the weblog of m.kelley

I wrote this in 2005 and for some reason, never hit publish….

Who are some comedians you like? If the first thought in your head was Adam Sandler, then this isn’t for you. Bob Newhart, Richard Pryor (RIP), were two names I heard on the radio the other day on my drive into work. The morning show on 99x were talking about pryor, and one of the guys on there said “he didn’t think rp was funny”…he went on to even talk about how john belushi wasn’t. Seriously, how can you look at comedy today and even the rise of the brick wall comedians in the 90′s, and not even appreciate rp? eddie murphy, chris rock, hell even dice and kinnison….all dug pryor. Richard Lewis and Richard Belzer even were fans.

I grew up watching comedy, studying comedy, and just digging what people were doing. I looked to comedians like rock stars. I could remember the smallest bit from the 1/2 hour comedy hour. I just think that a lot of “funny” people don’t even know what’s funny. I got where I could appreciate newhart, rp, kinison, everyone I listed above. I even remember some of rick (married a millionare)’s schtick.

unfortunately, we’re dealing with jimmy falon, adam sandler and the bullshit that is snl…inflicting their misery upon comedy. tina fey is one of the funnier people alive and I’m glad she got off there. SNL is the McDonald’s of comedy. I just want to sit people down with a nice tape of Lenny Bruce, Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphy, good Billy Murray bits, old Chevy Chase bits., Sam Kinison, Milton Berle, etc…hell even old Cosby. Just to show them that *this* is funny.

The problem, of course, is that to have such a conversation, you’d normally have to see the movie, which I believe is an unreasonably high price to pay just to make fun of it. So rather than write a conventional review explaining why you should or shouldn’t see The Happening (trust me, you shouldn’t), I’m offering an alternative: A dozen and a half of the most mind-bendingly ridiculous elements of the film, which will enable you to marvel at its anti-genius without sacrificing (and I don’t use that term lightly) 90 minutes of your life.

The Movie Review: ‘The Happening’

mediabistro.com: FishBowlNY – An informed tipster tells us Saturday Night Live’s Chris Parnell — he one-half of the Lazy Sunday rap duo [above, right, with Andy Samberg] that became a cultural phenomenon and watershed moment for viral video on the Web — and Horatio Sanz are included among the four job cuts expected as the show enters its 32nd season.

I always liked Chris Parnell, he lost his gig at SNL for one year, only to have Will Farrell “fight” for him to come back.Honestly, I never liked Sanz (or Jimmy Fallon) so I’m not too sad to see him go. But I thought Parnell was funnier than most people gave him credit.

How To Eat Fried Blogs

Blog for the upcoming film, “How to Eat Fried Worms”. Based on one of my favorite books as a kid, I’m looking forward to seeing this.

Rob Zombie : News : HALLOWEEN! – “”Well, by now I’m sure you have heard the big movie news. Rob Zombie has on sign to write and direct HALLOWEEN. Call it what you will a remake, an update or whatever but one thing’s for sure it ain’t a sequel. More news to come soon”

This will be awesome!

{Design Observer: writings about design & culture: Why Scientology is Good for Hollywood} -

“The crown jewel of Scientology’s heirlooms is the Chateau Elysee, a 1929 replica of a 17th century French chateau now known as the Celebrity Centre International. It was built by Eleanor Ince, widow of Thomas Ince, the original movie mogul to house luminaries like Clark Gable, Humphrey Bogart, Katharine Hepburn, Errol Flynn and Ginger Rogers. It’s also where Katie Holmes came, reportedly almost every day during the past year, to study. I chose this as my architectural gateway into Scientology.

I call ahead, saying I’m an architecture enthusiast and I’d like to set up an appointment to tour the building with someone who knows about the restoration process. They assure me they have someone on hand for just that request, and urge me to come any day, from 9am until 10pm. Their doors are always open.

The doors are, in fact, closed, when I arrive, so I tell the guard smiling outside why I’m here. This request puzzles him greatly, and he guides me in, looking for backup.”

Very very knowledgeable comments on a very informative, and at times misdirected, post about the cult of Scientology’s restoration efforts in Los Angeles.

Welcome Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt

Famous Modern Pagans

With some of the names listed, I had kinda a “duh” moment. But it was rather eye opening.

{YouTube – C For Cookie}

So wrong, very wrong.

{Boing Boing: Hersh: Bush plans for Iran attack include nuke option} – “He went on, “Nuclear planners go through extensive training and learn the technical details of damage and fallout–we’re talking about mushroom clouds, radiation, mass casualties, and contamination over years. This is not an underground nuclear test, where all you see is the earth raised a little bit. These politicians don’t have a clue, and whenever anybody tries to get it out”–remove the nuclear option–”they’re shouted down.”"

[link]

This kinda strikes home…or at least my thoughts. Evie and I went to see “V for Vendetta” last night and it’s an awesome movie. How this strikes me, is that (in the movie) they used attacks on their own people to bring fear and to take attention off of what was really happening. As we look at Iran as a possible target, it’s just something else to make us take away attention from all of the loss of liberties our quagmire in Iraq and things like wiretapping.

Instead of being the world’s police, we need to work on what issues we currently have abroad and then start to look internally.