Photo on left: Bob Greenblat

Yeah, it's small-screen news, but it does touch on the larger theme of the relation of an artist to his art that has been mentioned here before...

NBC chairman Bob Greenblatt's comment on 30 Rock star Tracy Morgan's recent joke about stabbing his son if he found the boy was gay...

"I speak for NBC and myself personally when I say we do not condone hate or violence of any kind and I am pleased to see Tracy Morgan apologizing for recent homophobic remarks in his standup appearance. We will always recognize an artist’s freedom to express him or herself, but not when reckless things are said no matter what the context. Unfortunately, Tracy’s comments reflect negatively on both 30 Rock and NBC -- two very all-inclusive and diverse organizations -– and we have made it clear to him that this kind of behavior will not be tolerated."

Got that, everyone? NBC recognizes an artist's freedom to express him or herself, but not when reckless things are said.

My favorite part of Morgan's apology: "...this clearly went too far and was not funny in any context.”

So if it had been funny...?

My other favorite part: Morgan's character on 30 Rock is considered hilarious precisely because he operates at the level of pure id - he is almost entirely without social restraints. Ho, ho, ho! Look at the funny, silly man! Wait, what do you mean he said something outrageous in real life?

Well, now, that's about enough of that. Back to the funny pages...