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Funny.
Nov 27, 2019 23:07:09 GMT
Post by Kapitan on Nov 27, 2019 23:07:09 GMT
Anybody here enjoy comedy? Stand-up, sitcoms, movies, whatever.
Personally I usually prefer comedy to serious art. (Much like how I prefer pop to attempts at serious music, maybe.) It varies as to what types I'm into at any given moment. Last night I watched the new Mike Birbiglia Netflix special, which is great if you're interested in the longer, storytelling kind of comedy. This afternoon I had an itch for jokes and went down a Rodney Dangerfield YouTube hole.
Anyway, whatever is funny to you, please, do tell! What are you watching, hearing, thinking? What's funny (or not funny)?
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Funny.
Nov 27, 2019 23:43:34 GMT
Post by Sheriff John Stone on Nov 27, 2019 23:43:34 GMT
Anybody here enjoy comedy? Stand-up, sitcoms, movies, whatever.
Personally I usually prefer comedy to serious art. (Much like how I prefer pop to attempts at serious music, maybe.) It varies as to what types I'm into at any given moment. Last night I watched the new Mike Birbiglia Netflix special, which is great if you're interested in the longer, storytelling kind of comedy. This afternoon I had an itch for jokes and went down a Rodney Dangerfield YouTube hole.
Anyway, whatever is funny to you, please, do tell! What are you watching, hearing, thinking? What's funny (or not funny)?
I love the old YouTube videos of Rodney Dangerfield on Johnny Carson. Rodney's stand up routine was great, but then he would go over and sit down and Johnny was the perfect straight man for another couple of minutes of Rodney's lines.
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Nov 27, 2019 23:55:17 GMT
Post by Kapitan on Nov 27, 2019 23:55:17 GMT
Yes! What kills me is how Rodney had three or four broad topics--having it rough in childhood, his wife, his kids, his health (all in the context inevitably of the big line, "no respect")--that he'd introduce broadly, almost in the same words. "You know, your health, that's what's important, you've gotta take care of your health," he'd say, and Johnny would just crack up immediately. He used the same basic intros every time, for years and years.
Here's a good one from an appearance in 1980, coinciding with his "No Respect" album and the movie "Caddyshack" (which I am going to be watching tonight, I think).
Rodney was a great, great joke-teller. Not a big storyteller, nothing deep. Just great jokes on about three or four topics. Predictable, moderately offensive or inappropriate, but not shocking. Just hilarious. He was amazing. (He also helped launch the career of Minnesotan Louie Anderson, by the way.)
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Funny.
Nov 28, 2019 3:52:33 GMT
via mobile
Post by kds on Nov 28, 2019 3:52:33 GMT
Yes.
If I were to list my all time favorite movies and TV shows, the majority of them would be comedies.
I tend to gravitate to escapist entertainmemt when it comes to TV or movies, so something that makes me laugh will be infinitely more rewatchable than something that doesn't.
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bellbottoms
Pacific Coast Highway
Posts: 727
Likes: 201
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Funny.
Nov 28, 2019 15:53:12 GMT
Post by bellbottoms on Nov 28, 2019 15:53:12 GMT
I haven't seen Mike Birbiglia's new one yet... wait, he had one called The New One for a long time, is there a new new one? I loved his last one, whatever it was.
It's been quite a while since we've gone to see any live stand up comedy but my husband and I went through a phase for a few years where we were going out to see a lot of stand up. Jim Jefferies is probably up there among my favourites. He's a great storyteller and can pull off a long joke really well. I love, love, love Maria Bamford. And honestly, Louis CK is super up there with the best acts we saw., which was not long before his... downfall.
Is anyone here a fan of Between Two Ferns? Sometimes I feel like I get Zach Galifianakis, and sometimes I really don't. I haven't followed "Ferns" religiously, but the recent Between Two Ferns movie was so funny.
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Nov 29, 2019 14:29:47 GMT
Post by Kapitan on Nov 29, 2019 14:29:47 GMT
The Birbiglia one is indeed The New One. (I had to check the name.) I know he's been performing it for a couple years, but it was just added to Netflix within the past week or so, I believe. I enjoyed it, maybe not as much as some of what he's done, but quite a bit.
Louis CK is a genius. I love his work. And honestly while his behavior was creepy and odd, it's nowhere near enough to make me dislike his work. (If anything it showed him to be pretty honest from real life to comedy.) It's more pathetic than abusive, I think. The dominant, powerful figure is asking permission to humiliate himself? Hardly a Weinsteinian move! Anyway, his Horace & Pete and the latter years of Louie were so good. I hope he gets another special finished and out there soon. Though I assume that last movie he did just before the publicity of his behavior will never come out. From what I read it's a bit close to home...
I hadn't been a Between Two Ferns fan, really: I'd seen it a few times, like obviously the Obama one. But I really liked the movie (even though it was basically substance-free, just nonsense linking together Between Two Ferns episodes). I also really like Galifinakis's show Baskets. I don't even know why I like it so much. In some ways, it's not especially funny, and a lot of the comedy is almost antifunny. Somehow it ends up funnier for it. Go figure.
