It's just not funny anymore
March 29th 2008 04:20
I like to laugh. I love having fun. Doesn't everyone? I mean, I can't imagine there are many people in the world who would seriously claim they hate having a good time. "Enjoy myself? Naa. Doesn't interest me at all."
So, if having a laugh is a desirable pastime, why is it so difficult for me to achieve?
I admit, I am a little hard to please in the humour department. I can't stand slapstick or toilet humour. Movies such as Super Bad or The Three Stooges or comedians like Jim Carrey or Rodney Rude irritate me. I detest most sit coms which tend to be formulaic and cater to the lowest common denominator. And everywhere I look, it seems that there are so many products available to the masses who enjoy this type of ‘entertainment’.
But where can I find entertainment consisting of the stuff I find fun?
I have always tended toward more intelligent humour. Wit, satire, that sort of thing. I like humour to sneak up and surprise me with a clever twist, not a cream pie to the face. I admire the stand up comics who give me their self deprecating tales of their ordinary lives without the exaggerated dramas complete with sound effects. The talk show host who provides political commentary tongue in cheek, the only way that subject matter should be served.
I don’t claim to be a great intellect and I certainly don’t possess anything remotely resembling a scathing wit. I’m just tired of being fed poor substitutes for comedy which require me to dumb down to endure the experience. So I ask:
Where should I look for my laughs?
Am I a minority of one when in this?
Am I a humour snob?
So, if having a laugh is a desirable pastime, why is it so difficult for me to achieve?
I admit, I am a little hard to please in the humour department. I can't stand slapstick or toilet humour. Movies such as Super Bad or The Three Stooges or comedians like Jim Carrey or Rodney Rude irritate me. I detest most sit coms which tend to be formulaic and cater to the lowest common denominator. And everywhere I look, it seems that there are so many products available to the masses who enjoy this type of ‘entertainment’.
But where can I find entertainment consisting of the stuff I find fun?
I have always tended toward more intelligent humour. Wit, satire, that sort of thing. I like humour to sneak up and surprise me with a clever twist, not a cream pie to the face. I admire the stand up comics who give me their self deprecating tales of their ordinary lives without the exaggerated dramas complete with sound effects. The talk show host who provides political commentary tongue in cheek, the only way that subject matter should be served.
I don’t claim to be a great intellect and I certainly don’t possess anything remotely resembling a scathing wit. I’m just tired of being fed poor substitutes for comedy which require me to dumb down to endure the experience. So I ask:
Where should I look for my laughs?
Am I a minority of one when in this?
Am I a humour snob?
| 87 |
| Vote |
Subscribe to this blog
Comment by Harry
Sydney Diary
Personals
Brisbane Diarystar
Zoo Parent
Comment by ratchet
make believe
Life As We Know It
In an animated show, I enjoy the Family Guy (and to a lesser extent American Dad) series much more. Peter is a doofus but Brian and Stewie's dry wit save the show from being a Simpsons remake.
I enjoyed the earlier seasons of Seinfeld, when it was fresh and innovative. The later seasons, not so much.
Arrested Development, The Office and Extras are probably the only sit coms in the past few years that I've enjoyed watching and found very funny.
Summer Heights High and We Can Be Heroes I also enjoyed but I think they would only have a limited lifespan. Chris Lilley was smart enough to know when to let go.
What do you find funny Harry?
Comment by Morgan Bell
Science News
Deep Pencil
Business News
Movie Train
Artist Quirk
Comment by RubySoho
Music Zone
Thought Zone
I'd laugh at myself too if I wasn't silly enough to actually get involved...
Comment by Morgan Bell
Science News
Deep Pencil
Business News
Movie Train
Artist Quirk
i think its humerous how quickly some people resort to name-calling when they realise some of the sources in their article may not be reliable etc . . . it kind of takes the shine off those claiming to hold the higher moral ground . . . it just takes one person to make a statement and one person to debunk it and you can see all manners and civility crumble . . . people are fascinating creatures once their defence mechanism gets activated . . . so much colourful language . . . ive always been a fan of absurd and ironic humour!
i imagine people at their computers reading orble comments and flaring their nostrils and pulling their hair out . . . my imagination is the funniest place to be!
