Tentative Optimism

There is an agreement. Let's hope it sticks.
Link.

Maybe the writers will be back?

I read that there is some hope in this hell of a writers strike. Optimistic estimates say they could be going back to work as early as Monday. Yay yes? But even if they do go back to work Monday (and I wouldn't place money on this) our regular scheduled programs aren't going to be popping up on TV for a while. TV takes time to make (duh) and so we all might be forced to continue to survive on American Gladiators (the funniest show on TV at the moment) for another month.

I mean I'm enjoying A Daily Show--in fact, the show's quality sans writers proves that while unassuming, Jon Stewart is likely more charismatic than even Colbert--but I'd really like to see Scrubs and even Chuck back on the air. This is Scrubs' last season and it would be unfortunate to have it spoiled by rushing to wrap things up in a reduced episode order. And Chuck, while still pretty transparent, is doing enough right to make me want to see the next episode. And, really, if I'm ever going to watch Colbert Report again, he needs to get his writers back. That O'Brien thing was pretty good and all but three guests a night really doesn't leave room for a lot of jokes.

I guess I'll hope for the best--Wiarton Willie did predict an early spring. Maybe he also predicted an early end to the strike?

I'm Back

Or I will when I have something to write about. January was a busy month, so apologies.

To tide you over untill I have something to say enjoy this insane article.

They're (He's) Back

So A Daily Show and The Colbert Report are now airing again. Sans writers apparently, but I don't really know how they can put on a show without some form of writing. They can't be adlibing everything, someone has to write the words on those news graphics like "space reserved for clever pun." I'm not sure how they are making this show and not crossing the picket line.

I'm not keeping abreast (hehe) of all the transpiring of the strike but if the issues or behaviours of parties involved have not changed then I'm still siding with the writers and thus hate to see a show--especially two as important and The Daily Show and The Colbert Report--abandon their writers. But! there may be more going on here than I know (I hope), as I wouldn't put it past Viacom owned Comedy Central to encourage the shows' return. I imagine both shows are pretty important for the network and having them gone for several months doesn't help ratings at all.

But in the end should I worry about the moral implications of all this? I do have two of my favourite regular shows back. Seems like I'm looking the gift horse right in the kisser.

**BONUS DOUBLE POST**

Funny guy Aaron F., has got a video on the YouTube off The Offline. Enjoy.



These are the rules: if I know you personally and you put funny stuff on YouTube, I link it. However, Aaron, you could do the rest of us funny people a favour by not being so damn funny all the time. Throwing it out there.

Like Little School Girls

What the hell is wrong with these two guys?

I think it's sorta lame to put yourself in what I think all parties involved knew was going to be a pretty lousy movie and then get upset when someone calls you on it. I was actually disappointed in both David Cross and Jason Lee for taking part in Alvin and the Chipmunks. I sorta understand that sometimes you gotta get paid again, but you need to consider whether a new cottage is really worth jeopardizing the integrity you build the rest of your career on. Cross' comedy is so often about the garbage that is accepted as entertainment/news/politics nowadays and so venomous rants about Scott Stapp lose a little of their bite. That said, Creed always did suck and Cross has occasionally sought a few bucks while trying to mostly do his own not-suck thing.

And I think Oswalt understands the compromise you sometimes make when you need to make some cash and remind the powers that be you can indeed bring in the box-office dollars (I believe those 'munks are currently #2 in theatres?). Thus Oswalt's comment was more likely made in camaraderie than in contention. Really though, how did he not think there might be some confused animosity generated from reference to a (sarcastic yet amicable) joke made in conversation more than a year ago?

Whatever. Both these guys are smart and both of these guys are funny and so it seems they were able to hug-it-out-bitch. What's more amusing to me, however, is how defensive Cross comes across. I think someone is feeling a little ashamed about his decision and might be doth-protesting too much.

Happy new year comedy-cats.

Christmas Funnies

So before I start actually posting again about, you know the things I post about, I thought I'd share a little holiday story about my grandmother. You see my grandmother is one of the sweetest and earnest ladies I know and every Christmas she gives me the most wonderful gift of all: the gift of puzzlement. She's downright unpredictable. I mean we aren't talking like a sweater no 22 (wow) year old would wear, we're talking about a gift with no precedent in law, in history, or in conceivability.