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Nov 29, 2019 17:57:59 GMT
Post by Sheriff John Stone on Nov 29, 2019 17:57:59 GMT
In addition to old Rodney Dangerfield videos, I like to watch George Carlin performances. Talk about genius. Not only was his material great, but the performance and the facial expressions, too.
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Nov 29, 2019 18:47:48 GMT
via mobile
Post by kds on Nov 29, 2019 18:47:48 GMT
I'm a huge fan of Carlin as well, especially his 70s and 80s material. In the 90s through the end of his life, his routines were more angry rants than observational humor.
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Nov 29, 2019 19:25:21 GMT
Post by Kapitan on Nov 29, 2019 19:25:21 GMT
My understanding of Carlin's late material was that he was hugely in debt and had to keep developing and performing basically a new hour/album/special annually just to try to stay afloat. I'm sure that didn't help his demeanor much.
I actually just watched his late 90s appearance at the national press club dinner. It was really rough, actually. Good material, but he was stumbling all over himself throughout.
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bellbottoms
Pacific Coast Highway
Posts: 727
Likes: 201
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Funny.
Nov 30, 2019 13:38:40 GMT
Post by bellbottoms on Nov 30, 2019 13:38:40 GMT
The Birbiglia one is indeed The New One. (I had to check the name.) I know he's been performing it for a couple years, but it was just added to Netflix within the past week or so, I believe. I enjoyed it, maybe not as much as some of what he's done, but quite a bit. Louis CK is a genius. I love his work. And honestly while his behavior was creepy and odd, it's nowhere near enough to make me dislike his work. (If anything it showed him to be pretty honest from real life to comedy.) It's more pathetic than abusive, I think. The dominant, powerful figure is asking permission to humiliate himself? Hardly a Weinsteinian move! Anyway, his Horace & Pete and the latter years of Louie were so good. I hope he gets another special finished and out there soon. Though I assume that last movie he did just before the publicity of his behavior will never come out. From what I read it's a bit close to home... I hadn't been a Between Two Ferns fan, really: I'd seen it a few times, like obviously the Obama one. But I really liked the movie (even though it was basically substance-free, just nonsense linking together Between Two Ferns episodes). I also really like Galifinakis's show Baskets. I don't even know why I like it so much. In some ways, it's not especially funny, and a lot of the comedy is almost antifunny. Somehow it ends up funnier for it. Go figure. Louie was good, but I couldn’t really get into Horace and Pete. Regardless, I’m ready for Louis CK’s comeback, whatever shape it takes. I agree he's a genius, especially in the stand-up realm, but even as an actor. We recently rewatched Parks & Rec and I had forgotten how endearing his cop character was. Antifunny is an interesting way to put Between Two Ferns. The standalone episodes are hit and miss, but I love the way the movie put it in a whole new context and I think it’s probably the most consistently funny Zach G. thing I’ve seen. There was also an amusing episode of Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee where Jerry picks Zach up and they go for donuts. Actually the most amusing thing about that was watching Jerry get more and more uncomfortable as the episode went on, but I guess that’s the point, that’s Zach G.’s whole schtick. I don’t think I’ve seen Baskets, but I really liked Zach in that show he was in years ago with Jason Schwartzman and Ted Danson… Bored to Death. Too bad that one got cancelled.
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Nov 30, 2019 14:40:39 GMT
Post by Kapitan on Nov 30, 2019 14:40:39 GMT
Baskets was actually the one I'd call antifunny, but as I think more about it, I'd probably use it in general for Galifinakis. And there's something about comedy that dedication to the bit is what makes it funny, so being insistently not funny becomes funny. (That's really almost Andy Kaufman's whole career, though in a totally different way than Galifinakis.) The fact that Louie Anderson plays Galifinakis's mother in Baskets, and he plays it totally straight, just kills me. The highlight of the show, really.
Horace & Pete killed me! That it was staged like a play was great, so simple. I know Alan Alda wasn't the first (or second) choice for that character, but he turned out to be an inspired casting choice. Hearing him curse like a sailor was shocking! Anyway, definitely Louis's standup is missed.
On the other hand, when fellow "canceled" comedian Aziz Ansari came back, I thought his special was pretty mediocre. Then again, I wasn't ever such a big fan of him to begin with.
You mentioned Jim Jeffries earlier: I'm also a fan. I wish there were more seasons of his old sitcom Legit.
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bellbottoms
Pacific Coast Highway
Posts: 727
Likes: 201
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Funny.
