USD: My answer to your query over my humor.....

[MWittman]

USD:

I chose to answer your question in a new thread in part with the aim of drawing some attention away from the thread dominating the forum. After reading Cat Box's request to respond, it slowly dawned on me with an inexorable sense I and some others have a duty and responsibility to salvage the site in the off season. Who knows? This thread may reduce the temperature in the forum, at least for the time being.

I do indeed find several comedians born after 1930 to have provided me with quality humor. What I am opposed to is street-level or undergraduate humor, which often relies on fecal matter to induce laughter, and of which dominates the modern comic landscape.

Just off the top of my head, I find the following to be brilliant humorists:

John Cleese, Eric Idle, Michael Palin, Graham Chapman, Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam, Stephen Frye, Peter Cook, Peter Sellers, Rowan Atkinson, Dave Allen, Christopher Guest, Ricky Gervais, Louis CK, Woody Allen, Elaine May, George Carlin, and Dave Chappelle.

As I said earlier, this is just a short list, but would invite you to contribute.

 

[pjjp]

This comedic scene reminds me of the Edgytim board experience:

 

[Bowie50]

USD:

I chose to answer your question in a new thread in part with the aim of drawing some attention away from the thread dominating the forum. After reading Cat Box's request to respond, it slowly dawned on me with an inexorable sense I and some others have a duty and responsibility to salvage the site in the off season. Who knows? This thread may reduce the temperature in the forum, at least for the time being.

I do indeed find several comedians born after 1930 to have provided me with quality humor. What I am opposed to is street-level or undergraduate humor, which often relies on fecal matter to induce laughter, and of which dominates the modern comic landscape.

Just off the top of my head, I find the following to be brilliant humorists:

John Cleese, Eric Idle, Michael Palin, Graham Chapman, Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam, Stephen Frye, Peter Cook, Peter Sellers, Rowan Atkinson, Dave Allen, Christopher Guest, Ricky Gervais, Louis CK, Woody Allen, George Carlin, and Dave Chappelle.

As I said earlier, this is just a short list, but would invite you to contribute.

Weird. No women comedians on your list.

 

[jwarigaku]

MWittman,

Was wondering your thoughts on the following?

Chevy Chase, Dan Akroid, John Belushi, Steven Wright, Ted Knight, Bob Newhart, Mary Tyler Moore, Robin Williams, George Burns, Carol Burnett, Eddie Murphie, Phyliss Diller, Richard Pryor, Lily Tomlin, Don Rickles, Bill Cosby, Billy Crystal, Gilda Radner, Mel Brooks, Steve Martin, and Joel Cohen.

USD:

I chose to answer your question in a new thread in part with the aim of drawing some attention away from the thread dominating the forum. After reading Cat Box's request to respond, it slowly dawned on me with an inexorable sense I and some others have a duty and responsibility to salvage the site in the off season. Who knows? This thread may reduce the temperature in the forum, at least for the time being.

I do indeed find several comedians born after 1930 to have provided me with quality humor. What I am opposed to is street-level or undergraduate humor, which often relies on fecal matter to induce laughter, and of which dominates the modern comic landscape.

Just off the top of my head, I find the following to be brilliant humorists:

John Cleese, Eric Idle, Michael Palin, Graham Chapman, Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam, Stephen Frye, Peter Cook, Peter Sellers, Rowan Atkinson, Dave Allen, Christopher Guest, Ricky Gervais, Louis CK, Woody Allen, Elaine May, George Carlin, and Dave Chappelle.

As I said earlier, this is just a short list, but would invite you to contribute.

 

[Voodoo Tatum 21]

Porkys (first one only. All sequels suck) - best junior high humor in a movie comedy ever

Fast times at Ridgemont High - best 80’s comedy.

MWittman - page/post stealer! I am sad you didn’t find anything redeeming or funny in the Dumpster thread. You didn’t even laugh when HHS was going to check with mom on the type of trust the doublewide is in?

