The Addams Family – The Wednesday Dance
An evening pause: From the original 1960s television show, which was actually quite funny and original (unlike the turgid 1991 movie).
Hat tip Mike Nelson.
Tag: comedy
Saturday Night Live – Washington’s Dream
Rowan Atkinson on free speech
An evening pause: A different way to enter the weekend. This speech by this comedian was given about a decade ago as part of a campaign to change British law to get the word ‘insulting’ removed from Section 5 of the Public Order Act, as part of the Crime and Courts Bill. The campaign succeeded, but it appears the modern police and governments (from both sides of the political spectrum) in Great Britain have recently decided to ignore it. If you are conservative and criticize illegal immigration or Islam, those governments have decided that this speech is now illegal. I like this quote most of all:
“For me, the best way to increase society’s resistance to insulting or offensive speech is to allow a lot more of it. As with childhood diseases you can better resist those germs to which you have been exposed.”
Too bad we appear to have decided to abandon this wise philosophy, not only in regards to speech, but to infectious diseases as well.
Hat tip Rex Ridenoure.
Billy Joel – She’s Right On Time
An evening pause: Normally I hate official music videos. They are almost always boring and predictable adolescent stories that have little to do with the song. I always prefer the live performance, because then you see the artist at work.
This video is an exception, in that it doesn’t do what you expect, and is quite silly in the process.
Hat tip Mitch Masterfix.
Jess Erskine – The Prisoner Intro, re-visited
An evening pause: Those familiar with the original series, The Prisoner, will find this quite amusing. As the filmmaker notes on the youtube webpage, “And yes, this is cheesy as crap. I made it that way on purpose. Be seeing you!”
And if you aren’t familiar with the original, which was a truly unique and very surreal spy TV show of the 1960s, watch the original opening first. It is amazing how close this new version matches, in a ridiculous way, the shot angles and action of the actual opening sequence.
Hat tip Wayne DeVette.
Will Braden – Henri 2 Paw de Deux
An evening pause: The philosopher Henri returns after more than a decade. As I said when posting Henri’s first exploration of the tedium of existence, “Only those who have explored deeply into the avant-garde French film world will truly understand this classic.” More here.
Hat tip James Street.
An evening pause: The philosopher Henri returns after more than a decade. As I said when posting Henri’s first exploration of the tedium of existence, “Only those who have explored deeply into the avant-garde French film world will truly understand this classic.” More here.
Hat tip James Street.
An Engineer’s Guide to Cats 2.0 – The Sequel
Today’s blacklisted American: “Progressive” leftists in Seattle can’t even take a joke, blackballing four comedians
Click for original video.
They’re coming for you next: Not surprisingly, a comedy club located in the heart of Seattle, in the very same CHAZ neighborhood (Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone) that leftist Antifa thugs took over in 2020 after the death of George Floyd, has cancelled the scheduled appearance of four comedians, apparently because all four were considered too moderate and not “progressive” enough for that radical community of close-minded fascists. As rationalized in an email to the comedians, comedy club officials explained:
Capitol Hill is known for its progressive values, and we’ve received significant feedback expressing concerns about the alignment of these upcoming shows with the neighborhood’s ethos. This feedback includes concerns from local advocacy groups that are deeply embedded in our community and work towards upholding its values.
Given the feedback and to avoid any potential negative impact on both our club and the artists involved, as well as to maintain the harmony within our community, we believe the most responsible course of action is to not move forward with the shows for Dave Smith on April 11th, Luis J Gomez for May 31st-June 1st, Jim Florentine for September 20th-21st and sadly Kurt Metzger on October 11th-12th as well.
The email also added most dishonestly, “We truly value the art of comedy and the diverse perspectives it brings to our lives.”
What a crock. » Read more
Click for original video.
They’re coming for you next: Not surprisingly, a comedy club located in the heart of Seattle, in the very same CHAZ neighborhood (Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone) that leftist Antifa thugs took over in 2020 after the death of George Floyd, has cancelled the scheduled appearance of four comedians, apparently because all four were considered too moderate and not “progressive” enough for that radical community of close-minded fascists. As rationalized in an email to the comedians, comedy club officials explained:
Capitol Hill is known for its progressive values, and we’ve received significant feedback expressing concerns about the alignment of these upcoming shows with the neighborhood’s ethos. This feedback includes concerns from local advocacy groups that are deeply embedded in our community and work towards upholding its values.
Given the feedback and to avoid any potential negative impact on both our club and the artists involved, as well as to maintain the harmony within our community, we believe the most responsible course of action is to not move forward with the shows for Dave Smith on April 11th, Luis J Gomez for May 31st-June 1st, Jim Florentine for September 20th-21st and sadly Kurt Metzger on October 11th-12th as well.
The email also added most dishonestly, “We truly value the art of comedy and the diverse perspectives it brings to our lives.”
What a crock. » Read more
Abbott and Costello – Who’s on First?
An evening pause: One of the most famous comedy routines ever written. From the 1945 film, The Naughty Nineties.
Hat tip Judd Clark.
