tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post1454441536749168661..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: Comedy test: Do you find this funny?By Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger185125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-56865012485434155452017-12-27T16:19:06.414-08:002017-12-27T16:19:06.414-08:00I'm Gen X.
To me this clip prove the point t...<br />I'm Gen X. <br /><br />To me this clip prove the point that most humor does *not* stand the test of time. To me, it's hacky, boring, forced, and sorry, from my perspective, the jokes *are* predictable. It may have been done first on this show, but that doesn't matter. "I did it first" is no comparison to "I did it better," although of course it is much better than, "I didn't do it at all." <br /><br />Again, this is all my perspective. Like it or lump it.<br /><br />Look, after reading some of the posts, it's clear that some people here want their humor, or the humor of their generation, to be the "BEST" humor. Guess what - that isn't how things work. Humor has been around ever since humans could speak and probably before, but does anyone claim that jokes that are 250, 500, 1000, 1500, 2000+ years old are the best for any reason? No, of course not. Times and tastes change, and so does humor. Thank God for that. Can you imagine how horribly boring life would be if humor never changed?<br /><br />Bottom line - if you like this kind of humor --- great. Enjoy it, have fun with it, more power and laughs to you. As for me, I'll look elsewhere, and if you think you are as "lighten-uped" as you are, that won't bother you one bit. You'll enjoy what you like and be happy that I enjoy what I like. If it does bother you... well... you're simpler than any character from the Honeymooners ever was.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-81661070063200158222016-09-13T09:39:27.111-07:002016-09-13T09:39:27.111-07:00Just a thought - if it seems like a cliche & a...Just a thought - if it seems like a cliche & a set of jokes you have seen a thousand times before, maybe that's because this act was copied a thousand times - and is still being copied.<br /><br />And seeing a joke coming a mile away doesn't eradicate the humor - how many times will any of watch the the same favorite comedy movie or sitcom and laugh as the joke is being told because we already know it's coming.<br /><br />To those who sit and scoff at how predictable the jokes were - remember - it was done here before it was done on Seinfeld, friends, the Flitnstones, the Jetsons, even HIMYM, and everywhere else. (and, truth be told, this was probably done on vaudeville even before it was done here). As they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. <br /><br />Enjoy it for what it is - simple, classic, clean, humor. <br /><br />Lighten up & laugh - you'll live longer.Not that old of a guynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-34185839851233145212014-04-22T20:42:12.516-07:002014-04-22T20:42:12.516-07:00I'm in my early 30s. My dad loved this show wh...I'm in my early 30s. My dad loved this show when I was a kid, so I grew up watching it, as well as hearing various one liners thrown around. I can say with confidence that The Honeymooners is one of my favorite shows. That's definitely partially because of sentiment, but also because the jokes (though cliched by today's standards), and the comedic timing of the actors, truly stand the test of time. And yes, I laughed out loud at "Hello, ball." Carney's delivery is impeccable. I even repeated the line while playing mini golf a few weeks ago.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-10515143804488092202014-04-05T17:22:47.766-07:002014-04-05T17:22:47.766-07:00Those guys couldn't even figure out what they ...Those guys couldn't even figure out what they were doing the whole time. Everything they did was wrong! Completely unequipped to play golf or learn how to. The characters are basically fishes out of water. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-87390580846652668862013-04-18T18:15:00.200-07:002013-04-18T18:15:00.200-07:00Even though I have seen this clip many many times,...Even though I have seen this clip many many times, it STILL is just as hilarious as it was when I first saw it! This is humor at its BEST!!!michigannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-11856791101861672912012-04-09T09:48:32.889-07:002012-04-09T09:48:32.889-07:0017. What I liked was the antagonistic relationship...17. What I liked was the antagonistic relationship between the two characters and the jokes that resulted from that - I saw "hello ball" coming as soon as he read "address the ball", so that wasn't as funny to me as it was to the audience, but I found the other guy's reaction funny. I dislike studio audiences, but I wouldn't hold that against something 60 years old.