"Here I want to show that the carnival is not a trivial cultural anomaly, and not simply a sideshow to 'more serious' cultural practices. First we need to rethink the idea of cultural 'importance ( Read more... )

"I was by no means the funniest of my brothers; my oldest brother was way funnier than me- but probably not as damaged, which makes me a comedian rather than just a funny person, you know? Next life, I just want to be a funny person who does something else, like a blacksmith who's funny on the side."
- -Scott Thompson

"I ended up holding the hand ( Read more... )

from "Artaud, Grotowski, Brook, Me", a paper for Directing Seminar:In studying these directors and their philosophies on theatre in class, and in particular during the research for this paper, I have begun to develop my own ideas and ideals and ideology about directing. Though, the only chance I have had to apply them is as one half of The ( Read more... )

from alt.british.comedy

"They won't. It was a product of the 70s when racism was accepted by many, wife beating was the woman's fault and institutionalised homophobia was all the rage.

"Thank goodness we've grown up."

I really hope that last line is sarcastic, but I honestly can't tell. Dry British humor is even more difficult when written.

( Read more... )

from alt.british.comedy

"It is the height of fashion in media circles to take the piss out of poor people like Vicky Pollard and chavs. I want to see a rennaisance in comedy where Jews are lampooned for a change instead of being constantly presented with Jewish comedians like Matt Lucas and Ali G cruelly lampooning the poor and unintelligent, ( Read more... )

I'm interested in how people get into music, film, TV, theatre, books, etc. Often (especially if it's obscure) there is a story behind it, or a memory, or a string of other things.

For example, lately I've been listening to Rip Rig & Panic a lot (one of Neneh Cherry's pre-solo groups). I first heard them in an episode of "The Young Ones"; it was ( Read more... )

"The Baxter" (2005)
a Michael Showalter film, as part of the 2005 RI International Film FestivalHooray for this movie! I didn't know Showalter could be serious. Oh, it was funny of course, the comedy was dead-on as was to be expected, but it was also a well-done film with a good storyline ( Read more... )

Help! I can't stop! I've had "Holding Out For A Hero" by Jennifer Saunders (bonus track from "Shrek 2" soundtrack) playing on a loop for over an hour now with no end in sight.

Lord, this woman makes my innards quiver.

ETA (8/5):

( Read more... )

I was showing my mom "Bottom". I told her that Jennifer Saunders' husband was in it. Upon seeing our man Adrian Edmondson, she said jealously:

"So THAT's the husband of our lord and savior?"

Nick Hornby is a phenomenal writer. I discovered him in Scotland (I hadn't known about his writing the novel "High Fidelity") with "How To Be Good". It is brilliant (in both the British and American definitions of the word), my favorite book of his, one of my favorite books/stories/works of words, period ( Read more... )