MTV Takes “Humor” Too Far in Movie Awards Ad

Samantha – interesting post here, obviously this has struck a nerve with you. After watching it, I can't say that I was disgusted, but I can see where you are coming from. Here is my take:This video obviously used the Holocaust and the Nazi regime as a way to entertain – advertising (jokingly) for Andy Samberg's performance in a dramatic role. Yes, they are mocking an event that, in reality, is a terrible terrible thing, millions of people murdered. But is this so different from what media does again and again in the film industry? Look at a movie like Titanic or Saving Private Ryan – they have taken a historical event and sensationalized it for the sake of our entertainment. Yes, these are dramatic and historical (loosely) representations, while the video above is done purely for the sake of humor – but is it really that different? Wouldn't someone who lost a family member who died aboard the Titanic be a little sick to their stomach while watching that movie?I don't have the answers here – but what I think we see is a correlation between someones personal background and how something like this can rub them the wrong way and make them angry. I know that the Holocaust was horrible – but I'm not personally attached to those events that unfolded as I am assuming you are. I'm interested to hear more of your (and everyone else) thoughts on this.

I am a gentile. It strikes a cord with me because i'm a human being.i wonder if it would be as funny to the public if it were set in the 1800's in the south, on a plantation.

First of all that ad was horrible, but even more, the content was as well. I'm not Jewish, but I think it's offensive and a poor choice of material to poke fun at the Holocaust. I think that MTV tries to offend, all the time. They try to get a rise out of people, but I agree with you Sam that it's pretty poor quality and not something to joke about. I think you're completely entitled to your opinion and overreacting or not, you should stand firm with what you believe.

Matt-I appreciate and respect your perspective. You make a very valid point about movies like Titanic and Saving Private Ryan, but although those movies do sensationalize historic events for the sake of entertainment (and profit), they are serious movies, and based at least somewhat on the actual events. I think this commercial crossed a line because it not only sensationalized the Holocaust, but portrayed it in a joking manner. As for your point about personal background, I may feel more strongly about this because I'm a Jew, and because of experiences that I've had like visiting Auschwitz, but that's not the only reason why it bothers me. You can see from the other comments that non-Jews are bothered by it too. Thanks for sharing your comments!

Grace, you're right, it does seem like MTV tries to offend and draw attention, whether it's negative or positive. Unfortunately, their raunchiest, most provocative shows are the most popular. As we both said, they need to choose more carefully what they're going to joke about. Thank you for your opinion!

Grace, you're right, it does seem like MTV tries to offend and draw attention, whether it's negative or positive. Unfortunately, their raunchiest, most provocative shows are the most popular. As we both said, they need to choose more carefully what they're going to joke about. Thank you for your opinion!

you guys need to lighten up. Life's to short to be worrying your asses off over this, you've just got to roll with the punches and suck it up if you don't like it. But on a more serious note, it isn't mocking the Holocaust in any way, it is mocking the over-dramatic scenes often found in drama movies. You guys need to take a step of your high horse and dome back down to reality where you're not always gonna like what you see or hear.

Todd, just as we are all entitled to our opinions, you are entitled to yours. However, I have to say that I disagree with you on some of the points you made. You're right that life is too short to spend it all worrying about the little things, but we can't always just “roll with the punches and suck it up” if we don't like it. Think back to some of the really important times in our history (and the Bible: “do not stand idly by and watch your neighbor bleed”), if people had just “sucked it up,” the world would be a totally different place. I don't expect to like everything I see or hear, but the purpose of this post was to express my opinion on something I felt strongly about, and encourage discussion about it, whether people agreed with me or not.

I guess I just don't see this particular video in the same light as you. You take it as mocking the Holocaust, mocking the death of millions, I don't see it that way. Yes, it is using a concentration camp as a backdrop – but the only thing it's mocking is overly dramatic scenes in movies. Could they have illustrated this more tastefully? Yes. But it's not like Andy Samberg is dancing and prancing through Aushuwitz, making it look like it's fun and comical. There is no direct mockery of the event itself. MTV continually pushes the envelope, they realize that some people will get pissed off, but that even more people will think it's funny or entertaining. So is the platform of mainstream media and pop culture.

its comedy. learn to laugh a little. andy samberg is a role model for the modern jew everywhere

You're way oversensitive. Get over it. My father is jewish and I don't even find this offensive. It's a joke, and yes I know you know that, but it's in no way excusing the Holocaust or lessening what happened. What, so no one is ever allowed to bring it up in humorous manner? What about movies like Inglorious Bastards, it's obviously aimed at killing Nazi's for slaughter. Don't you understand that the whole point of the video was to poke fun at movies that cross the line? That's pretty obvious when it cuts back to Samberg and he has that funky expression of disgust on his face. THAT'S THE POINT. Don't be so uptight. Seriously, if you put a lump of coal up your rear, in one week you'd have a diamond.

killing Nazi's for comedy****

Matt, I wrote this post to express my opinion on something that bothered me. I knew full well that not everyone would agree with my opinion, and I welcomed that, I wanted discussion. You obviously disagree with me, and I respect that, but I do not respect the way that you expressed your opinion. There are ways to disagree with someone without being rude or insulting.

I just don't like the way it pokes fun over something so serious. South Park can be demeaning to some races and I still think it's funny because they don't take it this far. This is just too much and pretty much offensive.

Andhari, thank you for sharing your perspective on this. As you can see, I've gotten some pretty interesting feedback. South Park is a great example of something popular and mainstream that pokes fun, and may toe “the line” but doesn't cross it.

My family was decimated during the Holocaust. I was also sick to my stomach after seeing this. I don't believe in censorship, but you would hope that an organization like MTV (always fighting for certain causes) would show a little more sensitivity to history before putting something like that on the air.

You spook. You suck at making articles. You suck at life. You suck my weiner. Please suck my weiner. That is all. Btw. Family Guy is a masterpiece. How dare you bash Family Guy! That is all.