Dec 2, 2019 22:44:15 GMT
Post by bellbottoms on Dec 2, 2019 22:44:15 GMT
Baskets was actually the one I'd call antifunny, but as I think more about it, I'd probably use it in general for Galifinakis. And there's something about comedy that dedication to the bit is what makes it funny, so being insistently not funny becomes funny. (That's really almost Andy Kaufman's whole career, though in a totally different way than Galifinakis.) The fact that Louie Anderson plays Galifinakis's mother in Baskets, and he plays it totally straight, just kills me. The highlight of the show, really. Horace & Pete killed me! That it was staged like a play was great, so simple. I know Alan Alda wasn't the first (or second) choice for that character, but he turned out to be an inspired casting choice. Hearing him curse like a sailor was shocking! Anyway, definitely Louis's standup is missed. On the other hand, when fellow "canceled" comedian Aziz Ansari came back, I thought his special was pretty mediocre. Then again, I wasn't ever such a big fan of him to begin with. You mentioned Jim Jeffries earlier: I'm also a fan. I wish there were more seasons of his old sitcom Legit.
Legit was so good! That was my intro Jim Jefferies. So much “I’m going to hell for laughing at this” in that show. It actually took me awhile to admit/accept that I liked him because of that. No idea what he’s been up to lately, but I could sure do with a new special from him. Aziz Ansari was so good in Parks & Rec as Tom Haverford, but the only other thing I’ve seen him in was a tedious rom com/buddy movie, the title of which I can’t even remember. The thing with his transition to “guy who can’t sit with us anymore”, is that if I remember correctly, the thing he was guilty of was going on a date and it ending with “please, baby, baby, please” or something and that somehow made him a predator that couldn’t take no for an answer. I feel like if the Louis CK thing hadn’t come out just before, it wouldn’t have even been a thing. Probably the best comedy show to get cancelled (in the traditional sense) in fairly recent history was The Last Man On Earth. I’m still butthurt about that one. The whole cast was amazing, but that show turned me into a Will Forte fan. I was really hoping another network would pick that one up.
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Dec 2, 2019 23:30:16 GMT
Post by Kapitan on Dec 2, 2019 23:30:16 GMT
Thanks for reminding me about The Last Man On Earth. Someone else recommended it to me, but I forgot all about it and haven't even begun it yet. I'll be sure to make a note.
The Ansari "scandal" was a product of this. And I'd say while he doesn't come across as Prince Charming, it's hardly the worst thing a guy has ever done... I agree, he was great in Parks & Rec. (Who wasn't great in Parks & Rec?)
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Dec 3, 2019 15:20:45 GMT
Post by kds on Dec 3, 2019 15:20:45 GMT
I'll be honest, I wasn't even aware that Aziz got "Me Too'ed."
Unfortunately, stand up comedy is one of those things I unintentionally checked out on once life started to get busy. But, I've always been a bigger fan of scripted comedy - be it TV or movie.
Although, I feel sometimes that, much like music, comedy is beginning to pass me by. I've liked a lot of comedies over the last 15-20 years, but I honestly don't feel like most of it has the rewatchability of comedies of the 70s, 80s, or even 90s. I can watch Ghostbusters, Blazing Saddles, or Uncle Buck over and over. I can't say the same for as many modern movies (although Will Ferrell had a good run for about ten years). Same goes for TV. There's a few shows I watch no, but I can't see myself willfully rewatching them 20 years from now like I do with Seinfeld, The Simpsons, or Cheers. The lone exception in this century is The Office (US).
I also feel like comedy became more "edgy" around 1994 - the same year that John Candy died and Clerks was released. Coincidence? Maybe. I don't think there has been nearly as much output since then that I'd want to watch with my parents, or eventually, my son. And even when silly throwback comedies have been released, they've sunk like a stone. I remain convinced that had 1996's Jingle All the Way been released in 1986, it would routinely appear at the top of Favorite Christmas Movie Lists instead of Worst Christmas Movie Lists. And, I'm not just saying this because I saw it as a kid, and get all nostalgic when I see it, because I didn't see the movie until I was in my early 20s.
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bellbottoms
Pacific Coast Highway
Posts: 727
Likes: 201
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Funny.
Dec 3, 2019 16:28:46 GMT
Post by bellbottoms on Dec 3, 2019 16:28:46 GMT
Thanks for reminding me about The Last Man On Earth. Someone else recommended it to me, but I forgot all about it and haven't even begun it yet. I'll be sure to make a note. The Ansari "scandal" was a product of this. And I'd say while he doesn't come across as Prince Charming, it's hardly the worst thing a guy has ever done... I agree, he was great in Parks & Rec. (Who wasn't great in Parks & Rec?) Okay, the Aziz Ansari incident was worse than I thought. But it still does seem as though it was the result of a misunderstanding. Parks & Rec was one of those rare, near-perfect shows that always delivered. The characters are so well drawn and multi-dimensional that each one is a consolidated protagonist and antagonist. Even the more one dimensional “villainous” side characters were lovable and hilarious (Tammy! Jean-Ralphio! Bobby Newport!). I hope you enjoy Last Man On Earth. I could easily re-watch that one.
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