tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post4385697617136641257..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: My thoughts on Harold RamisBy Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-69195291629063815842014-02-27T08:34:18.007-08:002014-02-27T08:34:18.007-08:00Alan C: You definitely should have approached Rami...Alan C: You definitely should have approached Ramis at Second City. From what I read, he loved being recognized and considered it one of the big advantages to moving back to Chicago in recent years. Since there were far fewer celebrities living there, he was a bigger deal there.<br /><br />I think he tended to be underrated because perhaps his greatest strength was collaboration. Even a fan might have a hard time remembering which films he directed and which he only co-wrote. And of course he was a master of improv, which doesn't show up in Writers Guild arbitration.jbryantnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-43594332208531975812014-02-26T16:18:08.253-08:002014-02-26T16:18:08.253-08:00Thanks God you liked him...I couldn't take ano...Thanks God you liked him...I couldn't take another Sid Caesar takedown so soon...Dixon Steelenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-21631136579429436612014-02-26T08:09:43.932-08:002014-02-26T08:09:43.932-08:00Jon Landis is alive and Harold Ramis isn't. Ma...Jon Landis is alive and Harold Ramis isn't. Making me rethink the idea of karma.Hollywoodaholichttp://www.hollywoodaholic.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-85209111758441697812014-02-26T03:28:02.224-08:002014-02-26T03:28:02.224-08:00Hi Paul.
Sadly no, because most bands are Spinal T...Hi Paul.<br />Sadly no, because most bands are Spinal Tap. :-)<br /><br />Well I just watched Groundhog day. I enjoyed it very much. Harold as the neuroligist was very good. Strange to be enjoying a movie and then feel sad for an actor who has passed. I had to put that behind me and get back into the spirit of the film. Which I did. I feel that was a credit to all involved. Lovely film. <br /><br />I know a lot of Hollywood types read this blog. I always appreciate good work and to any who have contributed to my happiness over the years, many thanks. Ramis was one who did on numerous occassions.<br />Cheers guys. DaleDalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09092985199027690430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-54330674753151616042014-02-26T02:26:16.987-08:002014-02-26T02:26:16.987-08:00I love the line Ramis has in Ghostbusters after th...I love the line Ramis has in Ghostbusters after they've had to walk up hundreds of flights of stairs to get to Dana's floor in the apartment block. He takes one look down the hallway and says in his deadpan tone: "Art deco. Very nice".Hamidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-28471948237957292902014-02-26T01:03:13.582-08:002014-02-26T01:03:13.582-08:00I know you hate Chevy Chase with a passion, but th...I know you hate Chevy Chase with a passion, but that's no reason to leave out Vacation, Ramis's best movie. And no matter what one says about Chevy's limited range, he was genius in that part. It's also a bit darker and more subversive then Ramis's other comedies,<br /><br />Anyway, I've always championed Ramis as terribly underrated and have always been a big fan. The news hit me pretty hard.Birdienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-56673455831552345722014-02-25T19:36:54.734-08:002014-02-25T19:36:54.734-08:00I really appreciated both Ken's comments and t...I really appreciated both Ken's comments and the comments of the posters who knew Harold Ramis. We need more people in entertainment like him. Breadbakernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-48244269407012624672014-02-25T18:47:34.933-08:002014-02-25T18:47:34.933-08:00Dale...I thought it was only a concern to be a dru...Dale...I thought it was only a concern to be a drummer for Spinal Tap.Paul Ducanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-17806874767932263042014-02-25T17:01:07.224-08:002014-02-25T17:01:07.224-08:00Al Ternative says "Not getting older, and not...Al Ternative says "Not getting older, and not watching people die? That sounds GREAT."<br /><br />Wait, doesn't that sound like Groundhog Day?susienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-17138728620081407642014-02-25T16:56:37.689-08:002014-02-25T16:56:37.689-08:00That's for sure. Sad to have seen many friends...That's for sure. Sad to have seen many friends pass. I am in the entertainment field and have lost so many to AIDS. Another is suicide (among drummers suicide is a curse. I lost 7 drummer friends to suicide over thirty years.)<br />Last night I had no time. But tonight I plan to watch Analyze that and Groundhog day.<br />RIP Mr Ramis. Dalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09092985199027690430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-16704278372324896432014-02-25T16:40:23.057-08:002014-02-25T16:40:23.057-08:00Not getting older, and not watching people die? T...Not getting older, and not watching people die? That sounds GREAT.Al Ternativenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-60736472513935229122014-02-25T16:08:49.408-08:002014-02-25T16:08:49.408-08:00Getting older and watching people die is depressin...Getting older and watching people die is depressing, but I guess it beats the alternative.Johnny Walkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13302545167970532080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-13688388349781267422014-02-25T16:07:51.623-08:002014-02-25T16:07:51.623-08:00I'm not sure that we, the general public, knew...I'm not sure that we, the general public, knew either. At least I know I was shocked. He was never the funniest character in any of the movies he was in, his directorial efforts were hit and miss (with some great hits), but now he's gone, it's suddenly apparent that his contributions will be missed.<br /><br />There was a genial humanity that was obviously very deep and genuine. Makes you realize just how important the glue in between things is.Johnny Walkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13302545167970532080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-68373590434516619672014-02-25T14:57:23.004-08:002014-02-25T14:57:23.004-08:00Wow. Harold Ramis is like the Ken Levine of movies...