 

[Doctor_D]

No mention of Bill Murray? Wasn’t he a Loyola guy?

 

[MWittman]

MWittman,

Was wondering your thoughts on the following?

Chevy Chase, Dan Akroid, John Belushi, Steven Wright, Ted Knight, Bob Newhart, Mary Tyler Moore, Robin Williams, George Burns, Carol Burnett, Eddie Murphie, Phyliss Diller, Richard Pryor, Lily Tomlin, Don Rickles, Bill Cosby, Billy Crystal, Gilda Radner, Mel Brooks, Steve Martin, and Joel Cohen.

jwar:

You have compiled an impressive list, but I consider a majority of those you chose to fall into a second-tier category of comedians. This is not to say you are addicted to trash, but I never found Chevy Chase, Mary Tyler Moore, Eddie Murphy, Phyllis Diller, Lily Tomlin, Robin Williams, Billy Crystal, or Joel Cohen as funny as the ones I prefer. To you credit, your bracket of comedians don't come even close to Carrot Top, Pauly Shore or Jim Carrey level.

You did pick a few quality writers/comedians. Belushi was quite funny as an actor and a capable writer as well; he contributed greatly as a writer at National Lampoon and SNL. Steven Wright's stiff delivery makes solid comedy. George Burns and Carol Burnett were very funny; Don Rickles made me crack; Richard Pryor was hilarious; and Steve Martin certainly acquitted himself in the comic arena. Sadly, Belushi's death crippled Dan Ackroyd's career and all Chevy Chase could do was fall down.

I must point out, much to my embarrassment and again to your credit, you tossed Ted Knight in your list. To the exception of Jackie Gleason, no actor ever performed the role of a blowhard better than Knight.

As far as Mel Brooks, he started off with some amusing comedies, particularly with Young Frankenstein, but he too dropped down to the "potty-humor" films with High Anxiety and Blazing Saddles. High Anxiety was a very funny tribute to Hitchcock until the scene in which the birds defecate all over Brooks' character. Please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It wasted the talent of his cast, particularly Cloris Leachman, who always portrayed masculine characters brilliantly. Nurse Diesel? Frau Blucher? Some great comic acting.........

Several years ago, a neighbor sent me a link to a hilarious show which I have looked at on occasion. Watch this clip from Studio C.



But today's comedy is just too childish and foul for me to spend even the $20 for my wife and I to go to the theater. We enjoyed Dunkirk, Darkest Hour, and Last Men in Aleppo immensely in 2017. In contrast, we walked out of The Post, a piece of revisionist crap; I also walked out of Trumbo, Fury, and I will not pay for or watch an Oliver Stone film since storming out of Platoon in 1987. Stone is the most dishonest filmmaker I've ever seen. I'm convinced Stone was involved in the filming of Fury in some way.

I won't subsidize the lifestyle of as*holes like Stone, Clooney, Pauly Shore, Carrot Top, or Jim Carrey.

 

[MWittman]

MWittman - page/post stealer! I am sad you didn’t find anything redeeming or funny in the Dumpster thread. You didn’t even laugh when HHS was going to check with mom on the type of trust the doublewide is in?

Voodoo:

I think I did find a redeeming quality: I mentioned quite clearly the emergence of Major Frank Burns. I noted jwar and Newt were the only posters to observe his arrival in the forum.

BTW: The dumpster fire thread is now in its 22nd page. It could surpass nuclear fallout and could enter uncharted territory........

 

[jwarigaku]

MWitt,

I am truly impressed Joel Cohen didn’t spin you for a moment. With these comedians I think back to mostly their early work and honestly every time I think of Ford I can’t get Chevy Chase out of my mind.

jwar:

You have compiled an impressive list, but I consider a majority of those you chose to fall into a second-tier category of comedians. This is not to say you are addicted to trash, but I never found Chevy Chase, Mary Tyler Moore, Eddie Murphy, Phyllis Diller, Lily Tomlin, Robin Williams, Billy Crystal, or Joel Cohen as funny as the ones I prefer. To you credit, your bracket of comedians don't come even close to Carrot Top, Pauly Shore or Jim Carrey level.

