uNhAppY mOtHer-iN-LaW daZe

http://cbc.ca/arts/theatre/story/2010/05/05/in-law-jokes-lawsuit.html

I had never heard of Sundra Croonquist.  But then it has been quite some time since I've made the rounds at the comedy clubs.  Then one day while driving my kid to school last week, and listening for the allergy forecast, it was brought to my attention by the 1010 WINS news people that comedian Sundra Croonquist had a suit against her that was filed by her In-Laws.  The suit was recently dropped, protecting her First Amendment Right to free speech. It seems her In-Laws were offended (read horrified) by her shtick.  Intrigued by the commotion in this family, I located her In-Law set on YOUTUBE for my viewing pleasure. 


I had to admit, that was pretty hardcore. And while I found some of the material bemusing, I was mostly YIKES.  She may or may not like her In-Laws, but one thing is for certain, Sundra Croonquist is a comic whether you think she is funny or not.  Comics poke fun.  Most make jokes about intimate experiences that are relevant in their lives and common overall, most notably at the expense of others.  Hers while not unheard of is a unique enough situation in that she is a black woman married to a Jewish man, but the common universal thread is the annoying mother in law.  Based on her stand up, she has the stereotypical Jewish mother in law.  I think we can all agree that in law, particularly mother in law jokes are pretty common, and I am going to make a wager that her act is somewhat exaggerated.  Sundra, being a woman of color, probably did hear some outrageous things from her husbands family who may have been a little surprised by who he bought home for dinner, in this case, Passover and who he chose as his life's partner. For the average comedian, these situations can provide much fodder for mischievous comic antics.  This can be annoying, especially to those on the receiving end.  The truth is, all comedians are about the joke. But Sundra's in-laws not amused, took the liberty of filing suit against her.  Because of that action, I now have heard of Sundra Croonquist.

One of my last blog entries where I was recalling the days of yore of how I learned to crochet, I was trying to remember how I learned to knit, in addition to noting the benefits of such hobbies.  The last line of the entry read something to the effect of "something to think about the next time your insufferable in-laws are over for the holidays."  Needless to say that during a conversation my husband had with his mother, he happened to mention my blog.  She had in fact had read my blog, and took what I considered a broad, rather benign remark very personally.  I hadn't cited anything personal pertaining to our relationship.  I didn't even say "mother in law", nor had I recounted any particular episode of in-law drama, say specific to her.  I just made what I considered an innocuous comment, a suggestion if you will, for those who have to deal with crazy in-laws or for that matter any insane family member one has to tolerate during familial gatherings.  Interestingly though, that last line for her was the point of the story.  Now I don't expect a law suit, and I am gratefully low profile enough that no one would really give a shit what I wrote, but for the record, I was not making a statement about my own in-law relationship.  It was a suggestion in the form of a joke.

In-law issues, in-law jokes, just like sex and intimate relationships have always been a ripe topic for writers, and comedians alike.  The sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond drew heavily on the in-law relationship between daughter in law and mother in law.  In fact Everybody Loves Raymond would have 9 seasons.  The 1999 move The Best Man was the story of a writer whose book caused a whole lot of hoopla for what he cited was simply "fictitious accounts of experiences" he had gone through.  I conclude that everything from books to movies to plays, and blogs are based on something if even a germ of an idea or experience.  It may not however mean what you think it means.  Sometimes it is all very generic.  And while I am not worried or concerned about any weird tensions at my next holiday soiree, boy oh boy, would I love to be a fly on the wall at the next Passover Sedar at Croonquist's house.