<br /><br />Favourite part was "he loves me, he loves me not" and when he began reading out the dedication to the book.conradnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-83081487190781480542010-06-20T22:05:50.880-07:002010-06-20T22:05:50.880-07:00i'm a tv lover born in '89 of the Frasier ...i'm a tv lover born in '89 of the Frasier / Will & Grace / 30 Rock variety and to be completely honest i didn't find that funny at all. the only part i actually chuckled a bit at was the first time ralph swung and hit the floor. the rest was predictable and cheesy... and not in a good way. also keep in mind that i do enjoy comedy classics like I Love Lucy and I Dream of Genie.Emilynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-14778196790011925922010-03-22T20:49:59.097-07:002010-03-22T20:49:59.097-07:00I've taken a course on film comedy where we sa...I've taken a course on film comedy where we saw Duck Soup, Harold Lloyd, Chaplain, Mel Brooks, Woody Allen, Sid Cesar, Preston Sturges, etc. etc. etc. and I didn't particularly find this funny.<br /><br />it's a pet peeve of mine when the laugh track is inflated and i could see each joke coming from a mile awaysophomorecritichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14320637485303592977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-23423616226591541892010-03-14T10:26:47.304-07:002010-03-14T10:26:47.304-07:00"To Emily, whose slice inspired me to write ...."To Emily, whose slice inspired me to write . . ."<br /><br />Haven't seen this since I was a little kid (all I remembered while watching was the outfit Gleason wore), but I nearly peed myself when Carney uttered the line above.Schmokerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03985960616299425129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-53282977522456121462010-03-11T07:26:06.419-08:002010-03-11T07:26:06.419-08:00It's funny, but it isn't rolling-on-the-fl...It's funny, but it isn't rolling-on-the-floor-about-to-pee-my-pants funny. It reminds me a college comedy troop doing an improve scene. But I still laughed and I'm 25.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-58572260312449882322010-03-07T12:29:15.594-08:002010-03-07T12:29:15.594-08:00Just discovered this blog, so I'm joining the ...Just discovered this blog, so I'm joining the conversation a bit late. As a Gen-Xer I find it funny, but I think you have to know the show and the characters to really get it. <br /><br />I also suspect that a lot of this is "Jewish" humor and it may be lost on some of the non-Jews in the audience, regardless of age.<br /><br />I know Gleason wasn't Jewish, but I'm sure the writers were, and there's something quintessentially Jewish -think George's Dad on Seinfeld - in his character. Most Jews have a loud uncle just like Gleason, a schlemeil I guess, and without that personal connection I know I wouldn't find it as funny.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-66564458828115044092010-02-23T09:38:53.454-08:002010-02-23T09:38:53.454-08:00I'm 37, have never seen an episode of the Hone...I'm 37, have never seen an episode of the Honeymooners (I'm from the UK, don't recall it ever being shown here).<br /><br />The clip left me stone cold. The slapstick didn't work for me and I have no handle on the characters so it didn't trigger that "Heh, I know just how *that* guy would react!" laugh of recognition.stuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02396049801150086197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-20221937299533291172010-02-15T12:10:40.945-08:002010-02-15T12:10:40.945-08:00Oh and I wandered over to your site from Alan Sepi...Oh and I wandered over to your site from Alan Sepinwall's blog, and I read your bio after I posted my comment...I just had to tell you that I love all the shows you've worked on, especially Cheers and Wings!Kaynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-51324701258446673892010-02-15T12:08:18.432-08:002010-02-15T12:08:18.432-08:00I'm 26 and have never seen The Honeymooners be...I'm 26 and have never seen The Honeymooners before, though I have a fondness for I Love Lucy and The Andy Griffith Show. I thought the whole clip was mildly amusing, and I chuckled at both "What do you expect to find in a pin cushion, chicken noodles?!" and the "addressing the ball" even though I saw that one coming. Might help that I recently took up golf myself, so that adds a layer to the humor for me. <br /><br />Final result...I am a little more likely to turn the channel if I see an episode of The Honeymooners, but I'm not running out to buy the DVD.Kaynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-68780259609448832002010-02-15T11:02:23.191-08:002010-02-15T11:02:23.191-08:00Wandering back through, reading later comments.
