The MAD TV skit and the aussie one cannot be compared. Harry definitely did the right thing.

Good lord, this is stupid and really simple. As you get older, you should be getting wiser. Whether Connick did a questionably devisive comedy sketch on a lame cancelled show 13 years ago is beside the point. If this Mad TV sketch was from last year or yesterday, maybe it would matter more. He thought the MJ/Jackson 5 jive dance was offensive and said so. The host apologized. It should be the end of the discussion. When you've been dinged for something inappropriate, you either agree and try not to offend later, or you repeat it and face more scrutiny later.

It's a bit unnerving to consider all of the silent Australians who read Movieline just waiting for someone to call them out>

Then, from every direction, all at once, they ATTACK!!!

In the old skit Harry was not in "black face"; He was actually doing a skit with someone who was from african-american descent. Two different examples. Harry did the right thing. This show was taped in another country! He stood up and let them know that wasn't cool. Leave the guy alone.

What's the big deal???? A group of white men were trying to act black via makeup. Michael Jackson was a black man who was trying to act like a white man via a dermatologist.

Harry is a real good guy and a Hero to black people. He has done so much for so many people. Leave Harry alone, he is a Hero and a credit to the American people. I am a black man and I love that cat because he is real and show black people nothing but respect. Love you Harry

Harry was in a skit with an african american in the other skit where as the australian group was all white and painted their faces jet black. The jackson jive skit was really offensive.

I think it scared me more that the Australians didn't have a problem with that. Is this country more racist than America. I need to take them off of my vacation list. They don't have any respect for anyone that isn't white.

not only did he do the right thing, this is proof that he has learned from his own mistake and is eager to teach people that this is wrong. give him credit for growing as an individual and trying to help others do the same.

First, as stated by other respondants, Mr. Connick was not in black face in the MadTV skit. Second, even if Mr. Connick made an error in judgement in the MadTV skit and had appeared in black face, shouldn't we be congratulating him for recognizing the error of his ways and reprimmanding the Australian program?

I feel Mr. Connick made the right call. Those people critizing Mr. Connick may well need to take a look at their own perspective on racism in the world.

Mr. Connick is being critized for doing the right thing. What is wrong with this picture?????

Harry Connick has obviously grown up and learned from something that happened years ago....older, wiser and very class act! Get over it. What he did in the here and now....good move

There was nothing wrong with the skit and it wouldn't of got any different of a response in the U.S. Look at Robert Downey Jr. playing a black guy in Tropic Thunder. He was hilarous!!!

I do not find Harry's skit to be offensive, and I am an African-American. Harry was portraying a lighter-skinned black person, and was not trying to offend black people my making African features look exaggerated and darned near grotesque. Black people do not have a problem with white people portraying them as long it is done in a respectful manner like what has been done on Saturday live with white cast members playing Jesse Jackson and Barrack Obama. The Australian routine smacks of Al Jolsenism and it is downright racists and beyond offensive. I believe that they knew it and didn't care as the Australian audience would think that it was great because they have treated the aborigines like animals. Further, they had racist laws against Asian immigration right up until the 1970s. Make no mistake, this was deliberate and all I can say to the perpetrators is bring your butts to America and see what happens to you.

As an AA woman I agree he is fine and did the right thing. Very proud of him, even if the skit years ago had been perceived as offensive he's obviously grown. Are we always going to hold people accountable for past deeds or for current ones. Cheers to you Mr. Connick!!!

Can we for one second stop with this "I'm such a liberal white person I have to defend black people when someone says or does something semi-racist" nonsense!! Since when does one race or nationality need another one to stand up for them? I am so fed up with this ultra-liberal, get in your face, self-righteousness every time anyone so much as hints that there are differences between the races and nationalities. Despite the propaganda being fed our children, not everyone is the same and there are differences between black, white, yellow and red. Cultural and racial differences are a reality, to pretend there are none is to live in a Pollyanna world. But, my God, when are we going to grow up and stop acting like little children, throwing a hissy fit everytime someone says something we don't like. "Oh...he called me a name." or "he made fun of me."
Back when I was a kid black people weren't worried about someone making fun of them on stage..they were worried about being murdered in the streets for looking at a white woman. Today, interracial marriage is commonplace and accepted by the majority of Americans as normal. Things aren't perfect. Minorities and immigrants still face difficulties. But if we're going to make headlines about something racist, it should be about being denied equal employment opportunity, or equal housing opportunities, or equal rights to a good education.
But let's please stop this ultra politically correct nonsense of raising the roof everytime someone says something we don't like.
I'm 59 years old, an Italian-American. I've heard every Italian joke ever written and repeated quite a few of them myself. I've had my name made fun of since 1st grade. And I'm still alive and healthy.
"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me," unless I'm a mental wimp who lets them.
Maybe it's time we learn how to laugh at ourselves again.

