Yo Mama and Aristotle

Although in my last blog I decided to write about an exception to what so many philosophers think is a rule about humor, I want to write today about that idea and its modern day truth. Even though there are exceptions, in modern day humor, the rule seems to not have changed much: Superiority of the laugher and joker in relation to the but of the joke remains a great part of humor.
I want to take a very modern popular example to prove my point. At times this show has been the most popular show on American television: American Idol. While this show is predominately not about humor (it is supposed to be about singing presumably), it does have its humorous moments (which is almost a rule today for any show, even for the most serious, dramatic shows).
Probably the funniest time is the tryouts; I think all of us viewers can agree. This is the time when we as viewers see the bad, the good and the ugly. The terrible singers, hopelessly disillusioned ones, incredibly poorly dressed ones, and the borderline mentally insane ones all come out for the initial trials, and this is about half of the show during the first weeks when the judges have not yet weeded out the bad and so-so and chosen the good. The reason why we watch these things is A) to see some talented singers and B) to see some really horrible ones and laugh.
Depending on what kind of viewer you are, one priority may come before the other. For example, a good friend of mine has explained to me a few times why she only likes watching the first few weeks: they are funny and after that the humor factor goes way down. What would your mother think?! What would Aristotle think?! You are making fun of people remember. You are assuming your superiority over another person and this superiority is not like some of the philosophers say, feigned, as it should be and as is acceptable. A feigned superiority is passing. We all do stupid things and we are all good humored and laugh at ourselves, but when it is not possible, when the true equality is garbled, it is not fair, and I think according to your mother and Aristotle, it is not for the greater good.
Here is a specific example on American Idol: a lady who tries out comes into the studio with papers on anatomy of singing and her own songs. From the way that she acts I think it is easy to notice two things: there is a very good chance that she is either mentally unsound or mentally challenged. The vast majority of us are not like her in these ways, and yet still many of us laugh.
Aristotle says that we must strive for a golden mean in all areas of life and humor is no different. By laughing at a woman like this I think we stray from that golden mean. It is not acceptable, even if the woman is on the TV and cannot see you or hear you, to laugh at something like that.