Marlee Matlin Talks Family Guy
Filed under: TV NewsAfter willingly being the butt of what some are calling a very offensive joke, Marlee Matlin is talking about her appearance on the controversial Family Guy special with Seth MacFarlane and Alex Borstein.
Hear are some HIGHlights:
On becoming involved with the special:
"I had been in touch with Seth MacFarlane’s office to ask him to let me use my own voice in the segments where they had a cartoon character based on me. After all, I have an Oscar and Alex [Borstein], who voiced me, doesn’t. God knows, I would have done a far better job of playing me than her."On being "mocked" on previous Family Guy episodes:
"Mocked isn’t the right word. I was just part of the joke. I learned a long time ago from when I did Seinfeld never to take anything seriously and to be part of the joke is the best way to show what a good sport I was."On being in on the jokes:
"I personally have dealt with any adversity in my life with humor. That’s why I told America to “Read my hips!” on Dancing With the Stars or was happy to play along with Jason Alexander and Jerry Seinfeld in the great restaurant scene on Seinfeld. I know a lot of deaf people might have been offended when they made fun of my voice but remember, it was MY voice they were making fun of. I was more than happy to show up and show them that I could dish it as well as I could take it and that being offensive works both ways."On whether she found other jokes in the special offensive:
"Offensive. No. Sick, very. But that’s Seth and Alex. Humor comes in all forms and everyone has their cup of tea about what makes them laugh. But the day we censor humor is a sad one for sure. All I gotta say is, 'Lighten up, people.'"
What a good sport!
This is dumb. By making fun of her voice they ARE making fun of the large majority of deaf people's voices. Of course Matlin is deaf so maybe she doesn't realize this…
I still think the joke was in poor taste regardless of what Marlee Matlin thinks. Dissing on deaf people for being deaf is tasteless. Marlee Matlin needs to get over herself.
Poker Face never sounded better. She sounded less retarded than Lady Gaga.
Anyone else think Lady Gaga should be wearing a helmet? She's that retarded…..
What a cool chick.
I hate family guy. And I hate south park. South park TRIES to make a point sometimes, but they are still offensive. Family guy is just plain old offensive.
Mfjg cvmfeo fjepfg lfdwnfn!!!!
What a legend, love her now!
That segment where the make fun of here, when she is on the phone with moviephone, doesn't make sense. How is she supposed to respond to the guy asking questions over the phone if she is deaf?
But yeah, she is awesome and "Children of a Lesser God" is an ammmmazing movie.
The bit was hilarious. If Marlee Matlin wasn't offended by it, I don't think anyone else should be either.
Marlee has the right attitude. If you're impaired in some way, playing the victim is not the way to go. If you can't poke fun at yourself, then you're taking yourself way too seriously, and that's not the way to live your life.
It was hilarious and obviously didn't bother Matlin in the least. The most offensive part was it was a Mr. Gaga song.
HOLY FUCK I JUST PISSED MYSELF!!
it's not funny.
Wow, that Marlee Matlin is a lady.
She's amazing!
It's funny I read her responses in her voice.
And once again, Marlee proves that not all people with handicaps are butthurt little whiners who think that *not* being able to do something makes them so special that we have to tiptoe around and pretend that they're just as capable as the rest of us. She has always been a brassy, bitchy woman, and I absolutely love her for it. She can't hear. She knows she sounds odd to those of us who can. And she does NOT give a damn. I love that woman.
She is hilarious! I know feel like I can do the voice without being offensive! its a new world we live in!
Well said……or stated using ASL.
Dude, that was AMAZING! Good for her, and I love the fact that she stands behind comedy.. Comedy is meant to be offensive at times, and if you can't laugh at yourself, then you're just taking everything WAY TOO SERIOUSLY
It's important to remember that while Matlin is entitled to her opinion, she certainly doesn't speak for all deaf people.
one of the funniest things i ever saw was on Earl when Joy hired Marlee Matlin as her lawyer, and she laughs right in her face when she hears her talk for the first time. It's been done, Seth and Alex. And done better.
Bravo Marlee! Family Guy was funny at first. Then they went away for a while and haven't been worth watching since. Seth is almost funny. Too bad he goes for the stupid or gross joke too much.
WOW. How extremely cool and open minded of her! It takes a really secure and cool person to laugh when they are the butt of a joke. I definitely have soooo much more respect for her being a good sport than I would have if she had flipped out. I've been the butt of what some people would consider some very offensive jokes but you have to be able to laugh at yourself and your problems, otherwise you'll end up miserable like the people complaining about the joke on here. If she is okay with it, what is the harm? Each person has a personal responsibility to know when and where a joke is apporopriate so don't say it sends a message to make fun of deaf people or those with other disabilities.
OMG SMACKISBAD IS SOOO RIGHT!!! How IS she supposed to hear what the moviephone guy is saying??? That scene really doesnt make sense and I never thought about that lol. Good catch!!!
Re: gillybeane –
Okay you are retarded. Family Guy made their first Marlee Matlin joke WAAAY before My Name is Earl somehow made it onto TV (Im guessing a deal with the devil on Jason Lee's stupid scientologist part). Jason Lee isn't funny or cool anymore, that show is not funny or even entertaining in any way, and you are stupid and don't know what you're talking about.
like she said, it was HER voice that they were making fun of…she went along with the joke and she is NOT offended in the least. end of story.
i fuckin love marlee maltin. and i love her even more for having a sense of humor about her disability. there are too many people in her position that would just sit around and be all "woe is me" because of stuff like this and she just takes it all in stride. she is a very strong woman, kudos to her.
Re: ginnycaterpillar – family guy does not worry about realism, so i don't know why people even bother to point out that she wouldn't be able to hear moviefone.
He jokes about going to hell, he won't be laughing when he does.
Hahahaa, Marlee Matlin is fucking awesome =D. There are celebrities who sue and bitch about worse.
And Seth MacFarlane looks super hot when he laughs.
nice
as soon as that skit started i just knew marlee was gonna come out
Re: gillybeane –
haha, i love those episodes