newcritics

Why is life worth living? It’s a very good question. Um, well, there are certain things I guess that make it worthwhile. Uh, like what…OK, um for me, I would say laughter. Um…comedy. Pure, funny moments. Groucho Marx singing “I’m Against It,” for one thing. Uh, um, Cary Grant screaming, “No, no, leave the rooster story alone, that’s human interest.” Any Nichols and May routine. A Dave Frishberg song. Um, Swedish movies, naturally. The Second Movement of Cheech and Chong’s “Los Cochinos”…Preston Sturges, Buster Keaton. ”Don’t be a smarty/Come and join the Nazi Party.” Um, the Coen Brothers, George Carlin on “the big invisible man in the sky”…uh…Thurber and White’s cartoon captions. The novels of Peter De Vries. Archie Bunker’s rants to Meathead, David Frye as Nixon. “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” John Prine’s “Dear Abby.” Moms Mabley. Paul Lynde in the center square. Um, Woody’s earlier, funnier films…Mark Twain’s letters…uh…Richard Pryor’s riffs on cocaine…Dean Martin’s roasts…”Laugh In,” “Seinfeld,” “30 Rock.” Dylan’s press conferences. Lucy and “Vegameatavitamins.” Barrymore and Lombard in “Twentieth Century.” “A Boy Named Sue.” Laurel and Hardy hauling the piano, uh, Chico and Harpo and Margaret Dumont. Tex Avery’s cartoons. “We were somewhere around Barstow on the edge of the desert when the drugs began to take hold.” “Are you a mod or a rocker?” “I’m a mocker.” Boris and Natasha. “Batman,” the TV show, um, Stan Corwyn’s record ads. Creem’s Boy Howdy ads. “Ninotchka.” Any line by Dorothy Parker. Um…“Pussy Galore. I must be dreaming.” Flip Wilson as Geraldine. George C. Scott in “Dr. Strangelove,” those incredible early years of “SNL” and “SCTV.” Uh…Charlie Chaplin’s face…

(Cross-posted at The Shamus’ shingle: badfortheglass.blogspot.com)