Rob Ford on Jimmy Kimmel: Are we laughing with him or at him?

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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USA: Oye! Times readers Get FREE $30 to spend on Amazon, Walmart… As the entire world probably knows by now, Toronto Mayor Rob Ford was a guest on the American television show Jimmy Kimmel Live on Monday, March 3, 2014. I would remind you that while this show is a talk show, it is really a comedy talk show. Yes, comedy is its staple.

Mr. Kimmel spared no punches and whether brutally or comically, laid out a comprehensive list of faux pas committed by the mayor. As I sit and watch bit after bit presented by the host, I am asking myself if this most egregious of behaviour is actually funny. Jon Stewart of The Daily Show has said on more than one occasion in presenting Ford's latest antic that this man is in need of help. Am I truly laughing or is my laugh one of embarrassment?

Why did Rob Ford do this? Why did he agree to go on the show? If I had been videotaped doing any one of his transgressions, I would be mortified. However Ford seems to be revelling in the instant fame. What would you think if your 15 minutes of fame consisted of a clip of your drunken stupor played round the world? Wouldn't you want your moment be for something good, something substantial, something that would merit praise and admiration?

Published on Mar 4, 2014 by Jimmy Kimmel Live
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford on Jimmy Kimmel Live PART 1
Mayor Ford explains why he agreed to being a guest on the show and tells us why he hands his phone number out to everyone. Jimmy reads some negative internet comments he received about having Mayor Ford on the show.

Published on Mar 4, 2014 by Jimmy Kimmel Live
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford on Jimmy Kimmel Live PART 2
Jimmy compares photos of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti with photos of Toronto Mayor Rob Ford.

Published on Mar 4, 2014 by Jimmy Kimmel Live
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford on Jimmy Kimmel Live PART 3
Jimmy plays some classic clips of Mayor Ford and asks him to explain each of them.

Published on Mar 4, 2014 by Jimmy Kimmel Live
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford on Jimmy Kimmel Live PART 4
Mayor Ford talks about his reelection campaign and touts his record of saving money for the city of Toronto. Jimmy offers some suggestions on how the Mayor could deal with some of his problems.

Final Word
Were we laughing with Rob Ford or were we laughing at Rob Ford? I would contend the latter. When you're in the hot seat; there is usually nothing you can do but roll with the punches and while I will give Rob marks for taking his licks, I can't help thinking the man doesn't understand how bad this has all become. If technically he can't be charged with a crime or misdemeanour (buying drugs, using drugs, public intoxication, driving while texting), this is certainly not the behaviour of a leader. We all make mistakes? Mr. Ford, I don't think you understand this crossed the line a while back. As I mentioned in a previous posting, Mr. Ford displays classic "alcoholic thinking". While he may be sober at this moment, his mind has gone into overdrive rationalising and justifying his behaviour with bombastic pronouncements and muddled thinking. He may be enjoying the spotlight, the Jimmy Kimmel spotlight, but he doesn't seem to realise the comedy show host saw Ford's entertainment value. We all love to laugh at the clown and some of us enjoy sadistically laughing at the clown meltdown. Personally, I don't think this is funny anymore. I would like to see a stable, sober personality at the helm of the good ship Toronto. Come October 27, 2014, the date of the next mayoral election, I will not be voting for Rob Ford. The sooner we put his four year term behind us the better.

References

"Ford Nation", the supporters of Rob Ford, like to make the distinction between the man and the politician. While Ford's private life is his own business, there is no denying his personal life is affecting his political life. Nobody can ignore how one influences the other. See my posting about alcoholic thinking. I repeat that from the get-go, Rob Ford's numbers didn't add up. His "Stop The Gravy Train" slogan was nothing more than a slogan and his muddled interpretation of budgets and savings remains unsubstantiated by independent third parties.

my blog: Rob Ford inspires yet another Top Ten – Feb 8/2014
David Letterman: Top Ten Things Rob Ford Might Be Saying In This Video VIDEO

my blog: Hitler and Rob Ford – Jan 31/2014
The Internet has a number of parodies based on the 2004 German/Italian/Austrian war film Downfall. (See info in References) VIDEOS

my blog: Rob Ford: a new high, a new low, and a new word – Jan 26/2014
Bumbaclot? All spoken in a Jamaican accent? In defence of Rob Ford, my displays of public intoxication took place a long time ago before the Internet. Then again, I wasn't holding public office which one normally associates with a higher standard of decorum. VIDEOS

my blog: Rob Ford and His Legacy: Okay, now I'm scared. – Dec 12/2013
What's the right answer? Now I'm sure your immediate response would be, "What's the question?" And therein lies our collective problem. People keep spouting off about their right answer when subsequent analysis concludes those people didn't understand the question. Understand it? Heck, you could say they were answering a completely different question.

my blog: Rob Ford: Alcoholic Thinking and a Gullible Public – Dec 9/2013 (Updated)
I'm not going to talk about drugs and I'm not going to talk about the comedic fodder for late night talk shows. I am, however, going to talk about the hyperbolic bravado of political leaders vying for my vote who are counting on me being naive and uninformed.