It’s been an agonizing 24 years without a solo standup special from comedian Jeff Foxworthy, but thanks to Netflix, the wait is over. His latest is called The Good Old Days, which feels like the setup to sarcastic commentary on viewing the past through rose-colored glasses. Instead, Foxworthy commits to outright Boomer nostalgia with the kind of fresh observations you’d expect to read on your uncle’s Facebook page. Get a load of this knee-slapper right here:
Sure hasn’t lost his edge! I suppose we should be thankful he stuck to a generational critique instead of leaning into the transphobia of another established comic with a Netflix contract. But let’s break it down. Foxworthy is implying, I guess, that kids today get trophies even if they don’t win — a complaint we’ve been hearing for decades without any evidence to back it up. Have you ever seen one of these fabled “participation trophies”? I haven’t. It’s like something a guy made up for a chain email in 1996 that Republican voters immediately accepted as fact.
By the way, has it ever been true that you have to finish in “first place” to earn a prize? Even the Olympics have bronze medals. A minor quibble, as it’s far more important to note that a trophy is shiny trash that clutters up your home. If trophies held any inherent value, you wouldn’t be able to go buy as many as you want from a run-down shop on the edge of town. And Jeff, buddy, don’t be so quick to identify with the winners. Seems the only statuette in your display case would be a garish People’s Choice Award. And that wasn’t an outright win — you tied with Drew Carey!
Guess it’s true what they say: any asshole can get one just for showing up.
I sort of had more respect for you when you told those redneck jokes. What happened? Maybe you realized the woke left would cancel you for appropriation, given that your dad was an IBM executive who gave you a job at the company after you studied engineering at Georgia Tech. I can imagine quite the discourse over your “redneck is a state of mind” philosophy. Yes, it sure was safer to go grandpa mode this time out — and good standup comedy is all about making the safe choice, isn’t it, Jeff?
In another quarter century, you might get a real joke out of it.
Miles Klee
Miles Klee is MEL’s resident tank-top dirtbag, shitposter and meme expert. He’s also the author of the novel ‘Ivyland’ and a story collection, ‘True False.’