There's a big difference between Harry's skit and that of the Australian's. At the time of Harry's skit his Afro is a trimmed cut in good taste where as the Australian's is nothing more than a stores Halloween wig, and Harry's color is a Puerto Rican tan or as Hispanics would say Mulatto(Tan) not shoe polish black which is the white offensive from Vaudeville era that lacks the white lips. There is nothing wrong with a white man playing a black man in good taste, when the opposite is done to.
This skit reminds me of when the Venezuelian's did a thing back on their national TV show which was outrageous and with white lips that the Hispanic world jumped on their necks.

Harry Connick was NOT IN BLACK FACE! Harry Connick didn't even appear to be portraying a black person! He was doing the skit.....wait for it....WITH BLACK PEOPLE! he seemed to be portraying a southern preacher like Billy Graham or something. Anyone who accuses him of being a hypocrit needs to stick their head out the window and breath some fresh air! And can we for one second stop with the "stop calling us out for being racists and just let us have our fun" nazi bullcrap? Since when does one race get to denigrate another with impunity? Since Jim Crow, that's when. And we're done with that. Some backwater, overall-wearering banjo-pluckers don't seem to understand that and need to be reminded until they figure it out.

I would like to say to Harry I am proud of you, not just as an American black woman, but as an American citizen. You have made a sister proud. May the heavenly Father keep you and your family safe from harm.

Oh my god oh my god don't they know that America is the number one racist country in the world how dare they try to line jump the USA. they need to be reminded of their place in the world and that is behind the USA. we americans invented racism and don't anybody forget it

I thought the skit was funny!

I think the skit shows a cultural difference between the two countries. Australia hasn't been exposed to the strained race relations seen in the US in the same way, and the the people here (yes, i'm Australian) don't make the connection between white people impersonating black people and the historically racist connotations.

For most Australians watching it was nothing more than a group of Australians (from Indian and Lebanese extractions amongst other races) impersonating a family, rather than a race.

It doesn't represent racism in my opinion, though I do agree it was insensitive and ignorant for the skit to go to air.

Oh, ZEEZUS! Here we go, again!

Might I remind folks that Harry was born and raised in New Orleans. He grew up and performed with several famous black musicians and singers. Many of which influenced his musical style. To call his racist is ridiculous and nonsense. What's racist is coming on stage in this era wearing jet black paint over your face. Australia may not feel that way but here in America we have different standards of ethical tastes.

I'm a big fan of Harry Conick Jr. I'm an even bigger fan now! Thank you for standing up for what is right. I'm so proud of him. We need to respect other cultures of people. We've come a long way as a nation. Thanks again Harry! We Love You!!!!
Teresa

Australia, thank goodness, is not the United States. Typical for US whiners to project their history, their prejudices (both "liberal" and "conservative") and self-absorbed outlook on another nation separated by thousands of kilometers (or miles).

If Australia has been politically incorrect, too bad, deal with it.

If Australia needs to grow and learn, let them learn their own lesson and create their own solution. The US doesn't have the answer for racial equality or equity.

This MadTV sketch has nothing to do with blackface nor is it similar to the Australian show. Where does anybody see HCJ in blackface? He's playing a white southern baptist preacher around black people. This is no where near the same thing. I can take a joke and all that but the Jackson 5 was totally uncool. Blackface is a reminder of very bad times that African Americans had to experience and in my opinion, its way too early to make bad jokes about Michael Jackson/Jackson 5.