You did pick a few quality writers/comedians. Belushi was quite funny as an actor and a capable writer as well; he contributed greatly as a writer at National Lampoon and SNL. Steven Wright's stiff delivery makes solid comedy. George Burns and Carol Burnett were very funny; Don Rickles made me crack; Richard Pryor was hilarious; and Steve Martin certainly acquitted himself in the comic arena. Sadly, Belushi's death crippled Dan Ackroyd's career and all Chevy Chase could do was fall down.

I must point out, much to my embarrassment and again to your credit, you tossed Ted Knight in your list. To the exception of Jackie Gleason, no actor ever performed the role of a blowhard better than Knight.

As far as Mel Brooks, he started off with some amusing comedies, particularly with Young Frankenstein, but he too dropped down to the "potty-humor" films with High Anxiety and Blazing Saddles. High Anxiety was a very funny tribute to Hitchcock until the scene in which the birds defecate all over Brooks' character. Please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It wasted the talent of his cast, particularly Cloris Leachman, who always portrayed masculine characters brilliantly. Nurse Diesel? Frau Blucher? Some great comic acting.........

Several years ago, a neighbor sent me a link to a hilarious show which I have looked at on occasion. Watch this clip from Studio C.



But today's comedy is just too childish and foul for me to spend even the $20 for my wife and I to go to the theater. We enjoyed Dunkirk, Darkest Hour, and Last Men in Aleppo immensely in 2017. In contrast, we walked out of The Post, a piece of revisionist crap; I also walked out of Trumbo, Fury, and I will not pay for or watch an Oliver Stone film since storming out of Platoon in 1987. Stone is the most dishonest filmmaker I've ever seen. I'm convinced Stone was involved in the filming of Fury in some way.

I won't subsidize the lifestyle of as*holes like Stone, Clooney, Pauly Shore, Carrot Top, or Jim Carrey.

 

[jwarigaku]

Honestly when Edgy joined in it became the raging inferno it was destined to become.

Voodoo:

I think I did find a redeeming quality: I mentioned quite clearly the emergence of Major Frank Burns. I noted jwar and Newt were the only posters to observe his arrival in the forum.

BTW: The dumpster fire thread is now in its 22nd page. It could surpass nuclear fallout and could enter uncharted territory........

 

[Voodoo Tatum 21]

Voodoo:

I think I did find a redeeming quality: I mentioned quite clearly the emergence of Major Frank Burns. I noted jwar and Newt were the only posters to observe his arrival in the forum.

BTW: The dumpster fire thread is now in its 22nd page. It could surpass nuclear fallout and could enter uncharted territory........

Your right. I loved Major Frank Burns character in MASH the TV series (not so much in the movie) and I also like the new poster using the handle of Good ole Frank Burns.

Bunch of new or returning from long absences posters coming into the threads this offseason! Great sign that the fall will be fun and exciting!

Where is Dusty of Selection? I thought that was a funny handle but as they say - imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

 

[MC63]

The funniest comedian I ever enjoyed was Jonathan Winters; my favorite comedy actor was WC Fields; my favorite "light" comedy (there is a difference) actor was Alec Guiness; and the guy who died way too soon was Ernie Kovacs. My favorite comedy director is Woody Allen. Tom Hanks is the most over-rated light comedy actor. Farrell, Carey and Stiller are just awful.

 

[MWittman]

The funniest comedian I ever enjoyed was Jonathan Winters; my favorite comedy actor was WC Fields; my favorite "light" comedy (there is a difference) actor was Alec Guiness; and the guy who died way too soon was Ernie Kovacs. My favorite comedy director is Woody Allen. Tom Hanks is the most over-rated light comedy actor. Farrell, Carey and Stiller are just awful.