Conversations with a Calvinist – Denominations Order Coffee
An evening pause: Quite funny, and with a hint of truth. Also, you’d get the same thing if you did this about the Jewish faith, so don’t think this is Christian bashing.
Hat tip Diane Zimmerman.
Tate Naugle – Dad Jokes
Armstrong and Miller – The Art Historian’s Most Clumsiest Moments
An evening pause: Ben Miller of the Armstrong and Miller show does a series of wonderful send-ups of the typical narrator/anchor of public television documentaries. This short skit appears to have been a regular running gag on their show. More funny routines here.
Don Rickles, Ruth Buzzi, and Arte Johnson – bloopers from Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In
An evening pause: This sequence shows the almost vain attempt to shoot a series of quick jokes using the running gag of Buzzi playing her character “Gladys” on a park bench being “accosted” by Arte Johnson, playing his character “Tyrone”. Rickles adds another element. It shows again that humor is at its heart silliness. If you can’t be silly you can’t be funny, and these three comedians certainly understood that.
Hat tip Cotour.
Dry Bar Comedy – Dumb song lyrics
An evening pause: This is long, but if you like popular music, of all kinds, you will find it worth the watching. To paraphrase one comedian, you will never hear these songs (or most other pop songs) the same way again.
Hat tip Diane Zimmerman.
Smothers Brothers – Hippie Chick Clip
An evening pause: A wonderful moment from the 1960s, performed brilliantly by actress Leigh French and resulting in some wonderful and gentle satire of the hippie culture of the time. Context is also important, because the Smothers Brothers were constantly having problems with their television censors.
Hat tip Judd Clark.
Leanne Morgan – When You Go To Concerts With Old People
An evening pause: A warning: If you are younger than sixty, this describes your future, whether you want to believe it or not.
Hat tip Diane Zimmerman.
Dude Dad – If Toddlers Had Lawyers
An evening pause: Definitely not Perry Mason, though certainly inspired by him.
Hat tip Diane Zimmerman.
Tiny Tim’s first appearance on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson
An evening pause: Aired live April 4, 1968. This important moment in time not only illustrates the incredible tolerant and eccentric nature of 1960s culture, it shows us Johnny Carson at his best. He recognizes the eccentricity of his guest, uses it for humor, but then is also sincerely willing to interview Tim and let him express himself. As always, Carson is kind to his guest, which is one of the reasons his audience loved him so much.
Carson also recognized that Tiny Tim’s eccentricity was great entertainment (something Tim recognized himself quite clearly), which is why Carson allowed the appearance to go so long. It was good show business.
Hat tip Judd Clark.
Steve Martin – King Tut
Abbott & Costello – Modern Math
An evening pause: From their 1941 movie, In the Navy.
Hat tip sippin_bourbon, who “actually re-enacted this for a few classmates in 7th grade, then walked out
while they scratched their heads. The teacher, who had been watching caught me in the way out the door and told me not to do that on a test.” Sadly, a modern teacher today might consider this good math.
Don McMillan – Comedy for scientists
An evening pause: I wonder how many of my readers will get that last joke.
Hat tip Tom Biggar. And a great weekend to all.
SANS ICS HyperEncabulator
An evening pause: Essentially, a detailed and accurate history of the important encabulating technology that has revolutionized all technology, both real and imagined.
Hat tip Wayne DeVette.
Zladko “Zlad” Vladcik – Elektronik Supersonik
An evening pause: Actually, this was created by filmmaker Santo Cilauro, who plays Vladcik in the video. I think it showed up on Youtube in the 2000s, but this isn’t confirmed. It is meant to be as silly as Spike Jones.
Hat tip sippin_bourbon.
Spike Jones – Tchaikovsky Medley
An evening pause: A bit of classic American silliness to herald in the weekend. Aired live June 7, 1952.
Hat tip Tom Biggar.
Weird Al Yankovic – Smells Like Nirvana
An evening pause: Seems to me, this expresses perfectly the level of thoughtfulness seen in many hard rock music videos, only it does it more honestly.
Hat tip Gene Shipp.
Jonathan Winters Tells Drinking Stories
An evening pause: Seems appropriate to usher in the weekend. From the Johnny Carson Show, 1976.
Hat tip Gene Shipp.
Robin Williams first appearance on the Johnny Carson Show
Manualist John Twomey on The Tonight Show, New Year’s eve, 1986
A evening pause: This silliness is perfect as we head into the New Year’s eve weekend.
Note: He was anticipating a Michigan victory in the Rose Bowl, which wouldn’t happen until the next day. Unfortunately, Michigan lost.
Hat tip Judd Clark.
The Jack Benny Show – November 4, 1951
An evening pause: This was the first episode in Benny’s second season on television, following nineteen years doing a regular radio show. The first singer is Bob Crosby, brother of Bing. The taxi driver is Mel Blanc, voice of Bugs Bunny and almost all of the characters in Warner Brothers best cartoons.
Almost everything in this episode works, but make sure especially you stay with it to see the Benny’s performance as lead fiddler of a hillbilly band.