“Why do you write a humor blog”, she asked. That wasn’t the stupid part. The stupid part was telling her. Sometimes when you just meet someone and there is a pause in the conversation you just say something at random. Most of us know not to talk about our blogs. And I generally don’t. But I did over the weekend.
There is nothing more important than humor, yet it is very hard to define. I use this example. If w
e were watching a movie, a drama let’s say, most people would either agree that the film was good or agree it was not. Now that doesn’t mean that Ebert & Roper agree on ever
y drama, but their opinions are closer. Comedy? In my Dad’s day there was no one he thought sucked more than Jerry Lewis. Why? My Dad doesn’t like slapstick. What he doesn’t understand is that lots of other people do enjoy slapstick. In this way however, I’m with my Dad. If Jim Carey or Adam Sandler is in a movie, I won’t watch it. It does not make me correct, it is just that humor is so much more an individual choice than drama, or action, or adventure or fill in the blank.
Today I de
cided to listen to a tape from 1967 for inspiration. First I heard Bouncing Billy sing a jingle for “Kanine Krunchies”. He had to explain it was a jingle from the Disney movie, “101 Dalmations”. The jingle isn’t nearly as good as Bill Savitt’s, but we have sung it for over 40 years. I did not remember the first time I heard it, and there it was, a Bouncing Billy “fill-in the dead air” thing that just stuck. Then on that same Tape Radio show Billy told me to answer all his stories with, “Why Don’t You Send Her to a Psychiatrist?” I was game and here is how it went way back on WTIT Tape 9, recorded in August of 1967.
Billy: You gotta help me, you gotta help me, my wife thinks she is a birthday card!
Bud: Why Don’t You Send Her to a Psychiatrist?
Billy: Why? He never sent me one.
Billy: You gotta help me, you gotta help me, my wife thinks she is a moose’s head!
Bud: Why Don’t You Send Her to a Psychiatrist?
Billy: But what will I hang over the mantle?
Billy: You gotta help me, you gotta help me, my wife thinks she is a broken clock!
Bud: Why Don’t You Send Her to a Psychiatrist?
Billy: She hasn’t got the time!
Billy: You gotta help me, you gotta help me, my wife thinks she is a pretzel!
Bud: Why Don’t You Send Her to a Psychiatrist?
Billy: Good idea. Maybe he can straighten her out.
Billy: You gotta help me, you gotta help me
Bud: I can’t help you. You need a better comedy writer…
I am glad I pulled out that old tape today. I still laughed at those corny jokes. But it is okay if you don’t find them that funny. Humor is a relative thing.
Some of today’s post was
I think it can be culturally conditioned too.
Different cultures relate to different types of humour.
Take the differing sucessess of US comedies over here. Friends was popular, but Seinfeld, which I understand was very big in the US, we never quite got.
In the same way, the US liked The Office, but never got things like Blackadder and was totally bemused by Bottom, one of the most popular UK comedies ever.
CBI-
You make an good point. My aunt called to tell me about a great show, I watched it and hated it. Two days later in won an Emmy. Go figure…
I can watch Adam Sandler…Jim Carey is not my favorite…As far as comedy I think Robin Williams is the king of our generation…
“Maybe he can straighten her out” bwahahahahahahahahahaa
When are you going to start selling your tapes?
I agree with BOND – Robin WIlliams is great
This post has been removed by the author.
I'm SORRY Bud, I had to delete my first comment. I had too many spelling errors..one actually was very comical…but embarrassing. LOL!
Here is my post fixed:
Bud – How do you feel about Dean Martin's Variety show? Do you like that kind of comedy? My hubby and I bought all of the Variety shows that Greg Garrison put out…along with the Roasts. I know Dean did alot of physical comedy in it.
I love Dean Martin. I do also have to admit I love Adam Sandler & Jim Carrey too. I guess it depends what kind of mood you are in and what you want to watch. I can sit there and love Dean's variety show (and that voice!!!! and so handsome to boot) And I digress, LOL! I can also sit there and watch Jim Carrey be a complete lunatic in "Liar Liar" just because sometimes you just need "stupid funny". You know what I mean?
Vinny-
It’s a funny question. Considering the sheer volume of them and the “no holds barred” conversations that we have had since age 15, it would require a lot of both listening and editing. I think that while they have some value (listen to a group of friends discuss their lives for 40 + years) I am not sure it would be all that facinating. But I don’t know…
Debbie-
Yes Robin Williams is fantastic.
Jodi-
I do know what you mean. Carey is talented and versatile. He relies on physical humor a lot and that is where I lose him. But I see he’s gifted. I loved Dean Martin and particularly the “Roasts”…
I’ve never enjoyed slapstick either… I’m more partial to sarcasm.. but hey that’s just me!
I agree humor is a relative thing.
Dawn-
I like wit and sarcasm as well…
I think our senses of humor can change over time as well. And mood can have a lot to do with it too. I find that the things that are truly funny to me are the things that can snap me out of any kind of funk and make me laugh, and feel better.
Travis-
There is nothing like a great laugh…
I don’t mind watching Jim Carey…I would prefer to watch Adam Sandler.
Shannon-
Different strokes… 😉
Ayaah, it’s commonly known, there, Bud, that the very first comedies were written on cave walls by the aborigines in Papua New Guinea who were held prisoner for poor dramatic performance in their…well, aboriginal dramas.
Now, being locked up after a long performance–performances were known to last three or four days, as the schedule was yet to be invented–they were tired. So they sat and wrote mean things on the walls about their critics/jailers. And, uh, hence the origin of the word sat-tired, which we now enjoy as a form of entertainment.
Now, it’s fairly clear to the average astute observationalizer, that Adam Sandler and Jerry Lewis are related, accounting for the, uh, similarity in their comedic approach, which is basically, show up someplace where there’s filming and hang around.
Sandler, however, is nobody’s sidekick. That role and the term were invented by Jerry Lewis for the number of times Deano tripped over him drunk.
And, uh, if there’s anything else you’d like to know about what’s funny, you should probably ask Harvey Wallbanger. DAMN THAT GUY IS FUNNY.
A-
Harv is a funny guy!
Billy: You gotta help me, you gotta help me, my wife thinks she is a birthday card!
Bud: Why Don’t You Send Her to a Psychiatrist?
Billy: Why? He never sent me one.
Hahahaaaa!
I agree, different strokes for different folks. Both Jim Carrey and Adam Sandler have made me laugh big time. But then, I enjoy subtler comedy a lot too.
Lizza-
They are two very popular dudes…