The Cowboy vs the uncle
November 23, 2023 7:33 AM Subscribe
Cowboy Kent Rollins makes the best Aizeean fried rice ever in the tent. Uncle Roger is skeptical, but has no hate for it like he has for Jamie Oliver. So what happens next in the Cowboy Kent Rollins and Uncle Roger Youtube beef? Well, Chinese sausage in a fried rice happens.
Dip Flesh, that's how I feel about it. I won't be sharing it because of the fat jokes. It's a shame because other than that, it's very charming.
posted by Nancy Lebovitz at 9:43 AM on November 23, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Nancy Lebovitz at 9:43 AM on November 23, 2023 [1 favorite]
Ok, so I’d not heard of this Uncle Roger so far, although his channel seems to be quite popular and I’m a sucker for food channels.
And I do get that this is supposed to be some comedy format and there’s an audience for this “let’s diss other Youtubers” genre.
Still… what an idiot. Cheap and low way to generate your content.
posted by uncle harold at 9:54 AM on November 23, 2023
And I do get that this is supposed to be some comedy format and there’s an audience for this “let’s diss other Youtubers” genre.
Still… what an idiot. Cheap and low way to generate your content.
posted by uncle harold at 9:54 AM on November 23, 2023
I know a good chunk of it is Kayfabe. But some of it just feels mean spirited. I think it depends how far along the butchering another culture cooking it is. Dissing on the super incorrect stuff is great. But. Eh.
posted by AngelWuff at 10:58 AM on November 23, 2023
posted by AngelWuff at 10:58 AM on November 23, 2023
I think there is some context missing here in the first few comments:
Uncle Roger is a persona or character created by Anglo-Canadian standup comic Nigel Ng. It shouldn't be regarded as a cooking show, but as physical prop comedy. Ng also states it's his way of grappling with the various cultural assimilation issues that second generation immigrants face, particularly when they don't look like the majority population in the country they live in. He is consciously making fun of/honoring his grandparent and "aunts and uncles." He is also a comedian who inserts at least one completely filthy and non-kid friendly double entendre into almost every skit.
Cowboy Kent Rollins is a long-time Chuckwagon cook who also makes cooking videos. He is a guy in his 60s from Oklahoma, so probably won't completely align with default Mefi values.
When you understand it that way, you can choose to enjoy it, or not. But these aren't intended to be serious cooking videos. They are part of a tradition of YouTube exchange or hosting videos that have been going on for a few years.
I'm also completely confused by one commenter appearing to stand up against fat-shaming, but then deliberately (?) altering Dip Flash's name to "Dip Flesh." Am I being trolled here?
I understand if this performance comedy isn't to everyone's taste, but I have personally laughed out loud while watching dozens of Uncle Roger and Cowboy Kent videos. They are two of my favorite YouTubers, even knowing the problematic elements in their routines.
Of course, your mileage may vary.
posted by seasparrow at 11:03 AM on November 23, 2023 [5 favorites]
Uncle Roger is a persona or character created by Anglo-Canadian standup comic Nigel Ng. It shouldn't be regarded as a cooking show, but as physical prop comedy. Ng also states it's his way of grappling with the various cultural assimilation issues that second generation immigrants face, particularly when they don't look like the majority population in the country they live in. He is consciously making fun of/honoring his grandparent and "aunts and uncles." He is also a comedian who inserts at least one completely filthy and non-kid friendly double entendre into almost every skit.
Cowboy Kent Rollins is a long-time Chuckwagon cook who also makes cooking videos. He is a guy in his 60s from Oklahoma, so probably won't completely align with default Mefi values.
When you understand it that way, you can choose to enjoy it, or not. But these aren't intended to be serious cooking videos. They are part of a tradition of YouTube exchange or hosting videos that have been going on for a few years.
I'm also completely confused by one commenter appearing to stand up against fat-shaming, but then deliberately (?) altering Dip Flash's name to "Dip Flesh." Am I being trolled here?
I understand if this performance comedy isn't to everyone's taste, but I have personally laughed out loud while watching dozens of Uncle Roger and Cowboy Kent videos. They are two of my favorite YouTubers, even knowing the problematic elements in their routines.
Of course, your mileage may vary.
posted by seasparrow at 11:03 AM on November 23, 2023 [5 favorites]
It’s ok to say “this isn’t for me” and move along.
I find taking the piss out of self-important people like many celebrity chefs to be pretty funny frankly.
I was hoping that Cowboy Kent would get Uncle Roger to eat some of that sauce from the first video!
posted by oddman at 11:17 AM on November 23, 2023 [3 favorites]
I find taking the piss out of self-important people like many celebrity chefs to be pretty funny frankly.
