'Tiger King And I' host Joel McHale divides internet with rude sarcasm, fans ask why Carole Baskin was missing
"Hey, all you cool cats and kittens," comedian Joel McHale begins his after-show episode on 'Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness' and throws viewers off-guard with the latest update to the Netflix docuseries.
Even amid the global coronavirus pandemic, he hosted the episode titled 'The Tiger King and I' and interviewed several people who featured in the documentary, including current owners of the GW Zoo Jeff and Lauren Lowe, the head keeper Erik Cowie, Joe Exotic's ex-husband John Finlay, John Reinke, Kelci "Saff" Saffery, campaign manager Josh Dial and former producer Rick Kirkman.
No sooner was the episode out that viewers started slamming it for its "low-budget" and "slapdash comedy." What's more, one fan even went on to say he is "worse than tiger killers".
However, McHale's loyal fans — who have seen him since the days of the 2004 satirical weekly show 'The Soup' — came to his defense and said that "rude sarcasm" is what he does.
"Folks are okay with #JoeExotic and #TigerKing existing but mad at #JoelMcHale for riffing on them? Then again, there are people who get mad when folks make fun of #DonaldTrump and he's so much worse than Tiger King," one tweet read.
Another said, "Wait, are people legitimately angry at Joel McHale for some of his comments in #TheTigerKingAndI? Being a dead-pan, condescending douchebag is his entire bit. It's precisely why Netflix got him to host it and his jaded sarcasm worked perfectly."
Another viewer posted, "Wait, I just saw Joel McHale trending because people thought he was rude during the #tigerking reunion special? Do people not know he's a comedian? I’m so confused. Everyone angry at #joelmchale really need to watch The Soup. Rude sarcasm is what he does!!!"
Many called McHale's hosting a "class act". One fan shared, "The @joelmchale episode 8 of #TigerKingNetflix #TigerKing is so so so so so good. Well done. Appreciate these interviews and how you treat them like people and not like sideshows. Class act, McHale."
Some are wondering why Carole Baskin was not a part of those interviews. "Where was Carole F***in' Baskin, on a conjugal visit with Joe Exotic?" one tweet read and another posted, "@joelmchale so Carole Baskin wouldn’t agree to be in the show, eh? I know you asked! Great episode! Stay safe out there, Bro! And by safe I mean- stay away from sardine oil."
"THANK YOU for getting Eric Cowie & Jeff Lowe out of the way first!!!! Hate them so that was a pleasure," one fan wrote to McHale and another said, "You're trending, Joel! Many people hating on you being funny, but don't worry. The Community has your back."
Meanwhile, some viewers were interested to see 'Tiger King' just because of McHale and have labeled him as an "American hero".
"Pop in to see @joelmchale trending. Turns out @netflix put together some sort of #TigerKing special and McHale basically roasts the holy Hades out of the dirtbags involved in the show? I am NOW interested in at least one episode of this shitshow. McHale is an AMERICAN HERO," one said.
Another wrote, "None of these #TigerKing turds know a thing about Joel McHale." Getting back to the host, one fan went on to say McHale was the "best part."
"Just watched the new episode of #TigerKing on @netflix and easily the best part is that @joelmchale is the host. Great interviews!" one tweet read. All eight episodes of 'Tiger King' are now streaming on Netflix.