I guess I'm not sure why he had to throw out the comment, "We've spent so much time trying to not make black people look like buffoons, that when we see something like that, we take it really to heart ..." The fact that he ever thought that people thought of black people as buffoons is absolutely ridiculous. Why in the hell can't everybody just realize that no one person is better than another and that the color of their skin or any other trait about them doesn't matter? Everybody is equal.

I am white Australian married to a black African American.We live in New York.I have had to learn about black American History to understand the pain and struggles.My husband is a Geelong supporter and loves Australian comedy.

Hey Hey Saturday looks dated and silly.

Australians need to learn the struggles of black people and the lessons learned of the humiliation that blacks have endured over the years.It is a time to celebrate Black America's achievments.
'Black and White' minstrel show was in the 50's and as a country we really are backward , ignorant and insensitive in these global times by listening to the comments Australians are making in print and radio.
It's ironic that a white plastic surgeon and doctors are doing this skit of the Jackson Five.
I have cringed many times at the stereo type comments ,that I hear out of the mouths of Australians in regards to black Americans. And from all levels of society,from the educated to the uneducated. I have also cringed when Australians think because a black person is a in Rocknroll band that it has 'gone funky'.Black people invented Rock N Roll but White people needed Elvis before it was accepted on TV.No black girl would get a way with what a white soul girl singer that behaves badly,drunk or whatever gets away with.
I have been trying to convince my motherinlaw and father in law to visit Australia.
They have always been afraid to go there.
I also can't stand when somebody realises they have been insensitive and they say 'I was only joking' instead of taking responsibilty.
I think Harry Connick Juniors Mad TV skit was in the right context. He was alongside black people in the show.He is not being hypocritical.
Lets hope we learn something from all of this and be less isolated in our own little worlds.

Its obvious to me that some people commenting dont know the difference between 'Black Face' and portraying a black person if they think Harry was in 'Black Face' in the MAD TV Skit.

If you think Connick's role in that skit was the same as the Jackson Jive's blackface, you know nothing about what blackface is, or was. Blackface is historically part of the Minstrel Show, and was patently demeaning, derogatory, and racist. It was MUCH more than a white person portraying a black person. There's no real problem with a white person playing a black person, and vice versa. The minstrel show, blackface and other aspects of that era's entertainment, were FULLY INTENDED to propagate and continue the system of institutionalized racism that existed at that time. It is virtually synonymous with lynchings and cross-burnings. So if you think Connick seemingly playing a black person then being offended by blackface is hypocrisy, you just have no idea what you're talking about.

As an Australian i can tell you that i didn't find the Hey Hey skit more than merely tasteless, but i do find Connick's skit not only hypocritical but very, very offensive. Unlike the aussies, he is from a country that enslaved black people, lynched black people, murdered King, spat on black children trying to get into schools and set up the Klan. Given that past, no bloody way should any sensitive white man play a black man in such a skit.

Also, to argue that he is playing a white man is absurd - his skin is darker than in the rest of the show(check youtube) and he has bigger hair than Orlando Jones does. He is clearly playing a man who is at least part black, and as we see with Halle Berry and Obama, in the US, part black is black, so in the same sense that Obama is black so is this preacher. Would this need to be pointed out if Connick was Joe Sixpack? I doubt it...

I've meet many Americans on my travels and all of them commented on the how little most Americans know outside of their little bubble and there are many good examples here.

Firstly, the skit was done in Australia so it has NOTHING do to with American History. Aussie humour is about taking the mickey out of ourselves and others, probably how we managed to create a country without civil war. If you have stepped outside your country you may soon realise Americans (in general) are disliked around the world due to you forcing your 'ways' on to other cultures.

I can't believe the some of you people can be so outraged at a less then 30 second skit, which was done by a multi-cultural group men, which included Indian, white & Lebanese backgrounds, and then nominate Robert Downey Jr for a Academy Award after playing in Blackface in Tropic Thunder.

Stop being such hypocrites.

Read "White Guilt: How Blacks & Whites Together Destroyed the Promise of the Civil Rights Era" by Shelby Steele (an African American writer). Ethical relativism is not the same as equality.

