Recently in Humor Category

Is there anything better than a Coen Brothers movie? I think not. Coming on the heels of their huge success with No Country for Old Men is the kind of screwball comedy that they do so well: Burn After Reading, starring George Clooney (O Brother, Where Art Thou), Francis McDormand (Fargo), John Malkovich, Tilda Swinton, and Brad Pitt. I caught the trailer for it the other night and I cannot wait for it to hit the theaters. See what you think:

Favorite Coen Brothers movie? The Big Lebowski of course. But Miller's Crossing is up there, as is The Hudsucker Proxy and Raising Arizona ("Son, you got a panty on your head.")

How about you?

I'll be away from any computers for the next few days. In the meantime, I thought I'd entertain you with a few of my favorite video clips -- short, sweet and mostly funny.

This first one is the opening title sequence from the original Get Smart series back in the mid-60s. They've copped it for the Steve Carrell version (caught it last night while movie shopping, waiting to see The Incredible Hulk which was only so-so).

Mel Brooks and Buck Henry -- does it get any better than that?

By the way, I found a Japanese streaming video site that has dozens of full-length Get Smart episodes, including the pilot (which was so long ago it was in black & white).

Pro life conservatives are obsessed with the fetus from conception to nine months. After that, they don't want to know about you. They don't want to hear from you. No nothing. No neonatal care, no day care, no Headstart, no school lunch, no food stamps, no welfare, no nothing. If you're pre-born -- you're fine. If you're pre-school, you're fucked. Conservatives don't give a shit about you until ... you reach military age...Conservatives want live babies so they can raise them to be dead soldiers. Pro-life. These people are killing doctors. What kind of pro-life is that? They'll do anything to save a fetus, but if it grows up to be a doctor they must just have to kill it? They're not pro-life. You know what they are? They're anti-woman.

Bonus material:
"I'm a Modern Man"

George Carlin, November 5th, 2005
Beacon Theater, NYC
Watch the video

Transcript on the flip side...

(HT to Kevin)

Brilliant:

R.W. Thorne II, general counsel: I'm voting Republican because corporations should not have to pay to clean up environmental damage. The EPA is an outmoded idea. If people want clean water, buy it in a bottle.

Veronica Oakes, student: I'm voting Republican because I don't want to know if the food I'm eating has been gentically modified or exposed to radiation. I don't want to have to live with that fear, you know? So, if the label says it's food, that's good enough for me.

(HT to Meteor Blades)

Dick Martin was, I think, underestimated as a comedy talent. His shtick (with Dan Rowan) seems dated now, being remembered as second-tier Rat Pack wannabes. This ignores the ground-breaking nature of their Laugh-In Show. Where the Smother Brothers are remembered for their messy battles with network censors, Laugh-In got away with far more subversive material, both social and political.

And Dick Martin smirked, mugged and smugged his way through all of it, both in the background and foreground.

Like all straight men, Rowan provided the voice of reason, striving to correct his partner's absurdities. Martin, meanwhile, was full of bogus, often risque theories about life, which he appeared to hold with unwavering certainty.

Most of the catch-phrases from that show -- "Sock it to me," "You bet your sweet bippy" and "Look that up in your Funk and Wagnall's" -- were first (and most entertainingly) uttered by Martin.

He also had a flair for physical comedy. Check out his reactions to Tiny Tim which, if I recall correctly, was TT's first appearance on network television. Martin is genuinely hilarious. (P.S. that's a very young Goldie Hawn who hustles Tim off-stage at the end of his performance).

Say goodnight, Dick.

Rosemary Watson does a better Hillary than Amy Poehler!

by shep

From the Detroit News…

The co-founder and former CEO of the liberal-progressive Democracy Radio and husband of U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow was caught in February by a Troy police sting aimed at catching prostitutes, according to a police report.

Thomas L. Athans was stopped Feb. 26 by undercover officers investigating a possible prostitution ring in a room at the Residence Inn near Big Beaver and Interstate 75.

I sure hope that township was getting a piece of the action.

H/T: TPM

[Cross-posted at Dispassionate Liberal]

Hulu.com has opened the doors on their joint-venture, broadcast TV video sharing site. It's not bad, although the pickings are pretty slim right now. Anyway, I thought the following sketch from SNL was pretty funny...

"This place is like a hot tranny mess up in here!"

"You are a tranny who looks like a hot mess -- and not in a good way. You're a tickety-tack hot tranny mess out of control super tranny from Transylvania who is not apologizing for it. "

On the eve of the Louisiana primary, our house got a "call" from "Bill Clinton." Well, it sounded like him anyway, on the answering machine. Apparently Bill in Portland Maine got a series of similar calls on the eve of the Maine caucuses:

[Beep!] Hello, this is Barack Obama reminding you to come out and caucus for me on Sunday. Together we can bring hope and change to America. Thank you.

[Beep!] Hello, this is Hillary Clinton. If you agree that we need a new direction in America, please caucus for me on Sunday. I have the experience needed to hit the ground running on day one. Thank you.

[Beep!] Hi, Barack again. Did Hillary just call you? Look, she and I were friends before the primary season and we'll be friends after. But right now she's just acting crazy, understand? Vote for me and I may let you stand next to me at my inauguration.

[Beep!] Hillary here. Barack's feeding you a line 'o crap and he knows it. Not only will I let you stand next to me at my inauguration, but I'll give you the cabinet position of your choice. You have to admit, that's pretty sweet. Love ya!

[Beep!] Hey, it's Barack. Love ya more. Wanna be my VP?

[Beep!] Oh, he's not gonna make you vice president and he knows it!

[Beep!] Will too!

[Beep!] Will not!

[Beep!] This is Chelsea Clinton. Have you seen my mom or my dad? I'm supposed to be at a rally with 'em but there's no one here. Today's Nebraska, right?

[Beep!] Hi, this is Oprah. Despite what the Clinton campaign says, I am not going to crush your skull between my thighs if you don’t vote for my man Barack. That would let you off too easy! Hint hint.

[Beep!] Hi, Barack again. That wasn't Oprah. That was Hillary pretending to be Oprah. You see how these people work? I think it's... Oh, wait, it was Oprah. Never mind. Vote for me!