Comedy in decline - Page 3

vsp · 03-18-2004, 08:52 AM

My lifetime achievement award goes to George Carlin, who will always be the king. A second goes to John "Dr. Dirty" Valby, who's milked a 25+ year career out of playing the piano, singing dirty limericks, and turning current events into filthy song parodies at dives nationwide.

What little I've seen of Chappelle's Show, I've liked.

Other current comics I enjoy include Stephen Lynch (who's hysterical live), Doug Stanhope (standup, not Man Show material), Otto & George (the world's filthiest ventriloquist's puppet), Jim Norton, Eddie Izzard, Henry Rollins's spoken word rants (though I like his serious subject matter as well), Lewis Black, and a soft spot for Dana Gould just for his work as Gex the gecko.

warch · 03-18-2004, 04:58 PM

I dig Lewis Black big time.

mrnoodle · 03-19-2004, 12:04 AM

Kids in the Hall were hilarious, if derivative of Python.

The Muppet Show is one of the best variety shows ever, whether or not the actors are human.

My favorite standup guy was Zach (Greek last name - I keep wanting to say Snufflupagus...). He sat at a piano for most of his act. They gave him a show on Comedy Central, but it bombed. Hilarious act, though.

The only thing that's made me laugh out loud lately has been Adult Swim. I'm a stoner, though.

BrianR · 03-19-2004, 07:21 AM

Is that the guy who sang "Poisoning Pigeons in the Barn"?

If so, he's hilarious!

vsp · 03-19-2004, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BrianR
Is that the guy who sang "Poisoning Pigeons in the Barn"?

If so, he's hilarious!

That would be Tom Lehrer, who is indeed hilarious.

Slartibartfast · 03-19-2004, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mrnoodle
Kids in the Hall were hilarious, if derivative of Python.

I still fall apart if anyone holds up thumb and pointer finger, then pinches them while saying
"I am crrrrushing your head."

warch · 03-19-2004, 10:07 AM

I actually heard Tom Lehrer played on the radio this morning, on MPR. Made my day! They played Oedipus Rex, but they miscued and started to play Masocism Tango...then caught it...darn. Must be a bit racy for the off to school crowd..."Loving" your mother was able to coast by, when "burn your initials in my shoulder" couldnt.

wolf · 03-19-2004, 10:42 AM

Haven't listened to Lehrer in a long while. May have to buy me some new CDs ...

John Valby is better known for "There's a Skeeter on My Peter (Whack 'im off) And the "Eat Bite" song.

Valby is COOL.

Valby will never get radio airplay.

ladysycamore · 03-22-2004, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Beestie
Watched that for the first time last night primarily because of what everyone said about him in this thread.

Add two more fans to the list!! I was howling at the "Michael Jackson/R Kelley jury selection" skit. That guy is hilarious!

Wasn't that a hot mess??? LOL!! You should have seen the show the day before (I think), where he invented a game show called, "I Know Black People!" It was a riot! Oh, and also, "When 'Keeping It Real' Goes Wrong" was funny too.

Undertoad · 03-22-2004, 09:22 AM

Went to Philly's ComedySportz Satuday night. Comedy is not in decline, you just have to find it. $15 for two hours of fun, discounted parking across the street, on-street parking two blocks north. Awesome date event.

Or find ComedySportz in your own town.

richlevy · 05-09-2004, 08:43 PM

Alan King, dead at 76

I loved watching the Friar's Club. Alan King was a comedian, but he also had a lot of class. He was able to mix Buddy Hackett with James Bond. He had the smartass routine down pat. He would make observations about everyday life that would bring tears to everyones eyes. He was the kind of comedian who could maintain his dignity while delivering off-color jokes.

He will be missed.

