While watching a stand-up comedy performance on where else but the Comedy Channel the other day I got to wondering about the use of "swear words" by comedians in their routines. The show I watched and I don't remember the name of the comedian, was laced with profanity.
Why is it that so many comedians feel it necessary to make profanity and intergral part of their jokes and monologues. While I personally don't find it offensive, as I've been known to use of few of those same words myself on occasion, I just don't think it adds anything to the act. If the content of the routine is already funny then using profanity, in my opinion, certainly doesn't add any additional humor. Is it possible that comedians use the "f-word" so much because they can't come up with anything better.
There are certainly many comedians who have proved that success is possible without resorting to injecting profanity into their acts. Some of my favorites, to name just a few are Ellen DeGeneres, Jeff Foxworthy and Jerry Seinfeld. Their routines are funny without being offensive and I think for this reason they are always drawing large audiences wherever and whenever they peform.
Finally, and this is totally my opinion, I don't really think that vulgarity necessarily equals good comedy.
