My wife and I don't have cable, Direct or Dish. Not interested. But I can't say that I don't watch the tele when I'm overnight in a hotel. And no matter what, I always switch to comedy central. It gives me my comedy fix for a week at a time.
No matter if its a roast of some bad celebrity or an airing of an actual comic up on stage doing his show or some nubes hitting the mic for the first time, there is something to garner from watching them do their thing. I love watching the perfection (or not) of their timing. I'm not sure what style I like the best, but I bet that I would mimic a Dane Cook kind of act. Very animated and exuberant in telling these sometimes simple little stories with huge actions and explosive gag lines.
It's kind of weird, the persona held by comedians. Many are totally different people on stage then when they are hanging with regular joes... But it is something that sells or makes people laugh about the absurdity of the character itself. Who would have though ten years ago that a guy saying "Get er done" would become a world wide icon?! But that isn't really how his personality is when you are talking with Larry the cable guy in person. He is wicked smart and witty, but he knows and has built up something that sells. The guy is a millionaire because of "Get er done!" Ron White is a millionaire for saying "they call me tater salad." But all just a persona. Don't get me wrong, I think Ron probably carries his persona to a more lifelike portrayal if he has thrown a few cocktails back, but do you think Jeff Foxworthy sounds as slow and drawn out a character as he sounds when he says, "you might be a redneck."
I had visited a customer who is restricted to a wheel chair. Great person, she gets around everywhere in her power chair or wheel chair. But her son's friends thought of the wheelchair as a toy, and you can just about imagine the amount of mischief that can be stirred up with a group of teenage boys and on object with wheels on it. When I came upon them, they had all but scattered everything off of the kitchen island because someone had decided to do a wheelie with a rider on their lap in the wheel chair! Simply stupid and Jeff's "here is your sign" would have been appropriate. But I said, "one persons lifestyle is another persons mischief." The boys found it hilarious because it was simply true. A bloody lip from hitting the counter, the dishes scattered across the floor, and guess who gets home. She was hardly amused, but I calmed her down and said "boys will be boys, as dumb as we are..." A smile cracked her lips and she couldn't help but laugh.
Count yourself blessed if you can laugh at yourself. If you are confident in who you are, but know that you can change if you want to, who can't laugh at themselves. See oneself in others brings reality to a perfect mirror. I'm tall, and when a customer asks how tall I am, I never give them 6'5," I always say "tall enough to reach the ground." Most often, though it is a bad joke, I get a positive reaction from people because they come to realize that I've probably been asked that many times, and have thought out different responses because I'm tired of the same old thing. I was giving a customer her bill and I said, 10,044 pennies please! She looked at me so weirdly... All I could think was "come on lady, don't get left behind! Use your brain!!" But the funniest thing was her 14 year old down syndrome son figured it out right away and had to tell her. I couldn't help but laugh about the situation. This is the same son who grabbed his package and said, "Can I get some more sausage links!" I couldn't help but laugh. More so at the parents embarrassment then his statement. I knew why he did it and I wasn't offended at all. But it was a bit sad his parents were still riding the slow bus and didn't get it till he started exposing himself to get the "sausage link" out for demonstration. I was already out the door by then but I'm sure the poor boy had a stern talking to! Couldn't have been a funnier moment that day.
Laughter is often said to be the best medicine. But the majority of people who call themselves comics are outsiders by choice. The pain and suffering of keeping life's often times worst moments close to the tip of your tongue can offer a humorous window for many others to enjoy the world. Including my own son.
I twisted my knee up badly shoveling some snow. After hobbling inside, the anguish on my face was something Spencer hadn't seen, so he busted a gut laughing at the new creases of my frowns and tearing eyes. I can't say my frown stayed down after hearing him laugh so outlandishly; as if I was Ken Davis playing a crowd.
Recently, Ralphy May was performing in Sioux Falls to a sold out show. If you do or don't know a bit of his story, he has lost over 300 lbs since he first joined the comic scene. I've been moved by his stories about being on elevators and picking on the skinniest person joining the ride saying, "if we get stuck, its all your fault!" How funny to break the often silent ride of an elevator. You don't have to be grotesque(though he often is) to fill the world with humor. And knowing that stating an obvious thing about yourself is a great way to catch a crowd. Be different and enjoy yourself by making fun of yourself. I know I do.
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