DanaC · 05-10-2004, 03:49 AM

My current favourite comedies/comedians are
The Office ( english version), Eddie Izzard, BillBailey, BlackBooks,Spaced ( couple years old but still funny) Jeremy Hardy, Linda Smith, Little Britain ( very very funny) DarkPlace ( only 4 episodes long but had me laughiong out loud) ....there sa bunch of other uk comedians whose names now escape me but who will no doubt spring t mind while I am trying to concentrate on work....Much of the really good comedy in th UK is to be found on BBCRadio4 though, rather than tv....Most of the really good tv comedy started life as radio. ( Have I Got News For You for instance)

I think Will and Grace is a damned good show, it just goes to show that if you censor tv heavily, comedy gets very good at double entendre. I know it has a very staged feel to it, but I like that , it observes certain comedic conventions very well and has the feel of theatre to it at times. Most of the really good American comedy seems to be in the form of cartoons. South Park is one of the cleverest and funniest programmes I have seen yet. Especialy the later series which have been ( imo)more overtly political and satirical.

ladysycamore · 05-10-2004, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Undertoad
Dave Chappelle!

"I'm rich, bitch!" Bahhhahaha!

OMG, the Dave Chappelle forum:
http://www.davechapelle.com/bs/index.php?act=SF&f=2

Check out the member names...LMAO!!

We just got the DVD to Season One...funny stuff.

Sound bytes from his show:
http://www.comedycentral.com/tv_show...w/sounds.jhtml

elSicomoro · 05-10-2004, 09:18 PM

"Mmmm mmmm, bitch!"

Dave Chappelle is fucking awesome. I can't wait until season 2 comes out on DVD...the episode he did with Wayne Brady was hysterical.

Crimson Ghost · 05-14-2004, 06:18 AM

Dave Chappelle is one of the funniest out there. I pulled a "Chappelle" on a buddy of mine. We're on line in Toys "R" Us, I turn to him, and say,"What did the five fingers say to the face?" My wife tried to stop me, but she wasn't fast enough. "SLAP!" Palm across the face. My buddy dropped his Star Wars figures and stared at me. I fixed my jacket, looked at him, and said "I'm Rick James, bitch!"
Some of the best comics have been the ones who pushed the limits in their times.
Sam Kinison was perfect in the time he was here.
Lewis Black, Jim Norton (crinkle crinkle), Otto and George, Nick DePaulo, Ron White (Tater Salad) all deserve to be headliners where-ever they go.
But remember, comedy is subjective.
What I like, you might not.
If you like it, great.
If you don't, don't tell me that I'll burn in Hell for liking it.
There's lots of things I'll burn in Hell for other than my taste in comedy.

03-19-2004, 07:21 AM	#34
BrianR Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 3,338	John Valby Is that the guy who sang "Poisoning Pigeons in the Barn"? If so, he's hilarious! __________________ Never be afraid to tell the world who you are. -- Anonymous

03-19-2004, 10:42 AM	#38
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	Haven't listened to Lehrer in a long while. May have to buy me some new CDs ... John Valby is better known for "There's a Skeeter on My Peter (Whack 'im off) And the "Eat Bite" song. Valby is COOL. Valby will never get radio airplay. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

05-09-2004, 08:43 PM	#41
richlevy King Of Wishful Thinking Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Philadelphia Suburbs Posts: 6,669	Alan King Alan King, dead at 76 I loved watching the Friar's Club. Alan King was a comedian, but he also had a lot of class. He was able to mix Buddy Hackett with James Bond. He had the smartass routine down pat. He would make observations about everyday life that would bring tears to everyones eyes. He was the kind of comedian who could maintain his dignity while delivering off-color jokes. He will be missed. __________________ Exercise your rights and remember your obligations - VOTE! I have always believed that hope is that stubborn thing inside us that insists, despite all the evidence to the contrary, that something better awaits us so long as we have the courage to keep reaching, to keep working, to keep fighting. -- Barack Hussein Obama Last edited by richlevy; 05-09-2004 at 08:45 PM.

