Randy Kagan is a French-Hater[Résumé en français dans la section des commentaires]

Ever heard the “joke” about the Frenchman who goes to Venice Beach but doesn’t know this is where L.A.’s sewer is discharged into the ocean? The punch line being the fact he emerges with what he thinks is a tan – not realizing he’s covered in faecal matter. Welcome to the material of one Randy Kagan.

The Hollywood reporter may claim Kagan is “A refreshing change from old jokes and airplane stories”, but his plain hatred for all things French was clear from the get go during his opening act for Craig Ferguson, Saturday June 14, 2008 in Toronto, Canada [Massey Hall].

Anti-French diatribe upon French Bashing joke - bilingual cigarette packs are “just like the French, smelly, stinky and only missing armpit hair” - was just too much for some in Toronto’s audience who started heckling Kagan.

Within seconds the stand-up comic shot back with a diatribe of epic proportions: “Maybe I’ll check with everybody in the audience and find out what offends each and everyone of you and…” he ranted - “This is not some PBS documentary” he shot back. He even called his own act thought provoking: remember, these were jokes that relied heavily on douche bags and Frenchmen covered in faecal matter.

When he was done lecturing the audience on the cutting edge nature of anti-French poopoo jokes and armpit hair, there was a smattering of applause but most patiently waited out this hissy fit for the evening’s main attraction, Late Late Night’s Craig Ferguson.

Ferguson is no stranger to French Bashing, but his forays are usually limited to the subject of France’s 1939 surrender. Kagan’s brand of anti-French material is much more akin to the Howard Stern / Dennis Miller / Robert Smigel brand of vulgar, crass, xenophobic name-calling.

Kagan, in his own words, admits “(he’s) not thrilled about the French”. However should blatant prejudice be condoned? The issue here is not about free speech, but the cowardly nature of French Bashing.

We strongly believe Kagan – like Miller, Stern et al., bash the French because they are the convenient fall guy. Shackled by the limits of political correctness, commercial and public disapproval, these comedians have few groups they can publicly vilify with utter scorn - save terrorists.

What Kagan did not expect was an audience ready to voice its disapproval. This is Toronto, a multicultural city with citizens from around the world, not the familiar home crowd from Westbury, NY, Easton, PA or Mashantucket, CT.

We truly wish Randy Kagan has continued success in comedy writing, a cutthroat world fraught with difficulty and ladder climbing. But we hope he can do it by staying away from puerile and stale anti-French material.

Randy Kagan’s official site - MySpace Page

Please let your feelings be known, remain polite and informative
info (a) RandyKagan.com - Replace (a) by @

Contact upcoming places

The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson
7800 Beverly Blvd. Suite 244
Los Angeles, CA 90036