MC:

Agree on all.

Jonathan Winters' performance in It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World was my first introduction to his genius. Kovacs was terrific in many roles on his show, especially as the bizarrely effeminate "artiste" lush, Percy Dovetonsils.









I heard Jack Lemmon was once one of the men in the ape suit.

Ironic you mention Guinness and the less-than-middling talent, Tom Hanks. Hanks nearly ruined Guinness' character in The Ladykillers. Tom Hanks only plays himself.

It's really tragic witnessing how far comedy has fallen in this country.

 

[Cat Box]

Voodoo:

I think I did find a redeeming quality: I mentioned quite clearly the emergence of Major Frank Burns. I noted jwar and Newt were the only posters to observe his arrival in the forum.

BTW: The dumpster fire thread is now in its 22nd page. It could surpass nuclear fallout and could enter uncharted territory........

MWittman - if you despise bathroom humor, you must wince at my handle "Cat Box" and the subtle graphic.

 

[ramblinman_rivals165935]

In no particular order, the following come to mind when I think of who/what makes me laugh:

All Monty Python shows and movies
All FawltyTowers episodes
All Christopher Guest mockumentaries
Chris Rock
Rita Rudner
Steven Wright
George Carlin
Louie Anderson
Sam Kinnison
Margaret Cho
Tim Conway
The Three Stooges (Moe, Larry & Curly...not Shemp and Joe)
Richard Pryor
Peter Sellers
Larry David
Sacha Baron Cohen
Tina Fey
John Candy
Martin Short

 

[MC63]

MC:

Agree on all.

Jonathan Winters' performance in It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World was my first introduction to his genius. Kovacs was terrific in many roles on his show, especially as the bizarrely effeminate "artiste" lush, Percy Dovetonsils.









I heard Jack Lemmon was once one of the men in the ape suit.

Ironic you mention Guinness and the less-than-middling talent, Tom Hanks. Hanks nearly ruined Guinness' character in The Ladykillers. Tom Hanks only plays himself.

it's really tragic witnessing how far comedy has fallen in this country.

While promoting his version of The Ladykillers, Tom Hanks actually admitted to David Letterman that he had never seen the original movie. I was floored. How could someone who passes himself off a a "brilliant" light comedy actor not be familiar with one of the absolute greatest examples of that genre?

Note, I believe that Edmund Gwenn's performance in the original Miracle on 34th Street was outstanding. It's amazing how much better the movie is on a DVD as compared to being chopped up on channel 9 (with the Victory Auto Wreckers commercial every five minutes).

Note 2- regarding Ernie Kovacs, he also did the Muriel cigar commercials on his show. In one, he was a slow handed gunslinger who was hit with six bullets before he got could shoot. Before collapsing, he took a puff of his Muriel, and smoke flew out of six holes in his chest. Brilliant. He left his wife, Edie Adams, with horrendous tax bills, which she worked several years to pay off.

 

[MWittman]

MWittman - if you despise bathroom humor, you must wince at my handle "Cat Box" and the subtle graphic.

Cat:

Your handle elicited a roll of the eyes, but I do read what you write and have found you to be a legitimate contributor.

Let me put it to you this way: I've seen much worse..........

 

[MWittman]

While promoting his version of The Ladykillers, Tom Hanks actually admitted to David Letterman that he had never seen the original movie. I was floored. How could someone who passes himself off a a "brilliant" light comedy actor not be familiar with one of the absolute greatest examples of that genre?

MC:

Actually, I am not shocked he never saw the original. I think it's entirely consistent with what Hollywood serves up today. Mediocre acting, poor scripts, plot holes galore, utterly preposterous storylines, and passing off absolute fiction as "based on actual events."

Note 2- regarding Ernie Kovacs, he also did the Muriel cigar commercials on his show. In one, he was a slow handed gunslinger who was hit with six bullets before he got could shoot. Before collapsing, he took a puff of his Muriel, and smoke flew out of six holes in his chest. Brilliant. He left his wife, Edie Adams, with horrendous tax bills, which she worked several years to pay off.