Blackface is an American importation, it's racist past and symbolism also imported. In every issue always look at intent. When five Australian doctors decide to add black makeup to their face to portray the Jackson Five, were they doing it to vilify and denegrate the African American people?

Likewise if Harry Connick Junior and Robert Downey Junior can have the right 'shade' of tan as has been suggested, is that motivated by moral relativism?

To quote Steele:
"Whites must acknowledge historical racism to show themselves redeemed by it, but once they acknowledge it, they lose moral authority over everything having to do with race, equality, social justice, poverty and so on. The authority they lose transfers to the 'victims' of historical racism and becomes their great power in society. This is why White guilt is quite literally the same thing as Black power.

When you view a race as a victim, how can you ever view them as an equal? Those who say they look past skin colour see it the most.

Its very sad that the people of this world cant recognize growth. At one point in America slavery was legal.....but now its not. Are Americans hypocrites on the issue of slavery? Or has the nation as a whole realized that their past actions were wrong? The Australians who performed the sketch meant no harm and I'm sure Mr. Connick Jr. didn't mean any harm when he did his sketch. For the non-black world let me explain to you that that minstrel shows and black face are extremely offensive. They were meant to make a mockery of black people. Having not lived in America to understand that, the Australians couldn't have known their actions would be this controversial. Mr. Connick Jr. was right in how he felt and what he said. The MadTV skit performed, with black people acting in it, was nowhere near as offensive. No one is being called a racist. White jokes, black jokes, Arab jokes, Indian jokes, Spanish jokes, Asian jokes and every other racial joke in between has a line that shouldn't be crossed. In Tropic Thunder where Robert Downey Jr. played a black man. In the same film there was another black character there to remind the audience that the filmmakers do not agree with the actions of Robert Downey Jr.'s character. If there's a rape scene in a film does it mean that the actor who does the raping sees no problem with rape? Everyone needs to unwind themselves and understand that no matter how you spin it, the line between funny and offensive was crossed in Australia. They meant no harm and I hope they don't feel terrible but it was just in bad taste and the fact that the people of Australia and America can't agree on that is sad. This article in itself is in bad taste.

It seems that many people have seen this clip, but have not bothered to read the clips description. Here it is:
December 1996 - Opening skit to MadTV. Harry Connick, Jr. and Orlando Jones
A spoof featuring a black baptist minister named Rev. LaMonte Nixon Fatback and a white southern evangelical preacher named Dr. Michael Kassick. Some people seem to be confused about which actor is playing which character. For the record the actor playing Rev. LaMonte Nixon Fatback is Orlando Jones and the actor playing Dr. Michael Kassick is Harry Connick Jr.

Is he hell. And well said to Aussie Halfcast.

I myself am half caste, mixed race, or whatever the parlance of the moment / minute is. I, and many of my black friends do not subscribe to this nonsense. Every 2 minutes I am something else, when actually I am none of those things, those are just words used by others to describe me, they have no impact upon my self.

Since when does attempting to identify a race by using a set of words constitute racism? Lynching, violence and hatred towards a race constitutes racism. You calling me a black person, or negro, or even soul brother will get no reaction from me, since I am already forced to call you white, or caucasian with no racist connotations whatsoever. I have a life - plus a job and friends of all races. I can't remember who said "life is too short to take offence at things that are not intended to be offensive". The fact that these monikers change apparently daily is indicative of the fact that too many of my racial brothers and sisters are far too concerned about the whole racist witchhunt, when they should be focussed on the important matters in life like career, family and community.

As for blackface, when does dressing up as another race constitute racism? Am I offended by blackface? No, it's makeup for God's sake. Wearing blackface and reconstructing a lynching, beating and general demeaning rhetoric, that's racism. To be more concise "I hate your race, n***er" - that is racism. It is ANTI RACE. Was this skit intended to be anti race? And how many more hundreds of years are we going to hear the same sob story? If dressing up as another race is racism, then please point the same finger at Eddy Murphy for doing "whiteface" in his movie coming to America. And while we are on the subject - black comedians, how about some material that doesn't revolve around race and/or demeaning other races?

Case in point - Will Smith, Fresh Prince of Bel Air. "Here's Whitey" - if you are going to do it, expect everyone to do it. If you do it because other people DID it, then you are as bad as they are. And expect them to do it back, simple really.

