Make 'Em Laugh: The funny business of America to air on PBS!

[Ilikemuppets]

However, I just LOVE how they connected All in the Family to The Cosby show, using Cosby's vocal criticism of the show to seaway into his own.

It's interesting because I think that one of the writers from All In The Family was actually one of the creators of The Cosby Show if I remember it right.

 

[CensoredAlso]

Darn, I missed last night's chapter! Of course that had to be the one that focused on the Marx Brothers and other groundbreakers, grrr, lol. I think one of my PBS station is showing it again tonight at 9pm though. Here's the website if anyone else is interested in finding the schedule:

http://www.pbs.org/

 

[Drtooth]

Darn, I missed last night's chapter! Of course that had to be the one that focused on the Marx Brothers and other groundbreakers, grrr, lol. I think one of my PBS station is showing it again tonight at 9pm though. Here's the website if anyone else is interested in finding the schedule:

http://www.pbs.org/

Well... by Marx Brothers, they focused mainly (and I do mean mainly) on Harpo, as it was about slapstick and groundbreakers. The Marxes were part of the Slapstick segment...

The Groundbreakers were basically people like May West, George Carlin, and Richard Pryor... people who said very controversial things and got punished by different government factions for it.

I just love how they make the last 15 minutes about something relatively current (Jim Carrey started his career almost 30 years ago, Family Matters is almost 20 years old, as is Seinfeld... really shows you we're getting old, here)... how the old makes way for the (relatively) new.

 

[CensoredAlso]

Well... by Marx Brothers, they focused mainly (and I do mean mainly) on Harpo, as it was about slapstick and groundbreakers. The Marxes were part of the Slapstick segment...

Well that does makes sense. I think the website mentioned that Groucho will actually be in the Wise guys chapter. (Poor Chico, so often ignored ::sniff:: )

 

[bazooka_beak]

My dad was watching this last night. I admit I wasn't paying much attention Perhaps I should've.

 

[CensoredAlso]

Wow, I liked this chapter much more than the first one! I'm not a big fan of physical comedy, but it was so enlightening to see some of Buster Keaton's work. He really was quite innovative, for then and now!

I'm starting to see more of Chaplin lately. You know he sort of reminds me of Austin Powers sometimes, lol. Especially when he's with a girl.

Laurel and Hardy I always liked. Again not so much for the physical stuff, but for their two characters and how they related to each other.

What's great about Lucy is that she was willing to learn from the masters and basically bring it to the new medium of Television. Too many female comedians just try to be shocking...and end up unfunny.

I thought they described Harpo Marx perfectly; that was a great tribute. His character was more than just slapstick, he was a unique, otherwordly creature that no one could touch. And it was sweet when his son brought how his original coat. The Marx Brothers were pretty much the first comedy group that did anarchy for no reason. They caused chaos because they felt like it.

I loved the Jim Carrey parts; wow he looked so young! Though I am glad they didn't dwell too much on the new stuff in the Slapstick section (which the first chapter did).

 

[CensoredAlso]

Ok last night was the Wise Guys segment. I think the Groucho segment was good, except for their use of Marx Brothers' clips. They kept cutting off at the wrong points, which weakened the jokes somewhat.

But anyway, it's always interesting to hear about how Groucho was resentful that his older brothers were his parents' "favorites." I don't think any other comics in history have been as psycho analyzed as the Marx Brothers, lol.

It's still a shame Chico hasn't gotten his own mention. But I guess they don't want to delve into dialect comedy too much (too controversial nowadays). They could put him in a straight man segment if they had one. ::shrugs::

 

[Drtooth]

I liked it as well, but I think that 6 segments is not enough. Plus, I'm disappointed outside of the Simpsons (and using a Family Guy segment to bring up a point) there wasn't any other mention of cartoons.

I applaud them for mentioning MAD magazine in the satire segment, though. Even if it was briefly, and only to bring up a very important historical lawsuit.

 

[balt11tab]

Anyone ever hear of RED SKELTON. Just a few brief clips with Lucy but presented as an
afterthought. HOW SAD. He was truly head & shoulders above some of those presented. He was tho featured prominently in PIONEERS OF PRIMETIME released a few
years back. And another thing- INSULT COMEDY wasn't part of the package. In closing
remember a guy by the name of DON RICKLES. I guess he didn't make people laugh hard
enough!