Jenny Slate has a good way to watch football and undermine the patriarchy at the same time

Comedian Jenny Slate has a new Netflix special out called “Stage Fright,” which mixes standup and behind-the-scenes footage that offers an intimate look at her life.  The comedian, who also has a book out, has a bit about watching football that may seem sexist at first, but, on closer inspection, is a surprisingly good way to undermine the patriarchy.

(Fair warning: the language gets a little graphic towards the end)

In the bit, Slate admits that she is not a football fan, which is fine! Plenty of women don’t like sports and plenty do! It’s our differences that unite us, people.  But, Slate says that she has a found a way to watch the game that works for her.

“I love football because I don’t like to watch it at all, but I love to imagine things about it,” she said.

The opening line of her riff does lean on the trope that only men like football but Slate subverts it quickly enough to avoid diving too deep into regressive gender roles. Slate doesn’t make any broad generalizations about women not liking sports, or women only watching because the menfolk in their lives have somehow forced them.  She’s not a person that embraces the technicalities of the gridiron,  but Slate has her own method for enjoying football, and that involves a good dose of imagination.

What I like to imagine is that the men have decided to be on a team, of course, because they’re best friends. And they love to be best friends, and that’s why they wear the same outfit. And get together on a strict schedule and put on the same outfit and go rush after the toy. Oh my goodness, how darling.

It does sound darling, actually. Because who hasn’t watched a touchdown celebration in the end zone and gone, “Awwww, how cute! They love each other!”

Plus, nothing is as subversive as taking the football field, a bastion of often toxic masculinity, and subverting it into something sweet and decidedly childish.

It doesn’t end there either. Slate’s rich football fantasy life also imagines New England Patriots former tight end Rob Gronkowski and current QB1 Tom Brady as the bestest of best friends.

I like to imagine them in their locker room where they keep their underclothes, and they’re standing in there, and it’s like, Tom Brady, and he’s standing there next to Gronk, and they’re holding hands because they’re super nervous. So nervous about their game. And then Tom looks at Gronk, and he’s like, “Gronk, if I get the toy, I’ll give it to you.” And then Gronk looks at him, and he’s like, “You’re my best friend, Tom. Good luck today.”

Honestly, I think this happens more often than not.

Whether Slate intended to make this point or not, her little riff also shows that there’s no one right way to enjoy watching sports.  If you don’t like watching football because you could care less about passing ability and touchdowns, but do find yourself entranced with the idea of Gronk and Tom Brady holding hands, well, more power to you.