September 6, 2008
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Featured Grownups: Humor
Humor 
A blogring topic post for the Featured Grownups blogring and site: "It's time to talk about the funnybone ~ What is your idea of humor, what makes you laugh? Who makes you laugh?
Write (a) funny post or tell us about what's funny to you! Laughter is healthy and we need some here... "
I used to joke around with my roommate Joel about humor. He was too analytical about what he thought was funny, and would try to "explain" what makes something funny. I on the other hand just laugh. I can't and don't want to "explain" what makes something funny, and I always think that someone who does attempt to do so is flying in the face of the concept. If something is funny to me, I laugh. I will laugh in a crowd. I will laugh out loud while in the confines of my own room alone. I chuckle at my own foibles. I don't have a governor on my sense of humor either. If I find something humorous, everyone around me knows. My best friend Tom (rest his soul) had a booming laugh which couldn't be governed either. When the both of us were watching a funny movie in a theater, we were usually the loudest to respond.
For me, humor is a gut feeling, and no dissertation can sway me to think about what I find funny, or why certain people or age groups or sexes find some thing funny but not another. For my take on this subject, I could list my favorite comedians. I could attempt to write something in a "humorous vein". But instead, I'll "show" you what I find funny, and I'm sure you'll laugh along. Clips courtesy of YouTube.
Tex Avery Cartoon: "King Size Canary" from 1947
Tex Avery was one of the original animators at Warner's Termite Terrace in the 30s. He created Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck. In the 40s, he moved over to Metro, where he created Screwy Squirrel and Droopy. The "Looney Tunes" were always more slapsticky and satirical than the product offered by rival cartoon studio Disney. Avery took a lot of this trademark humor with him when he went to Metro. I first saw "King Size Canary" in the 50s as a child on morning kiddie cartoon shows. The version I found on YouTube is missing the opening credits and first half minute or so of the cartoon, but it is in pretty good condition. This is among the funniest cartoons of all time. (In my humble opinion.)
If you'd like to sample some more of Avery's outrageous humor, which has been co-opted by many cartoon and real comedians for decades, check out "The Cat That Hated People" ("They step on you, and walk on you, and step on you, and walk on you...") and "Lonesome Lenny." ("You know, I had a little friend once, but he don't move no more...")
Groucho Marx and the Marx Brothers: Montage from the Marx Brothers movies in the 1930s
A lot of people love the Three Stooges, but I always thought they were just a second rate Marx Brothers. Some of the best komedy komedy komedy of all times came from Vaudeville, and both the Stooges and the Marx Brothers started out in that arena. Both groups took their acts to film in the early 30s. Below is a "mashup" of bits and pieces of different Marx Brothers movies from YouTube member deaner366. Marx Brothers aficionados have their favorite brother, and mine has always been Groucho.
So, I hope that this little double feature gives Pam and the Featured Grownups some laughs. Humor is contagious. Share some with your friends. MFN/ppf
Comments (55)
Thanks Michael - you are linked
I agree it's definitely a gut feeling, and something is either funny to you, or it's not! If you have to think about it, then it's probably not funny. Great post.
I'm surprised that Gro potion didn't run out faster
I remember watching 3 Stooges, Little Rascals, Looney Tunes and MGM cartoons growing up. I must say, however, that as I got older, a little known cartoon called "Pinky and the Brain" caught my attention. Many people didn't "get it" because you had to have a certain level of education/knowledge of pop culture and a very quick wit to get the jokes. Even today, with the help of my Tivo, I find more jokes the writers left hidden in the credits which zoomed by in a blink of an eye. The only thing I see on t.v. today with a clean approach to comedy is a CGI show called "Back at the Barnyard" on Nickelodeon.
I laugh a lot when I'm alone, too. I also talk to myself . . .
I remember watching cartoons and comedys. Yesterday I spent the day with a list of old tv reruns from hulu.com on, they don't have cartoons, but I would have loved to have interspersed the cartoons between the sit coms. always brings me back to a nicer time to have them playing in the background.
Both of these are very funny, Mike. Humor definitely is contagious. Thank goodness for that :laugh:
thx Mike, i luvz humour. i enjoyed watching the cartoons, and ended up staying up too late watching 'duck soup'
RYC: I tell Nell quite often that she is funny and she looks at me like I'm nuts. For example, this summer I suggested she audition for the parody and she says, "but I can't be funny on demand." Can anyone? Truly? We all script our humor, testing it in little pieces on friends and family. Grief! I always practiced my stand up with friends to see how it would go over. Many times, I'd call Nell in to listen when she was just little. If she laughed, I knew what level the humor was at and either raised it, lowered it, or left it, depending on the audience. :p
Marx Brothers, Three Stooges, Laurel and Hardy, Abbott and Costello, Charlie Chaplin's Little Tramp, Buster Keaton, Harold Lloyd, Fanny Brice, McCarthy (that was the dummy run by the man whose name has escaped me)...the vaudeville to radio to film comedians...so many that came before them or after them.....humor without all the stupid swear words and graphic jokes. I miss that. :goodjob:
HUGS!!!.
