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“Real Househusbands Of Philadelphia”: The End Of The Line For Philly-Accent-Driven Humor?

Sure, there’s a few yuks in here, no doubt. But real talk: The longer this shit goes on — and the more of it is that’s out there — the more it just begins to make us sad. Mark our words, Philadelphians: That accent is quickly becoming your goddamned watermelon.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 20th, 2011 at 4:10 pm.

  • schmapty

    Agreed. People need to stop being proud of this and realize that only the worst of us speak this way. Certainly there are a few words and sounds that are universal but I enjoy answering questions about the Phila accent with some variation of “there’s a subtle accept but it’s fairly neutral and hard to pick up in most cases.” Additionally, as the descendants of all that was ever good in America we have much more to be proud of than speaking like bafoons.

  • abbey306

    The video is funny… but i totally disagree with the comment. I don’t want to sound like a generic/neutral Connecticut born news anchor. I am from Philly and also intelligent. If that blows your waspy minds, deal with it. One day we all sound and look just “as we should” and all the differences in the world will be gone.

  • schmapty

    I think in it’s honest uncontrived non-moronic form the Philadelphia accent really is fairly neutral. It comes out on certain words but the mooks and pill-heads among us speak an accent of idiot and pass it off as Philadelphian. But I’d rather not get into that sort of a thing now or ever. It turns into an Anderson Cooper/Michael Musto style thing real quick. More importantly, do you want to be Boston? Do you want speaking funny to be your thing? Do you want to be the college freshman meeting an English person for the first time and comparing pronounciations every day for the rest of your life?

  • MichaelJackSauce

    Very funny video. Some of the so called comedy vide’s on here are a little to long on concept and short on jokes. The exception being the webshorts about the Philly Boxer living in LA.

    “Getouttaderre” lol

  • YvesUlysses

    “That accent is quickly becoming your goddamned watermelon”

    What are you suggesting here? You are attempting to relate this sketch to what exactly with the watermelon reference?

    Thanks for the “real talk” about lampooning regional dialect.

  • tips

    I am suggesting that, like the watermelon, the accent is a naturally occurring cultural reference that, in the hands of others, can be turned into an instrument of ridicule and intolerance. It’s pretty simple.

  • YvesUlysses

    Tips,

    How does a group of mostly young white men parodying a regional dialect relate to a stereotype of African-Americans? Your logic is spurious and leads me to believe you do not understand how both jokes and metaphors work.
    E.g., These are young white men playing high status characters using an accent most closely associated with the region, and the middle class in which they live. “Watermelon” is a slur used most often by OTHER ethnicities and socioeconomic groups to typify and stigmatize working class black people.
    I’m a black man. I’m not at all offended by this sketch. The black actor is a great straight man. I am offended by your insipid attempt to decide taste and your use of a centuries old stereotype that has little relevance.
    I think you were desperate to have a Slate-esque contrarian take on a (decently) funny comedy sketch. And in doing so you reached for an absurd metaphor. But please, keep explaining to me how your “watermelon” slur is at all relevant to a collection of self-deprecating jokes or how this is “The End of the Line For Philly Accent Humor”. Are you the arbiter of that line? Where is this mysterious line? Is it in Manayunk? Samson Street? I bet it would be closer to Samson Street.

  • schmapty

    Tell me more about this Samson Street. Philadelphia as a city of mooks is played out and dated. Comedy isn’t funny.

  • mommabear

    And exactly where is Samson Street in Philadelphia…near Delilah Way?