Never saw the advertisement, but I knew about the tax troubles he left for Adams. I admire his resistance to paying taxes, but I was very disappointed he left his wife in quite a lurch. I also admired her method of getting out of it: She refused numerous offers of help from their Hollywood friends and worked it out herself.

 

[MWittman]

MC, ramblin:

I was impressed with a majority of both your lists and want to recommend Louie CK to both of you. I'm fairly confident you have seen him.....

Please indulge me here: I just figured out how to attach media and while I know I overdid it with the Kovacs' videos, I'll do it again with a few humorous Louie CK clips.







We enjoyed Louie quite a bit and watched his Horace and Pete show and liked it as much, but my wife abandon Louie after he was ensnared in the #metoo campaign.

It's amazing how humor or even drama can divide the genders. Years ago, I recommended we watch the Polanski classic, Chinatown. My wife had never seen it and was immediately skeptical because she disliked Polanski after he drugged a 13-year-old, tried to have his way with her, and skipped town. Although I shared her disgust with Polanski, he did revive a genre with his classic film noir starring Nicholson.

We watched (I had seen it several times prior) and she enjoyed the first hour and 53 minutes. As you two might suspect, the last 15 minutes sent her into a tailspin as the center of the plot is exposed to revolve around incest.

When I want to have a bit of fun at her expense, I suggest we watch it. I always receive a glacial stare in return.

 

[crusader_of_90]

How did Shape of Water win Best Picture - it was horrible.

 

[Doctor_D]

Leslie Nielsen? I always enjoyed his oblivious deadpan delivery.

 

[Cat Box]

MC, ramblin:

I was impressed with a majority of both your lists and want to recommend Louie CK to both of you. I'm fairly confident you have seen him.....

Please indulge me here: I just figured out how to attach media and while I know I overdid it with the Kovacs' videos, I'll do it again with a few humorous Louie CK clips.







We enjoyed Louie quite a bit and watched his Horace and Pete show and liked it as much, but my wife abandon Louie after he was ensnared in the #metoo campaign.

It's amazing how humor or even drama can divide the genders. Years ago, I recommended we watch the Polanski classic, Chinatown. My wife had never seen it and was immediately skeptical because she disliked Polanski after he drugged a 13-year-old, tried to have his way with her, and skipped town. Although I shared her disgust with Polanski, he did revive a genre with his classic film noir starring Nicholson.

We watched (I had seen it several times prior) and she enjoyed the first hour and 53 minutes. As you two might suspect, the last 15 minutes sent her into a tailspin as the center of the plot is exposed to revolve around incest.

When I want to have a bit of fun at her expense, I suggest we watch it. I always receive a glacial stare in return.

MWittman,
What if Louie CK incorporated a bowel movement reference in his scene with the airline clerk, would he still be funny?
(Louie CK - Excuse me ma'am, is there a bathroom nearby? I feel like I'm crowning... Woman - pardon me? I don't understand... Louie CK: There's a brown turtle in my pants, I need to find the bathroom ASAP.)

Or perhaps the doctor, while eating his sandwich, "leans over" and breaks wind. No one is expecting the quiet, introspective doctor to do such a thing.

Maybe a cough cover. That could be funny, right?

 

[Cat Box]

Outrageous...

 

[Cat Box]

So ridiculous...

 

[ramblinman_rivals165935]

MC, ramblin:

I was impressed with a majority of both your lists and want to recommend Louie CK to both of you. I'm fairly confident you have seen him.....

I have seen him, and I like his stuff. I just haven't seen him anywhere close to as often as I have seen most of the others in my list. I give him a lot of credit for the way he owned up to the sexual misconduct accusations of him made by five women.

 

[MWittman]

Maybe a cough cover. That could be funny, right?

Cat:

Well, so much for you being a legitimate poster....................LOL.