Sept. 29 (UPI) — Rob Schneider says the rise and impact of social media platforms like Twitter is one of the biggest changes he has witnessed during his decades as a comedian.
“I think 140 [characters] instantaneously transmitted to the entire world that could end a career or could cost somebody millions of dollars, that’s new,” the 53-year-old California native told UPI ahead of his Oct. 6 live show at New Jersey’s Newton Theatre.
“Social media is definitely a big one. I think the people who are the most sensitive members of our society are so vocal now, that they are drowning out the far more sensible people. I don’t think the most sensitive members of our society should be the ones deciding what we can all watch and listen to.”
Schneider went on to say he doesn’t think people like that are generally attracted to comedy clubs, however.
“They don’t usually go. They kind of stay at home and look for ways to be upset,” he quipped.
Despite the minefield it could present, Schneider said he doesn’t avoid talking about politics or current events in his shows.
“I think people are being used and you have to take things out to an absurd place, so that they can see that their positions are not factually based and show that there is a silliness to it all, if you take it to its extreme. Take an idea out to its extreme and you will see if it holds up or not, or if it’s really based on some form of silliness,” he said.
“I try to do it with both sides of the political spectrum as much as I can. I’m not there to subvert them to my point of view — openly — but if I can get them to question things a little bit more, I think we will be OK. This is a great country, very strong tradition in this country. It will take more than Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton to tear it apart.”
The “Saturday Night Live” alum, who has starred in dozens of big-screen comedies such as “Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo,” “The Hot Chick,” “The Benchwarmers,” “Grown Ups” and “Sandy Wexler,” also now headlines the Netflix sitcom, “The Real Rob.”
Asked if it is a best-case scenario for an entertainer to have the freedom of moving from live shows to television to film the way he does, Schneider said, “Now that you put it that way, I feel much happier and more successful. . .”
“The standup shows are fun and the sitcom is the best thing I’ve ever done on film, so I’m really excited about everything,” he added.
Season 2 of “The Real Rob” begins streaming on Netflix Friday.
