Hollywood’s deeply sanitized, heavily monitored thinking has been apparent for some time, but the current extreme mob mentality is “think exactly like us or don’t work.” Absolutely nothing an entertainer has said or done is off limits to the apology hunters, no matter how old or out of context that infraction may be.

Yet comedy is an area of entertainment that requires pushing boundaries and is incompatible with a climate so politically correct that it can no longer find humor in everyday doubts and insecurities. Every comic working who may be considered for this job will have to publicly apologize for something before he or she takes the stage.

Following Hart’s departure, many names have surfaced as possible replacements, but let me save the Academy some time and show why they are disqualified.