I...Wandering back through, reading later comments.<br /><br />It's possible that my terseness may have come from lying on my back with a duck on my chest. It's extremely hard to type (on a laptop, at least) when one has a duck on one's chest.<br /><br />I did watch the Honeymooners a bit as a teen (would have been the 70s) but I always found it<br />a. depressing - the tenement, the single room. the onl sinle room show I ever could endure was Barney Miller. I'm not sure whether it was the claustrophobia, or just this misery of the thought of living a life like this (I have a room when I was 25, but I was not married and it was not permanent)<br />b. perception of big scary man. I was a tiny teen with a verbally abusive father. Ralph was a large man who screamed. A lot.<br />c. I don't laugh a lot of Lucy either. Most of her shtick, which I attempt not to watch, just seems like a spoiled woman, trying to get past her husband, who whines a lot, and then gets herself in predicaments. If I wanted that, I could watch I Dream of Jeannie.<br />(It should be noted I don't feel like this about Mary Tyler Moore on Dick Van Dyke, which I also have not watched in ages, but at least would not turn the channel if run across ("this man has a thousand bees on his face").<br /><br />As for the physical comedy,maybe the dislike overrules any enjoyment I might have? Watching Michael J Fox or Zach Braff or even (though it's old to me) Jack Ritter do PC is actually amusing. I think.<br /><br />I have to wonder about the effect black and white has on my reactions. Seriously.<br /><br />The Carol Burnett skit was fantastic. Haven't seen the entire thing since I was a teen but I love parody and acute silliness (Tim trying to break Korman up, in other skits, was always a fave)<br /><br />Address the ball. Can't help it, saw it coming and did not care. I am a big fan of wordplay and taking things literally as evidenced in my love for movies like Airplane (and the Zucker Brothers have spoiled me for much other comedy, although The Big Bang Theory has proved I can still be made to laugh)<br /><br />I think that's all I have.Pamela Jayehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06135379188588301400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-64847788900778720802010-02-15T07:28:56.873-08:002010-02-15T07:28:56.873-08:00I'm 30 and didn't laugh, but agree that de...I'm 30 and didn't laugh, but agree that delivery of "hellooo ball" was good. What I was distracted by (as I found it interesting) was how much apartments have generally changed over the years. The apartment in this scene is so sparely decorated - really a room with a few pieces of furniture and a utilitarian sink. I would submit that apartments for people of the same means/class look very different today.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-17906544037039600152010-02-14T19:11:39.429-08:002010-02-14T19:11:39.429-08:00I'm 28 and the only part I found funny was &qu...I'm 28 and the only part I found funny was "address the ball...Hello, Ball!". But for the most part, I don't care for the Honeymooners, but I will always Love Lucy!Amyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01659820703909026254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-15559295897884308852010-02-13T15:33:48.068-08:002010-02-13T15:33:48.068-08:00Brought up on TV in England, in more than 40 years...Brought up on TV in England, in more than 40 years I have never seen the show, although I know of it from references in others (Family Guy last week, and King of Queens this). I guessed what to expect from the howls of laughter as the star enters wearing that outfit, so instead of getting the character - either blithely deluded or mis-sold the very thing by an unscrupulous sports store - I could only hear a roomful of writers jostling each other with: "This'll knock 'em out!" and it duly did. But not me, not now.<br /><br />Bilko, yes, and Laurel & Hardy, so time isn't the factor.jonwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04582605699182310735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-87149655230904559452010-02-12T20:22:33.014-08:002010-02-12T20:22:33.014-08:00I'm 38 and agree that for me Carney is much fu...I'm 38 and agree that for me Carney is much funnier than Gleason (who comes off so mean most of the time.)<br /><br />And that the "Hello, ball." joke was the only laugh out loud moment for me. But it is a big laugh.