05-14-2004, 06:18 AM	#45
Crimson Ghost Larger than life and twice as ugly. Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 5,264	Dave Chappelle is one of the funniest out there. I pulled a "Chappelle" on a buddy of mine. We're on line in Toys "R" Us, I turn to him, and say,"What did the five fingers say to the face?" My wife tried to stop me, but she wasn't fast enough. "SLAP!" Palm across the face. My buddy dropped his Star Wars figures and stared at me. I fixed my jacket, looked at him, and said "I'm Rick James, bitch!" Some of the best comics have been the ones who pushed the limits in their times. Sam Kinison was perfect in the time he was here. Lewis Black, Jim Norton (crinkle crinkle), Otto and George, Nick DePaulo, Ron White (Tater Salad) all deserve to be headliners where-ever they go. But remember, comedy is subjective. What I like, you might not. If you like it, great. If you don't, don't tell me that I'll burn in Hell for liking it. There's lots of things I'll burn in Hell for other than my taste in comedy. __________________ We must all go through a rite of passage. It must be physical, it must be painful, and it must leave a mark. I have no knowledge of the events which you are describing, and if I did have knowledge of them, I would be unable to discuss them with you now or at any future period. Don't waste your time always searching for those wasted years

03-18-2004, 08:52 AM	#31
vsp Syndrome of a Down Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: West Chester Posts: 1,367	My lifetime achievement award goes to George Carlin, who will always be the king. A second goes to John "Dr. Dirty" Valby, who's milked a 25+ year career out of playing the piano, singing dirty limericks, and turning current events into filthy song parodies at dives nationwide. What little I've seen of Chappelle's Show, I've liked. Other current comics I enjoy include Stephen Lynch (who's hysterical live), Doug Stanhope (standup, not Man Show material), Otto & George (the world's filthiest ventriloquist's puppet), Jim Norton, Eddie Izzard, Henry Rollins's spoken word rants (though I like his serious subject matter as well), Lewis Black, and a soft spot for Dana Gould just for his work as Gex the gecko.

03-18-2004, 04:58 PM	#32
warch lurkin old school Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,796	I dig Lewis Black big time.

03-19-2004, 12:04 AM	#33
mrnoodle bent Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: under the weather Posts: 2,656	Kids in the Hall were hilarious, if derivative of Python. The Muppet Show is one of the best variety shows ever, whether or not the actors are human. My favorite standup guy was Zach (Greek last name - I keep wanting to say Snufflupagus...). He sat at a piano for most of his act. They gave him a show on Comedy Central, but it bombed. Hilarious act, though. The only thing that's made me laugh out loud lately has been Adult Swim. I'm a stoner, though.

03-19-2004, 10:07 AM	#37
warch lurkin old school Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,796	I actually heard Tom Lehrer played on the radio this morning, on MPR. Made my day! They played Oedipus Rex, but they miscued and started to play Masocism Tango...then caught it...darn. Must be a bit racy for the off to school crowd..."Loving" your mother was able to coast by, when "burn your initials in my shoulder" couldnt.

03-22-2004, 09:22 AM	#40
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	Went to Philly's ComedySportz Satuday night. Comedy is not in decline, you just have to find it. $15 for two hours of fun, discounted parking across the street, on-street parking two blocks north. Awesome date event. Or find ComedySportz in your own town.

05-10-2004, 03:49 AM	#42
DanaC We have to go back, Kate! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 25,964	My current favourite comedies/comedians are The Office ( english version), Eddie Izzard, BillBailey, BlackBooks,Spaced ( couple years old but still funny) Jeremy Hardy, Linda Smith, Little Britain ( very very funny) DarkPlace ( only 4 episodes long but had me laughiong out loud) ....there sa bunch of other uk comedians whose names now escape me but who will no doubt spring t mind while I am trying to concentrate on work....Much of the really good comedy in th UK is to be found on BBCRadio4 though, rather than tv....Most of the really good tv comedy started life as radio. ( Have I Got News For You for instance) I think Will and Grace is a damned good show, it just goes to show that if you censor tv heavily, comedy gets very good at double entendre. I know it has a very staged feel to it, but I like that , it observes certain comedic conventions very well and has the feel of theatre to it at times. Most of the really good American comedy seems to be in the form of cartoons. South Park is one of the cleverest and funniest programmes I have seen yet. Especialy the later series which have been ( imo)more overtly political and satirical.

05-10-2004, 09:18 PM	#44
elSicomoro Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 12,486	"Mmmm mmmm, bitch!" Dave Chappelle is fucking awesome. I can't wait until season 2 comes out on DVD...the episode he did with Wayne Brady was hysterical.

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