Noun: Mainly used to designate a loudmouth punk in any kind of audience. Usually drunk, almost inevitable at comedy clubs. Stand-up comics \ comedians \ and other performers generally hate when they happen --- although they can be viciously eviscerated with fast, ready wit. When a comic shuts a heckler down quickly, the
comic's status goes WAY up, fast. If they flail and fail against them, it can end the set.
Verb: heckle To loudly interrupt a performance with insults, or just
incoherent babbling.
Related words\phrases:
Heckler's veto -- Heckler's suppression -- AutoHeckler
In social media and other forums of expression - the anticipated 'flame war' or flood of extra negative comments can prevent a person from sharing something they wish to share. That is a Heckler's Suppression.
Louis CK shut the heckler down slowly. Clearly enjoying the chance to unload the kind of insults that would make
Don Rickles vomit and run away. He took her to pieces. It was a thing of inestimable beauty. A master class of shutting a drunk punk way, way down, and keeping the audience increasingly entertained. These smashed amateurs need to stay away, but it is great when you get to watch them get belittled into a tiny wad of insignificance that the rest of the set blows far away.
Michael Richards admitted that his response to the disruptive heckler was way over the line.