A necessary preliminary though: when my family was opening up presents Christmas morning there were five tubes all exactly the same under the tree--one for each member of the family. My parents already knew what was inside and once my sister and I picked up the tubes we knew immediately as well. My Dad had won a 5 pack of Pringles and instead of just putting them in the cupboard we each got one wrapped. I was amused because the dog had gotten one.

Later my grandmother came over for dinner, bringing with her the presents I had been anticipating for a few weeks. You see last year, my grandmother had, among several other very nice things, wrapped and gifted me a twelve pack of puddings. The sheer randomness of this gift (especially do to my large disinterest in pudding as a whole) had filled me with joy. That same year she had also purchased my cousin an inflatable camouflaged seat cushion. I was/still am sick with envy.

I tore into the this years presents and discovered a 5 pack of Pringles, providing me in total with more than a year's supply of Pringles. But this was only an appetizer. Next she handed me a grocery bag. She apologized: "I forgot your birthday until this morning, so this is just some stuff from around the house." Now I was stoked. The first of two small packages was a deck of Uno cards. "Have you ever played that before?" I had. In fact one of the most prevalent memories I have of my grandmother are afternoons full of raisins, Racko, and Uno. Often vicious versions of all three. All this of course is nothing compared to the final package: a homemade cardboard box containing all the small change she had around the house. "There's some shiny ones in there."

I love my grandmother and don't think for a minute she's simple--she's the opposite. She's cunning. At her age I can only hope to be half as wily. No longer able to skateboard, skydive, DDR, or compete in the UFC, I too will amuse myself with the bewilderment of others. Perhaps dress up as a sea captain, spend my day at the local Walmart incorrectly using nautical terms, and eventually get forcibly removed by security, giving me the rest of the evening to sew the next day's carrot costume. For instance.

But that's the future. Right now I need to go eat some Pringles and roll some coins.

Now Santa Clause 3: What a Holiday Classic

Surprisingly, there has not been a whole slew of Christmas postings on my part despite both the abundance of time I have on my hands and the ammount of Christmas cheer I'm pounding back every night.

Apologies but I really have nothing biting or insightful to say regarding Christmas laughs. Unlike Halloween, which is not known for yucks, Christmas is a time of year when people do want to be all jolly like, so there are dozens upon dozens of painfully obvious quality comedies. I feel a little lame because I don't have any sort of obscure or indie comedy to suggest, but I thought I'd list the things I like to watch just because my Halloween entry was ever-the-so-popular.

Futurama Xmas Story and A Tale of Two Santas. Xmas Story is one of the finest Futurama episodes available, and because of my reluctance to watch it at any other time than Xmas, all the jokes stay unwarn. Seriously there is a good joke every 4 seconds. Then A Tale of Two Santas, well, has this:I'm also quite a fan of Merry Christmas Mr. Bean. The toy manger and band conducting scenes are pretty chuckle worthy whether you loathe or love the guy. There's also the Muppet Christmas Carol which is funny enough and makes my heart grow a little with nostalgia. And The Venture Bro's Christmas special is both brief and funny, so if you have ten minutes you should check it out.

Then obviously if you still haven't listened to me, maybe you should watch the Extra's Christmas special and while your at it the British Office's Christmas special aswell.

Regarding the classics, my favourites have always been The Grinch and Peanuts. The Grinch is funny enough, has some classicly amusing Doc Suess lines, and that wicked Grinch theme song. Peaunts isn't all that funny but makes up for it by being the fucking peanuts special. And who doesn't like that little dude on the piano hating on Lucy? Also the music is absolutely killer--every year before Christmas break we'd watch this in music class. My teacher loved him some Vince Guaraldi.

So those are my recommendations for your Christmas viewings. I hope you have something to watch with a little more comedy obscurity cred. Perhaps Father Ted or Blackadder? I really wish I had a punchline here.

Whatever. Merry Crimmas!