<i> Wow. Harold Ramis is like the Ken Levine of movies. </i><br /><br />Oh, jesus. Stop licking his ass<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-91118774125803657562014-02-25T14:48:58.233-08:002014-02-25T14:48:58.233-08:00"And that would have worked if you hadn't..."And that would have worked if you hadn't stopped me"<br /><br />We will miss you and your work Mr. Ramis.chuckcdnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-18730797240718952312014-02-25T14:10:51.425-08:002014-02-25T14:10:51.425-08:00I remember him on SCTV shows in the early days, ev...I remember him on SCTV shows in the early days, even though he wasn't on camera for many episodes. His comic timing was impeccable. kenjuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07342414519714356343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-13425242317075972172014-02-25T13:52:43.871-08:002014-02-25T13:52:43.871-08:00A co-writer and director on several of the most be...A co-writer and director on several of the most beloved and successful comedies of the last 30 years.<br /><br />Wow. Harold Ramis is like the Ken Levine of movies.RockGolfnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-47936054008530170742014-02-25T13:23:08.480-08:002014-02-25T13:23:08.480-08:00I always thought "Groundhog Day" was as ...I always thought <i>"Groundhog Day"</i> was as close to perfect as any comedy that has ever been made. Incredible script, acting and directing. Comedies never get the credit they deserve, but for me <i>"Groundhog Day"</i> is one of the best 25 films ever made. <br /><br />Thank you Harold for all the joy you brought me.mdv1959noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-67693736825283357982014-02-25T12:59:02.489-08:002014-02-25T12:59:02.489-08:00Thanks for the wonderful tribute, Ken. You hit on...Thanks for the wonderful tribute, Ken. You hit on how I've been feeling since hearing the news yesterday.<br /><br />Harold Ramis could expertly deploy stupid humor, slob humor, dirty humor, or insult humor but there<br />was always an underlying sensitivity and decency. <br /><br />As Nat mentioned, his performance in "As Good as it Gets" typifies this, and I'd add his short scene with Seth Rogen in "Knocked Up." <br /><br />chalmersnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-83366149080121649732014-02-25T12:06:23.172-08:002014-02-25T12:06:23.172-08:00Re: This entire column: Ditto!
Sid Caesar aand Ha...Re: This entire column: Ditto!<br /><br />Sid Caesar aand Harold Ramis in the same month. The world is a lot less funny this February (The month of Groundhog's Day).<br /><br />Groundhog's Day is my paternal grandfather's birthday, so I was happy it was honored as being the title and setting of a truely great, and even somewhat profound, comedy.<br /><br />And just how rare is a self-effacing comedian.D. McEwannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-14913694093476925702014-02-25T11:22:57.060-08:002014-02-25T11:22:57.060-08:00It has been gently discussed on a Marx Brothers Fa...It has been gently discussed on a Marx Brothers Facebook page, that many of his movies are a true spiritual descendant of what the Marxes were doing in their time, and Ramis had pretty much discussed his stuf the same way. His movies were all about the outcasts....the unappreciated refusing to be kept down, and roaring back to win - all while being very, very funny.<br /><br />One thing that is not being discussed too much, is how Ramis was at the very heart of the Second City revolution of the early 70s - he was a very important part of both the Chicago and Toronto units which came to dominate film comedy for a decade. As part of that, he was a huge part of the OTHER two prime contributions of National Lampoon to the culture - NatLamp's Lemmings, and the very hysterical National Lampoon Radio Hour. <br /><br />A very nice tribute Ken...<br /><br />RIP Harold Ramis - you will be missed!LouOCNYhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16151395857835632917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-85133473500374097132014-02-25T11:12:45.595-08:002014-02-25T11:12:45.595-08:00A few years ago I was in Chicago and went to see S...A few years ago I was in Chicago and went to see Second City. There was someone in the audience who looked just like Harold Ramis. I so wanted to go up and say hello but chickened out. Now I'm kicking myself!Alan Cnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-81573849834691663562014-02-25T09:32:28.180-08:002014-02-25T09:32:28.180-08:00Absolutely riveted by his comments during intervie...Absolutely riveted by his comments during interviews in the Making of Caddyshack. Nearly as fun as the feature itself. You could sure tell he enjoyed making that film.MJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10268549815368346612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-33260304557019063742014-02-25T09:31:57.449-08:002014-02-25T09:31:57.449-08:00I was very saddened by his death, but just thinkin...I was very saddened by his death, but just thinking about his work I spent the rest of the day laughing. It will always be there - embedded in my brain. <br /><br />Here he is just killing in 1 minute and 5 seconds, for the Famous Philosophers School on SCTV - <br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYySOUdAG5kPhillip Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08498595633633248863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-597604866356369642014-02-25T09:31:46.766-08:002014-02-25T09:31:46.766-08:00My stepdaughter lived with us her senior year in h...My stepdaughter lived with us her senior year in high school (this was 23/yikes/years ago). Her father & I were making wisecracks and quoting Animal House as we were trying to talk to her about college. She got very annoyed and spouted, "That is just a stupid movie. It isn't even funny." We stopped dead in our tracks and I asked, "Have you even seen it?" She hadn't. I made her get in the car and go to the store to rent the VHS. When she got home, I sat her down and told her not to move until it was over. I could hear her trying to muffle her giggles while I was doing the dishes she was supposed to be doing. Finally she gave up and just laughed out loud. She appologized to her father & me. That weekend we had a comedy marathon of all of Mr. Ramis's comedies and others she refused to acknowledge...Mel Brooks among them. She never doubted our taste in comedy again. <br /><br />Pam aka SisterZipAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com