In an ongoing spectacular Eye-Opener blog comedy series now entitled "-----Original Message-----" (at least this week), Rob got the ball (eventually) rolling on Friday with this e-mail:
-----Original Message-----
From: Rob V
Sent: Friday, April 28, 2006 10:41 AM
Your choice
1) Is the phrase "chronic clock watcher" redundant?
2) What used to be considered funny but isn't so funny anymore? Example: Mr. Bill from SNL
3) What is still funny?
From: Jeff K
Sent: Friday, April 28, 2006 3:31 PM
>2) What used to be considered funny but isn't so funny anymore?
Guys who do impressions, like Rich Little. He must have been on "The Tonight Show" 4,000 times back in the day. And how about that guy from "Police Academy"! A laugh riot!
>3) What is still funny?
Making fun of hippies.
From: Rob V
Sent: Friday, April 28, 2006 3:33 PM
Good ones.
Not so funny anymore: Steve Martin's "King Tut" bit. Was that ever funny? Someone must have thought so.
Still funny: Ralph Kramden's "Man from Space" costume.
From: Jeff K
Sent: Friday, April 28, 2006 3:46 PM
"King Tut" is just incredibly dated (he's my favorite honky?). I dug it when I was 7, but it's easily the worst part of the "Wild and Crazy Guy" album, the vast majority of which is still funny.
No longer funny:
"The Streak" by Ray Stevens. This was a novelty song that sold MILLIONS of copies back in the 70s. I can't believe that was ever considered funny.
"Good Morning, Vietnam". Okay, maybe I'm being rough on Robin Williams, but I don't think so. This was even considered one of AFI's Top 100 funniest movies, but it's virtually unwatchable.
The Chipmunks.
Still funny:
"Some Like It Hot"
"Airplane!"
(Other) guys getting hit in the groin.
Richard Pryor.
From: Kris S
Sent: Friday, April 28, 2006 3:49 PM
American's Funniest Home videos is no longer funny; Wait, maybe the correct sentence construction is American's Funniest Home video is still not funny...
Slapshot is.
Sent: Friday, April 28, 2006 10:41 AM
Your choice
1) Is the phrase "chronic clock watcher" redundant?
2) What used to be considered funny but isn't so funny anymore? Example: Mr. Bill from SNL
3) What is still funny?
From: Jeff K
Sent: Friday, April 28, 2006 3:31 PM
>2) What used to be considered funny but isn't so funny anymore?
Guys who do impressions, like Rich Little. He must have been on "The Tonight Show" 4,000 times back in the day. And how about that guy from "Police Academy"! A laugh riot!
>3) What is still funny?
Making fun of hippies.
From: Rob V
Sent: Friday, April 28, 2006 3:33 PM
Good ones.
Not so funny anymore: Steve Martin's "King Tut" bit. Was that ever funny? Someone must have thought so.
Still funny: Ralph Kramden's "Man from Space" costume.
From: Jeff K
Sent: Friday, April 28, 2006 3:46 PM
"King Tut" is just incredibly dated (he's my favorite honky?). I dug it when I was 7, but it's easily the worst part of the "Wild and Crazy Guy" album, the vast majority of which is still funny.
No longer funny:
"The Streak" by Ray Stevens. This was a novelty song that sold MILLIONS of copies back in the 70s. I can't believe that was ever considered funny.
"Good Morning, Vietnam". Okay, maybe I'm being rough on Robin Williams, but I don't think so. This was even considered one of AFI's Top 100 funniest movies, but it's virtually unwatchable.
The Chipmunks.
Still funny:
"Some Like It Hot"
"Airplane!"
(Other) guys getting hit in the groin.
Richard Pryor.
From: Kris S
Sent: Friday, April 28, 2006 3:49 PM
American's Funniest Home videos is no longer funny; Wait, maybe the correct sentence construction is American's Funniest Home video is still not funny...
Slapshot is.
From: Jeff K
Sent: Friday, April 28, 2006 4:17 PM
AFV is still on the air. My god, I've always hated that show.
I'm wondering which list "Office Space" will be on in about 10 years, it's still pretty damn funny.
Everyone still thinks the original "Producers" movie is funny, but it's hard to sit through because it's so dated.
No longer funny:
Prank phone callers, like "The Jerky Boys".
"Cops"
Jim Carrey
The flapping dickie
Still funny:
"Dr. Strangelove"
"Airplane!"
The pie in the face
The French
From: Rob V
Sent: Friday, April 28, 2006 4:25 PM
Not funny: "Smokey and the Bandit" movies.
Still funny: Burt Reynolds' attempts at serious acting.
Sent: Friday, April 28, 2006 4:17 PM
AFV is still on the air. My god, I've always hated that show.
I'm wondering which list "Office Space" will be on in about 10 years, it's still pretty damn funny.
Everyone still thinks the original "Producers" movie is funny, but it's hard to sit through because it's so dated.
No longer funny:
Prank phone callers, like "The Jerky Boys".
"Cops"
Jim Carrey
The flapping dickie
Still funny:
"Dr. Strangelove"
"Airplane!"
The pie in the face
The French
From: Rob V
Sent: Friday, April 28, 2006 4:25 PM
Not funny: "Smokey and the Bandit" movies.
Still funny: Burt Reynolds' attempts at serious acting.
From: Jeff K
Sent: Friday, April 28, 2006 4:32 PM
Sent: Friday, April 28, 2006 4:32 PM
No longer funny: Chevy Chase, Billy Crystal
Still funny: Bill Murray, Bob Newhart
From: Kris S
Sent: Friday, April 28, 2006 4:57 PM
I don't know, I'm on the fence about "Cops." Drunk rednecks are surprisingly durable on the funny factor in my book
From: Jeff K
Sent: Friday, April 28, 2006 5:00 PM
It was funny at first, because you think that these people are an anomaly. But after 10 years of the show, you realize that this represents the VAST MAJORITY OF THE POPULATION OF THE UNITED STATES. Like how NASCAR fans outnumber hockey fans and baseball fans COMBINED. Not so funny NOW, is it?
Sent: Friday, April 28, 2006 4:57 PM
I don't know, I'm on the fence about "Cops." Drunk rednecks are surprisingly durable on the funny factor in my book
From: Jeff K
Sent: Friday, April 28, 2006 5:00 PM
It was funny at first, because you think that these people are an anomaly. But after 10 years of the show, you realize that this represents the VAST MAJORITY OF THE POPULATION OF THE UNITED STATES. Like how NASCAR fans outnumber hockey fans and baseball fans COMBINED. Not so funny NOW, is it?