I know that I'm late on the subject of the meltdown of MR, but I just returned to town.
The last time I heard so many n'ers was on Curb Your Enthusiasm. Larry David was "bonding" with a black man with the phrase "are you my n'er?" I have to admit that I thought it was one of the funniest episodes that I have seen. Larry David is smart enough to be able to deftly pull off comedy based on edgy material.
I wonder if someone not so smart like Michael Richards has a hard time distinguishing the line between edgy and racist stupidity. After seeing Larry David becoming the most successful Sienfeld alum, MR thought he might just be edgy employing the n-word.
This wouldn't be the first time that a liberal producer pushed the racial boundaries only to find that he had misjudged the audience. Much to Norman Lears' surprise, the most popular character on All In the Family was the racist Archie (in the early years).
I find it ironic that People for the American Way came into existance because Lear successfully appealed to racists.