Tag Archives: standup comedy

George Carlin

Last time I described how my feelings changed about what was once my favorite TV series, NCIS. In this post, I’ll describe how something similar has happened with my feelings about George Carlin (1937-2008), who was once, by far, my favorite standup comedian.

In both cases, I have a sense that my dying affection involves a combination of prolonged exposure magnifying perceived flaws, evolution on my part, and changes on their part. With Carlin, the way he changed in the late 1990s is the lion’s share of my disenchantment. I still revere early George, still rank him among the greatest.

But I never liked “angry George” and his writing from that era is disappointing.

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Seinfeld Is Unfunny

Jerry SeinfeldThe post’s title is the name of a trope[1], and while you may not know it by this handle, you have probably run into it. Perhaps from someone combining the terms “old hat” and “just” — or maybe using the more continental “cliché” (ooh la la) about something once revered as ground-breaking. The trope arises from not recognizing the originator of ideas now in common use. For example, Airplane! and Die Hard seem lost among all the similar films that followed.

But this post really isn’t about the trope or the Seinfeld TV show. The title just makes a neat kick-off point and offers some connective tissue. I really do mean I don’t find Jerry Seinfeld all that funny. Ironically, I think the man is a comic genius, and I have high regard for his comic acumen. Yet his stand-up routines leave me cool.

So this post is actually about stuff I don’t find funny (and why not).

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Now Appearing

Now showing at the Heaven’s Gate Theatre:

Now appearing Bogart and Bacall

Bacall’s famous line from To Have and Have Not is the all-time sexiest line in movie history! “You know how to whistle, don’t you, Steve? You just put your lips together — and blow.” My reaction matches Bogie’s every time! Hoooo-eeee!!

And at the Heavenly Comedy Club:

Now appearing Robin Williams

But tickets to these shows… are a little tricky to come by.  On the other hand, you have plenty of time to get there and see them. They run every night (with matinees on weekends)… forever!