out as its a disease in the community

15 · Fuerza Dulce on February 6, 2006 03:17 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

Did anyone get to check out Aziz Ansari's "Comedy Central Presents" special Friday night? I missed it. :(

16 · Fuerza Dulce on February 6, 2006 03:19 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

I meant Premium Blend!! Sorry!!

17 · Fuerza Dulce on February 6, 2006 03:21 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

Actually I found a clip of it here :) just click on Aziz!

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