Blog Archives

…Laugh It Off

Posted by Zer

With less than one day to go until decision time, some of you undecided voters out there might be getting a little nervous, as you should be.

After all, your vote (combined with your fellow indecisive voters) could be the determining vote in this election (possibly).

At this point, let’s face it, if the issues haven’t swayed you one way or the other they’re probably not going to. So what are your options?

Well, you could go the traditional route of voting for the candidate whose billboard, bumper sticker or attack ad you see last before entering the polling location. But that seems a bit unreliable.

You could also base it on the fairly accurate “Halloween masks” statistic or the incredibly accurate “cookie tasting contest” statistics (Obama should win according to both). But those both seem almost too reliable.

If you’re looking to mix it up you could go with the “last laugh” approach.

A study of the presidential race recently revealed that Mitt Romney has been the butt of the joke more than twice as often as President Obama.

Whether that is a good thing or a bad thing depends on which way you lean. Which I guess if you’re undecided you probably don’t know which way that is?

Well, if all else fails you can always draw names out of a hat. Now you’ll just have to decide which hat…it never ends._________________________________________

…Make ‘Em Laugh

Sep 14

Posted by Zer

The best film ever may be a matter of opinion, but according to a recent research study, “Airplane,” is the funniest movie ever made.

The research conducted by a film subscription, the study used a laughs-a-minute scale to judge the humor levels of each of the films shown.

The victor came out with a score of 3 laughs a minute.

Other films coming in the top 10 include “The Hangover”(2.4), “Anchorman”(1.6), and “Bridesmaids”(1.4).

You’ll notice quite a few movies missing from the list, not to mention the absence of any sort of scientific method to how this study was conducted.

Were age and gender taken into account when choosing participants? How was a laugh defined? Was the duration of each laugh taken into account? Or did a chortle count the same as a minute long belly laugh?

Or more importantly, where are “Caddyshack”, “Office Space” and “Young Frankenstein”?

This study may be less than scientific, but I demand a recount.
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…Fool You Thrice

Jan 14

Posted by Zer

Actors, actresses, directors, producers and other assorted celebrities (still not sure why some of you are “famous”) watch out. It’s the eve of the Golden Globes, and if you haven’t figured it out already, you’re all fair game.

Yes, despite the hullabaloo raised every year during the weeks after the awards, Mr. Ricky Gervais has been invited back as this year’s master of ceremonies.

That means those of us at home get to watch as those who can’t take a joke, squirm anxiously in their seats. While those who really can’t take a joke abuse their microphone privileges.

After all the outrage and strong language following the 2010 and 2011 awards, it may be hard to believe that the Golden Globes would be welcoming this fearless comedian back to the mic. They were after all supremely sorry for any offense that Mr. Gervais might have caused.

However, in this his third year as host, it’s hard to believe that they actually think that he will, or even want him to change his style.

It should be an awesome time. Of course, if you find yourself wondering why in the world Gervais would be asked back not once, but twice. Well, you probably can’t take a joke either.

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…play god

Sep 17

Posted by Stephanie

...think of it as a magic wand...that makes your hand cramp...

In the grand scheme of things it’s often hard to say who played the biggest role in any given undertaking.

Does any one person really matter more than the rest?

Is there any way to really be certain?

In the world of television…yes, yes there is.

I’m not talking about the money; although, who doesn’t love (or want to be) a producer?

Yes, the act of creative work is a collaborative process and no one player is more important than the others, etc…

But in the world of entertainment there is no world without writers.

You can hire all the actors and crew and other creatives (who we love) as you want, but there’s going to be a lot of standing around until you get yourself a writer…or some pen and paper for your crew and actors.

Remember the writers’ strike? Remember those months of no new television shows? What a nightmare.

A lot of good shows paid the ultimate price (RIP Pushing Daisies)…and I believe I’ve made my point.

Writers are the backbone of the entertainment industry. They may not be the most glamorous or recognized, but without them no one would have anything to produce.

You may argue that a good concept is more important. You would be wrong, and clearly missed No Ordinary Family…such a good idea…such a boring show.

Some shows may try to blind you with fun songs and dance numbers… and it hurts me to say this but…what happened to your plot line Glee?

And a horrible actor can kill even the strongest of writing…it happens.

However, at the end of the day the strength of your witty banter and the structural integrity of your plot will define the quality of your show.

Which is why it’s recognized in the following categories:

Outstanding Writing for a…

We may be a little biased towards the writers and their level of importance, but it’s an occupational hazard (the false pomposity et al).

Of course we recognize that it truly takes a lot of people to make a show happen. You remove any one piece and it just doesn’t work as well.

So as we head into the day of reckoning (and some final predictions) let us just say thank you. Our weekday evenings wouldn’t be the same without all of you.

…and our apologies to all of the categories not covered this week, including but not limited to:

Casting
Hosting
Music
Stunts

It’s not that we don’t appreciate you…it’s just that there are only seven days in a week…so give us a break…we still love you. There’s always next year.

__________________________________

…bi-daily smile…

Posted in Humor, News, Opinion, Randomness, Thoughts

…laugh your worries away

Sep 13

Posted by Stephanie

A joke’s a very serious thing

~Charles Churchill, The Ghost (1763), book iv, line 1386

Laughter is a funny thing. Seriously.

It can be a boon, a relief, or completely humiliating.

A truly good comedy takes advantage of all three.

Yet, you’re still left with the undeniable fact that someone will not find it funny.

Their loss.

This years nominees for Outstanding Comedy Series are proof of another fact about comedy, good comedy is smart.

Mindless entertainment has no place here, because above all comedy should make you think, or have thought at one point in your life.

Television writers, a glee club, a contemporary family, a paper company, a government office, and a group of physicists (and an engineer and an actor) all find a home in the top television comedies this year (as determined by the nominators).

It’s a broad range to say the least. Yet humor is abundant in each…yes, we’ve watched all of these shows…some more than others.

So why do we like comedy so much?

I could launch into a long-winded academically driven speech about the foundations of comedy, it’s cathartic foundation, and the benefits of seeing our own foibles in others.

But I won’t.

Comedy is the art of the unexpected, the truly ridiculous, and the unexpectedly sentimental.

It can be profane and graphic or innocent and sweet. It offends it, it reveals, but it usually makes you laugh.

Because at the end of the day I think we’re all looking for a chance to laugh–laugh at ourselves (the good and the bad), laugh at the ridiculousness of it all (the good and the bad), or just laugh.

And really that’s the best thing television can do for any of us, give us something to smile about…followed up by your local cable news.

_______________________________________

Emmys.com

…bi-daily smile…

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