I was hoping that Cowboy Kent would get Uncle Roger to eat some of that sauce from the first video!
posted by oddman at 11:17 AM on November 23, 2023 [3 favorites]
Uncle Roger is a persona or character created by Anglo-Canadian standup comic Nigel Ng. It shouldn't be regarded as a cooking show, but as physical prop comedy. Ng also states it's his way of grappling with the various cultural assimilation issues that second generation immigrants face, particularly when they don't look like the majority population in the country they live in. He is consciously making fun of/honoring his grandparent and "aunts and uncles." He is also a comedian who inserts at least one completely filthy and non-kid friendly double entendre into almost every skit.
Cowboy Kent Rollins is a long-time Chuckwagon cook who also makes cooking videos. He is a guy in his 60s from Oklahoma, so probably won't completely align with default Mefi values.
I didn't know that Uncle Roger is actually a character from a standup comic, that would have been helpful context for the post. I thought he was funny throughout, except for his two or three fat-lady jokes that, for me personally, fell really flat. Maybe the charitable reading is that these were meta-jokes, poking fun at the persona? But if so, that wasn't at all clear to me from watching the video.
But aside from those clunkers, the cooking looked good and both of them seemed like they'd be fun to cook outdoors with.
I'm also completely confused by one commenter appearing to stand up against fat-shaming, but then deliberately (?) altering Dip Flash's name to "Dip Flesh." Am I being trolled here?
A typo seems the most likely.
posted by Dip Flash at 11:27 AM on November 23, 2023 [2 favorites]
Cowboy Kent Rollins is a long-time Chuckwagon cook who also makes cooking videos. He is a guy in his 60s from Oklahoma, so probably won't completely align with default Mefi values.
I didn't know that Uncle Roger is actually a character from a standup comic, that would have been helpful context for the post. I thought he was funny throughout, except for his two or three fat-lady jokes that, for me personally, fell really flat. Maybe the charitable reading is that these were meta-jokes, poking fun at the persona? But if so, that wasn't at all clear to me from watching the video.
But aside from those clunkers, the cooking looked good and both of them seemed like they'd be fun to cook outdoors with.
I'm also completely confused by one commenter appearing to stand up against fat-shaming, but then deliberately (?) altering Dip Flash's name to "Dip Flesh." Am I being trolled here?
A typo seems the most likely.
posted by Dip Flash at 11:27 AM on November 23, 2023 [2 favorites]
Uncle Roger is a persona or character created by Anglo-Canadian standup comic Nigel Ng
Anglo-Canadian in what sense? He’s Malaysian, and lives in the UK.
posted by not just everyday big moggies at 11:35 AM on November 23, 2023 [2 favorites]
Anglo-Canadian in what sense? He’s Malaysian, and lives in the UK.
posted by not just everyday big moggies at 11:35 AM on November 23, 2023 [2 favorites]
You are correct. I confused his engineering degree from Northwestern University with some sort of Canadian origin.
When I checked Ng's Wikipedia article to see if I'd made any other errors I would have to recant, two other thoughts struck my mind:
1. Wikipedia (today at least) characterizes Ng as a "minstrel comic," which is a really interesting word choice, perhaps never before used to describe a sort of deliberate ethnic caricature outside of the USA, but really after some thought on my part seems to be an appropriate characterization.
2. Knowing his Malaysian origin, which I demonstrably did not before, makes his schtick really hit a lot harder for me. Because I've lived in both Malaysia and Indonesia, and I know how extremely fraught the lives of ethnic Chinese there can be, where they face jealously and persecution for being both foreign and also usually better off, a situation not completely unlike Jewish communities historically faced in Europe. I've seen it myself in negotiations where our local partner was an Indonesian businessman who went to great lengths to obscure their Chinese ancestry from justifiable fears of discrimination. Again, it adds a really much darker tone to the comedy.
Wow, we've departed a bit from a comedy cooking show, but I'm really liking the comments so far. :)
posted by seasparrow at 11:54 AM on November 23, 2023 [4 favorites]
When I checked Ng's Wikipedia article to see if I'd made any other errors I would have to recant, two other thoughts struck my mind:
1. Wikipedia (today at least) characterizes Ng as a "minstrel comic," which is a really interesting word choice, perhaps never before used to describe a sort of deliberate ethnic caricature outside of the USA, but really after some thought on my part seems to be an appropriate characterization.
2. Knowing his Malaysian origin, which I demonstrably did not before, makes his schtick really hit a lot harder for me. Because I've lived in both Malaysia and Indonesia, and I know how extremely fraught the lives of ethnic Chinese there can be, where they face jealously and persecution for being both foreign and also usually better off, a situation not completely unlike Jewish communities historically faced in Europe. I've seen it myself in negotiations where our local partner was an Indonesian businessman who went to great lengths to obscure their Chinese ancestry from justifiable fears of discrimination. Again, it adds a really much darker tone to the comedy.
Wow, we've departed a bit from a comedy cooking show, but I'm really liking the comments so far. :)
posted by seasparrow at 11:54 AM on November 23, 2023 [4 favorites]
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posted by Dip Flash at 8:26 AM on November 23, 2023 [2 favorites]