Howie Mandel boasted that cancel culture is over and that comedians shouldn’t be afraid to joke freely about any subject, just before apologizing for Kelly Ripa’s comments.
“I don’t think anything is off-limits,” Mandel exclusively told Page Six at “America’s Got Talent” showcase of upcoming comedic talent on Feb. 2 at Hollywood’s world-famous Laugh Factory.
Mandel added, “I don’t think there’s anything that’s not fun. I don’t think it’s ever too early.”
The 70-year-old TV star said that although “comedy has taken a huge hit over the last 10 years” due to cancel culture, he believes “the pendulum has swung back.”
“You know, some of the edgiest comics pack arenas for many nights,” he said. “Some famous comics are incredibly edgy.”
“But comedy is bigger now than ever before. And I think the reason comedy is bigger than ever is because they say laughter is the best medicine. And I think we need medicine right now more than ever on this planet.”
Now that comedy is booming again, Mandel expressed hope that this summer’s “AGT” could finally bring home the $1 million prize for the first time in the NBC smash show’s 21 years.
He understands that because the show’s airtime is family-friendly, it won’t be able to air the edgy or blue comedy that is so popular.
“I just believe in responsible broadcasting,” he said. “So ‘AGT’ happens to be an advertiser-supported network show, and advertisers have the right to sell their products in the lanes where they think the viewers are.”
He continued, “So I’m responsible enough not to go there, and I’m responsible enough not to allow the comics and the people on that stage to go somewhere they shouldn’t be, that’s not supported by the people who support the show.”
Mandel’s comments came before he faced negative reaction over his March 23 exchange on “Live with Kelly and Mark.”
He pushed back on the hosts’ compliments about his youthful looks with some dashing lines, sparking a backlash on social media.
Mandel apologized to Ripa, 55, and Consuelos, 55, on Instagram, but admitted she wasn’t sure saying “I’m sorry” was the right thing to do.
“I don’t believe in apologies, but like I said in that post, I kind of regret what I said, but obviously I made a joke that didn’t go over well,” Mandel said about the encounter on Tuesday’s “Hot Mic with Billy Bush.”
“Comedians always say, ‘If you can make one person laugh, you’re doing your job, but apparently that’s not enough. It’s not enough.’
He added, “So you liked my jokes. I’m reading a book and I can’t stop, I don’t understand so I tried to stop. I tried to apologize. I agreed with people and I think so too.”
