Comedians these days just aren’t as funny as comedians used to be.
Maybe it’s the language. Sure, not all comedians use salty language in their comedy routines, but many do. And those that do are the ones I’m talking about when I say that comedians today aren’t as funny as comedians used to be. But, I could be wrong.
One of the all-time greats was Bob Hope. I remember watching his specials on TV when I was a child. Sure, his humor was silly and stupid — not Three Stooges stupid, but still some of it was stupid. But, he was funny.
Remember hearing the strains to “Thanks for the Memory” and know that it was time to go into the TV room and watching an hour or so of something that had funny stuff? Well, I do.
I always through of that song as the Bob Hope Theme. But, it was an actual song, as I learned when I was old enough to ask such things. But, I’ve never seen the movie it’s from.
I need to check that movie out some time. Right now, though, I’m awaiting some more current, profanity-free entertainment. From you. Because it’s Wednesday Night Open Thread. Your turn to take over and lead the conversation. Some of it better be funny. Or we’ll send you to bed before Joey Heatherton appears on stage with Bob Hope.
Who wants to start?
How ’bout a song for a Wednesday night?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zrm5yZacocY
Profanity-free joke:
A husband and wife were driving through Louisiana. As they approached Natchitoches, they started arguing about the pronunciation of the town. They argued back and forth, then they stopped for lunch. At the counter, the husband asked the blonde waitress, “Before we order, could you please settle an argument for us? Would you please pronounce where we are very slowly?” She leaned over the counter and said, “Burrr-gerrr Kiiing.”
The husband turned to his wife and said, “See. Told you it wasn’t ‘Not-your-toe-cheese’!”
Mmmm…Joey Heatherton. Who wouldn’t buy a mattress with Joey Heatherton on it?
“My Favorite Brunette” is my favorite Bob Hope movie.
Look at the old comedies like “I Love Lucy” and “The Beverly Hillbillies”. They were hilarious and did it without bad language or any of the other stuff today’s shows think they have to have to be funny
I will watch an episode of I Love Lucy any time, no matter how often I have seen it. It’s like visiting with friends. Last year I started watching The Beverly Hillbillies on YouTube, and was surprised at how charming it was. The biggest surprise: In the first season or two, Jethro was not stupid, just very naive, especially socially. His “sixth grade education” really was the best in the group, and they looked to him for advice about bookish things. As the seasons wore on, he was portrayed more and more as dumber than a box of rocks. I preferred the earlier seasons. I am almost afraid to look up more of the shows I loved as a child. Most probably won’t stand up well.
I love the Beverly Hillbillies. The characters changed over time. Mr. Drysdale in particular went from being a normal, successful banker to a caricature of a money crazed, grasping businessman. The one character who never really changed was Jed. He always remained the sensible, moral center of the show. Even when others tried to trick and cheat him, his innate honesty, common sense, and sly wisdom always won the day.
Today, we celebrate the birthday of Billy Wilder, noted movie director (The Apartment is one of my favorites), born in Vienna in 1906.
Basil
Thanks for that memory
Actually, the song Thanks for the Memories was first sung by Bob Hope in The Big Broadcast of 1938, which was a W.C. Fields movie. The song went over so well Paramount went out and made a movie called “Thanks for the Memories” as a follow-up.
The Big Broadcast of 1938 was a much funnier movie, though.
Yes, that scene *is* from The Big Broadcast of 1938.
If you haven’t seen either film (and I haven’t), you can tell which movie it’s from because Bob Hope’s character was Buzz Fielding in The Big Broadcast of 1938. In the later movie, his character’s name was Steve Merrick. Listen to the conversation ahead of the song in that clip and you’ll hear her call him “Buzz.”