@The_Queen_Bea - Dear Bea, Charlie McCarthy (and Mortimer Snerd) were the "dummies" of ventriloquist Edgar Bergen, father of Candice, who had a popular radio show in the 40s. Another hilarious ventriloquist comic from later on was Paul Winchell, whose "dummies" were Jerry Mahoney and Knucklehead Smiff. (He also voiced Tigger in the Disney Pooh cartoons.
I did better than recommend this post, Mike, I sent it to my son. I've seen these before, several times, and they never fail.. no matter what mood I'm in.. to at least get a grin out of me and, more likely, an unstoppable giggle. Thank you for making me feel like a little girl
:giggle:
:fun: 
:lookaround: :spinning: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
mmmm smileys... more smileys.. number 5 want MORE
Humor, you either get it or you don't
it's funny (pun intended) that a lot of those old silly things stressed me out to the max as a child. i couldn't watch the stooges or the marx bros because they made me feel ill inside. leave it to beaver did the same thing (i know- i'm probably the only one in the whole world who had a panic attack when she watched the beeve). i think it's because i didn't understand the humor back then. it wasn't funny bc it felt too real at times. some cartoons had the same effect. i saw an old cartoon in the movies (in color) about some animal/person/etc going down to hell to fight with the devil. it gave me nightmares for years and i'm sure it was a fairly harmless cartoon.
but i can't imagine a world where we didn't laugh...:fun:
I love Groucho too!
ryc: the dog goes back to the vet Thursday, he is not sick though, he's very active, he just appears to be very picky!
Truly sorry to read about your roommate. Words pall.
_________________
I love me some Red Dwarf, Get Smart, and Marx Brothers.
Almost all my entries are alt least "amusing".
Mike
I don't like describing funniness either, it kinda looses it's shine.
I have a very concrete son who is the same.
Nice post.
SD
Love them both, but especially the cartoon. I'm partial to classic cartoons!
Thanks for the visit to my site and the laughs too!
Michael, :wave:
I love these! I find almost everything funny, but you just can't be the classics!
Your friend,
Steve :sunny:
:wave: I am a huge fan of humor and comedy. My favorites are nearly too many to list, but the list doesn't contain many current comedien(nes) as I don't think they are all that funny. However, one current comedienne who gets a laugh from me is Rita Rudner. Bill Cosby really cracks me up, and I have his vinyl albums. Brother Dave Gardner, Godfrey Cambridge and now George Carlin are not with us physically, but their humor lives on for me. I never could stand The Three Stooges -- their physical antics were not amusing to me at all. My favorite combination acts are/were The Marx Brothers, (especially Groucho as one can tell from my blog) and Abbott and Costello. With Martin and Lewis, all Jerry would have to do is walk out on stage on TV and I'd start laughing. :laugh:
I loved Tex Avery & all Warner Bros. Cartoons, Bugs Bunny, Porky Pig, etc. My favorite one is of Bugs at a concert or opera where he's going in and out of the row of seats with "S'cuse me, par'me, s'cuse me, par'me, s'cuse me par'me . . ." I bring that one up a lot when I have to get past a line of people. Of course, if they're not old enough, they don't catch the humor.
Regarding literary humor, I think Mark Twain is the best. The funniest book I ever read by him is Puddin' Head Wilson. :goodjob:
It has been documented now that laughter is good for one's health and healing. We need more of it, much more, methinks. :fun:
~~Blessings 'n cheers
@DonnaLou - Dear Donna Lou, I caught Rita Rudner's act in Vegas a few years ago. She's always a class act. The "scuse me" gag you mention was implemented later on in the movie "National Lampoon's Animal House" in the early 70s. I remember the exact cartoon you're thinking of however.
Animal House, too. Very funny!
And Mel Brooks' comedy, Blazing Saddles was hilarious!
I always love the classic comedy especially the Charlie Chaplin, The Marx Brothers and Harold Lloyd. I find the The 3 Stooges too annoying.
Hi Michael! This is a great post - I recommended it.
I love stand up comedy... grew up listening to Bill Cosby with my Dad
I liked Boulder Dam in the toon.
The Marx Bros. were genius as well as Chaplin,Mack Sennett,Harold Lloyd and later on Carol Burnette and the list goes on.
Great post as always.
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