<br /><br />But still brought back memories of watching this on WPIX Channel 11 as a kid who was staying up too late (11:00 or 11:30pm.) I didn't like it as much as Taxi (also shown that hour but on channel five) but still enjoyed it. Mostly due to Carney.<br /><br />Definitely dated as can be, though.Tyrocnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-37385826402312143562010-02-12T19:27:13.885-08:002010-02-12T19:27:13.885-08:0053 Year Old Male: I still think out of the two, at...53 Year Old Male: I still think out of the two, at this period of time Carney was the funnier of the two. Gleason would hit his stride in the sixties with the weekly show on CBS. I remember my Dad telling me that he once saw Gleason in the lobby of a unnamed theater on Broadway at intermission. Gleason was standing next to a potted plant, smoking a cigarette. He carefully looked around the lobby and when he thought no one was looking he put the cigarette out in the planter. Kind of out of character, because to me he seemed as if he really did not care what anyone thought about him.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08675343513148930475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-85434610281849510492010-02-12T16:09:59.826-08:002010-02-12T16:09:59.826-08:00Short version: 37-year-old man; mildly amusing.
I...Short version: 37-year-old man; mildly amusing.<br /><br />I've seen a bare handful of The Honeymooners, but understand it's place in TV history, for the most part.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-40191574817662204012010-02-12T13:55:52.156-08:002010-02-12T13:55:52.156-08:00Yes, the joke is obvious. That same joke performed...Yes, the joke is obvious. That same joke performed by anybody else (with the possible exceptions of Gracie Allen and Stan Laurel) wouldn't be funny. It's the way Art Carney says, "Helllooo ball!" that makes it funny.Kirkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02155991693956178030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-74860178850548353022010-02-12T13:34:12.311-08:002010-02-12T13:34:12.311-08:00after reading the comments, I'm surprised so m...after reading the comments, I'm surprised so many people find "hello ball" funny. when the guy says "address the ball", and they react to that, you already know they misinterpreted it as "talk to the ball". If you're gonna talk to a ball, at least say something funny, not just "hello". "hello ball" is beating the dead horse (which was killed by their previous reaction to "address the ball")Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-85608315727847856792010-02-12T13:18:06.902-08:002010-02-12T13:18:06.902-08:00I know I'm late to the party, but I just wante...I know I'm late to the party, but I just wanted to chime in on something that everyone seems to be saying--that the clip isn't funny because it is too predictable. As a statement about comedy, that is just not true, or no joke would ever be funny more than once. But the opposite is true--the best jokes are funnier the tenth time you've heard them, when you know exactly what is coming. In fact, the older commenters, those who have seen the clip before, and therefore know exactly what is coming, are the ones enjoying it the most. The younger, first-time viewers, those who can see the general direction the joke is going but don't know the exact details, are the ones not liking it.<br /><br />Also, one of the pleasures of shows like Cheers and Frazier for me was that even on first viewing, you knew what was going to happen. Mistaken identity, lies that snowball, etc. The fun isn't in the surprise, but in the anxiety that is created as you watch the inevitable.ralphdibnyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02221303143042751812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-32628616858059812562010-02-12T13:06:45.646-08:002010-02-12T13:06:45.646-08:00not that funny. I saw most of the jokes coming, wh...not that funny. I saw most of the jokes coming, which is not that bad, except the laughtrack gives them a standing ovation. "hello ball" for example, it was pretty obvious, but they seemed to milk it way too much (both with the performance and the laughtrack).<br /><br />On the other hand, there were a couple of actually funny jokes that didn't have the right setup, like when the guy says "ok, tell me what the book says" at 1:59, that could have been funnier.<br /><br />btw, the youngest generation is Y, not X, gen X is at least 30 year olds, so not exactly young (at 28 I'm right at the limit)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com