Comment by ratchet
make believe
Life As We Know It
Hmm Morgan I think you're right, I've been looking for my entertaniment in all the wrong places. All along I just needed to sniff out the contentious issues being slogged out between the fundamentalists and the hippies. So, where do I find my future source of entertainment? Help me out here.
Oh, and I've always said that the first person to utter an insult loses the argument.
Comment by Morgan Bell
Science News
Deep Pencil
Business News
Movie Train
Artist Quirk
thats brilliant!
i think i need to include that on my profile or something!
as for tv shows that are funny at the moment hmmm sometimes that tina fey show "30 Rock" can be quite clever, i dont fall off my clair laughing but it can make me smile . . . i like the Ellen talk-show, sometimes she has a funny joke . . . oh and My Name Is Earl is good . . . geez im really straining my brain thinking of anything at all hey haha . . . oh i like to laugh a BAD tv (see: "why oh why am i watching this?")
Comment by ratchet
make believe
Life As We Know It
But there is something deliciously fun about bad films. I don't mean the likes of Gigli or Super Bad, I'm referring to 'classics' such as Attack of the Killer Tomatoes, or Plan 9 from Outer Space. They're not exactly the intelligent humour I crave, but they are quirky and very entertaining in a cringing Ricky Gervais-like way. Ahh Ricky, my hero.
thats brilliant!
i think i need to include that on my profile or something!
You can't use that quote, it's intellectual plagiarism! (Oh, and nice PR work, glad to see you've still got it.)
Comment by Morgan Bell
Science News
Deep Pencil
Business News
Movie Train
Artist Quirk
now theres only one person i know who would recommend Plan 9 From Outer Space AND likes ricky gervais . . .
intellectual plagiarism? *scoff* haha
Comment by ratchet
make believe
Life As We Know It
I relate to the words of Mr Hemingway who lamented "Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know".
And so my quest for intelligent humour continues. I am cursed.
I am also a little melodramatic. Care to add me to your stable of talentless/unsuccessful artists?
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Humour - like you, not a fan of slapstick - I hate shows like Funniest Home Videos - unless it happens, without warning, right in front of you, on the street or something, without the voiceovers and sound effects. People walking into things = hilarious.
I think sitcoms with the limited sets and canned laughter went out several years before friends ended. It was done. The joke was over. I will, however, make exceptions for Little Britain and The Vicar of Dibley, Ab Fab and a few other English ones. There are a couple of good old Aussie ones too, like Mother and Son.
Incongruity, satire and wit are the things I love the most though. Oscar Wilde is a legend, as is Marian Keyes. The Australian comedy/drama SeaChange was brilliant. Chris Lilley and The Chasers definitely have their moments. And of course, Sex and the City.
And I gotta agree with Morgan - some of the fools on Orble are just bloody hilarious. They forcefully hand themselves over as a ready-made parody. Wonderful entertainment.
Michaelie
Comment by ratchet
make believe
Life As We Know It
My pommy upbringing scared me off British comedy for the first 3/4s of my life. I have relented in the past few years and discovered a love for Ricky Gervais (Extras, The Office) and Ab Fab. I've heard enough of the positive stuff about the Vicar of Dibley to think about giving it a shot.
Sea Change I avoided way back when, sadly, because it's Australian. Kingswood Country ruined it for me but, I think I will try to track the series down and try it on for size.
My opinion on Aussie humour has changed considerably since then, with many thanks to the talented Mr Lilley and the Chaser Crew. Bless the ABC.
I should also mention SBS who televise annually one of the funniest programmes ever - The Eurovision Song Contest!
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Comment by Cheryl J
Rhythmatism
Zentertainment
Budget Centsability