I pull a 6 figure salary in finance, I do not believe in the black tax and I certainly don't scream racist every time the word black - or even race - is mentioned. Some people really need to get a life.

It sounds like most people defending the Australian group DON'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT MINSTREL SHOWS!!! "Black face" in this dialogue is not just referring to just putting black paint on ones face. Google it!

Australia doesn't have the same history as America but I don't think anyone is really trying to say all Australians are racist! lol, come on-chill! The group that performed was just in bad taste, they probably didn't know the history and impact of minstrel shows. And, "every time anyone so much as hints that there are differences between the races and nationalities" is not always being too PC, in fact the opposite is being too complacent with always allowing subtle racism. Jokes are jokes and, yes, stereotypes sometimes just are funny. But it takes an educated person to deliver it-with out coming across ignorant. But the same can be said for an uneducated person that does "flare up" anytime someone notes differences between races, and that is also ignorant-cause it's obvious to alot of educated that they just don't "get it". I think there is a large group of our country that does understand all of this though, or at least it's gaining.

I do wonder how many non-Australians that are commenting here actively consider the feelings of other countries before their own. In this example, the assumption is that the history of America and its issues / conflicts with African Americans is something that Australians should be constantly sensitive to and therefore avoid anything that may be deemed incendary to Americans. Australians are very sensitive to cultural conflicts and are focussed on resolving our own issues with addressing past conflicts and current needs for our native aboriginees. To make the comparison, I'm not certain that non-Australians would necessarily avoid using stereotypes representing the Australian aboriginees other than representing them as uncultured desert dwellers as tends to be the way they are shown in many overseas movies. We have many with aboriginal background that have reached international acclaim in art, sciences and sport, for example. We hold these individuals high to show that although we are not perfect, we are trying to do better and to promote all that is good within all of us from all backgrounds. I think that the uproar that is being shown about a group intending to perform only to an Australian audience, but now unavoidable playing out across the world, should be a reminder for all that for all of us that we need to look within ourselves to our own conflicts and be sensitive to all conflicts of the world and not only those that are in our own backyard, no matter which country we come from.

There's no comparison. Connick was not being derisive of Black preachers. They DO give stirring, theatrical sermons intended to keep you alert so you stay awake and hear the message and he was making a satirical point about the commercialization of Christian holidays while hawking his own Christmas CD. Get it? The Jackson Jive skit was condescending, disrespectful, lacked substance and also lacked any preface that it began 20 years ago when we all were much more stupid than we should be now!

If you want to see something great from australia watch this video....zorba the greek yolngu style... Its great

Update: Connick posted this statement on his website regarding the "MADtv" sketch:

"There is a 1996 MadTV clip of a spoof featuring a black Baptist minister named Rev. LaMonte Nixon Fatback and a white southern evangelical preacher with a pompadour named Dr. Michael Kassick. Some people seem to be confused about which actor is playing which character. For the record, the actor playing Rev. LaMonte Nixon Fatback is Orlando Jones and the actor playing Dr. Michael Kassick is Harry Connick Jr."

The skit was rude and offensive and harry did the right thing!! Kudos to him!

My point is: we see what we want to see. What I watched that night was a group of migrant kids, who, 20 years later have become all professionals. They represent was this country is about it. Have you read any Anglo Australians saying “they are not Australians, they are migrants, don’t blames us”. No. We are defending them for who they are: Australians. What you watched was offensive for you, fair enough, and our apologies. What is not right it is some Americans blaming a hall country of been racist. I watched the program with my Anglo Australian partner, our 16yo son and his English girlfriend, and 2 of his best mates a boy from China and a boy from Turkey, and my best friend a girl from Ethiopia. We are ethnic, We are Australian. This is the real Australia, I am living it each day, and I love it.

From Ted | Reply
Posted 08 Oct 2009, 2:17 PM
Harry was in a skit with an african american in the other skit where as the australian group was all white and painted their faces jet black. The jackson jive skit was really offensive.
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no, they were not white, they were brown and of Indian descent! The Jackson Jive skit may have been offensive to Americans but it's target Audience was Australia, who didn't find anything offensive about it.