Salon.com > Comedy http://www.salon.com Fri, 04 Jan 2013 12:45:00 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Golden Globes: Amy Poehler roots for “Avatar” and Tina Fey wants best picture http://www.salon.com/2013/01/03/golden_globes_amy_poehler_roots_for_avatar_and_tina_fey_wants_best_picture/ http://www.salon.com/2013/01/03/golden_globes_amy_poehler_roots_for_avatar_and_tina_fey_wants_best_picture/#comments Thu, 03 Jan 2013 19:48:00 +0000 http://www.origin.railrode.net/?p=13161102 If the promos are any indication, you'll want to tune into 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards this year, hosted by comedians Amy Poehler and Tina Fey. In a newly released video, the two speculate on who the big winners will be: Tina Fey and "Avatar." "I, personally, would like to win best picture," says Fey. "Just me, like, as a person, winning best picture, I think would be unprecedented especially because I didn't even really make a movie this year."

And, spoiler alert, but Daniel Day-Lewis might be up for something, too:

Poehler: I haven't been keeping up with pop culture, is it "Avatar" this year?
Fey: Yes, yes.
Poehler: We've been practicing: And the winner for best actor in a drama is ...
Fey: Daniel Day-Lewis.
In unison: For "Avatar."

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]]> http://www.salon.com/2013/01/03/golden_globes_amy_poehler_roots_for_avatar_and_tina_fey_wants_best_picture/feed/ 2 “Community” writer Megan Ganz leaves for “Modern Family” http://www.salon.com/2013/01/03/community_writer_megan_ganz_leaves_for_modern_family/ http://www.salon.com/2013/01/03/community_writer_megan_ganz_leaves_for_modern_family/#comments Thu, 03 Jan 2013 17:41:00 +0000 http://www.origin.railrode.net/?p=13160911 After losing its showrunner and executive producer Dan Harmon and actor Chevy Chase, NBC's dwindling comedy "Community" is facing a third major blow: the departure of one of its top writers, Megan Ganz, who as of today writes for "Modern Family."

Ganz made a heartfelt announcement to her fans on Reddit yesterday, describing the moment she first considered herself a TV writer (Ganz entered TV writing with comedy sketch show "Important Things With Demetri Martin," after working her way up at the Onion):

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]]> http://www.salon.com/2013/01/03/community_writer_megan_ganz_leaves_for_modern_family/feed/ 0 Must-see morning clip http://www.salon.com/2013/01/03/must_see_morning_clip_83/ http://www.salon.com/2013/01/03/must_see_morning_clip_83/#comments Thu, 03 Jan 2013 14:05:00 +0000 http://www.origin.railrode.net/?p=13160653 Comedian Fred Armisen dropped by "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" last night to promote the season premiere of his award-winning sketch show,"Portlandia." The two SNL comedians ended up performing a sketch of their own, rehearsing bits from their old bands, like Little Baby Sparrows, Nothingness and Birds Tree:

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]]> http://www.salon.com/2013/01/03/must_see_morning_clip_83/feed/ 0 Conan O’Brien bringing sitcom to Fox http://www.salon.com/2013/01/02/conan_obrien_bringing_sitcom_to_fox/ http://www.salon.com/2013/01/02/conan_obrien_bringing_sitcom_to_fox/#comments Wed, 02 Jan 2013 20:50:00 +0000 http://www.origin.railrode.net/?p=13159938 Conan O'Brien is bringing a 30-minute medical comedy sitcom to Fox. The show, "Bob's New Heart Show," a play on "The Bob Newhart Show," is about an ambitious young doctor who decides to take over a small medical practice in his hometown after a heart transplant compels him to reevaluate his life.

In addition to writing the script, "Community" writer Ben Wexler will executive-produce the show, along with O'Brien and Conaco's David Kissinger and Jeff Ross.

"Bob's New Heart Show" marks Conaco's first project with Fox, although Wexler and O'Brien worked together on a Fox script in 2010.

h/t Deadline

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]]> http://www.salon.com/2013/01/02/conan_obrien_bringing_sitcom_to_fox/feed/ 0 “Thelma and Louise,” Waylon Jennings: The best fiscal cliff tweets http://www.salon.com/2012/12/28/thelma_and_louise_waylon_jennings_the_best_fiscal_cliff_tweets/ http://www.salon.com/2012/12/28/thelma_and_louise_waylon_jennings_the_best_fiscal_cliff_tweets/#comments Fri, 28 Dec 2012 16:17:00 +0000 http://www.origin.railrode.net/?p=13156504 With the fiscal cliff approaching, confused panic, intransigent realpolitik and "Thelma and Louise" references abound in Twitter's snarky corners:

 

[embedtweet id="284654631806697472"]

 

[embedtweet id="284201238508228608"]

 

[embedtweet id="284423162467319808"]

 

[embedtweet id="284469059150565376"]

 

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And the BBC's Paul Mason gets to the point:

[embedtweet id="284445545592926209"]

 

 

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]]> http://www.salon.com/2012/12/28/thelma_and_louise_waylon_jennings_the_best_fiscal_cliff_tweets/feed/ 0 Defending Judd Apatow’s midlife crisis http://www.salon.com/2012/12/28/defending_judd_apatows_midlife_crisis/ http://www.salon.com/2012/12/28/defending_judd_apatows_midlife_crisis/#comments Fri, 28 Dec 2012 16:05:00 +0000 http://www.origin.railrode.net/?p=13156402 In the first week of its release on Dec. 21, "This Is 40” has been met with poor box-office sales and middling reviews, with many critics branding Judd Apatow's latest as sloppy, overlong, self-indulgent claptrap. Both receptions are a shame, since "40” marks not only a continuation of the filmmaker’s creative evolution but also a culmination of what has been most compelling in comedy over the past couple of years. With its unflinching honesty, ruthless candor, and fascination with uneasy truth over pat payoffs, Apatow’s latest feels less like his previous work and more like a 132-minute episode of "Louie." Sure, the aesthetic is markedly different — "This Is 40” has the gloss of slick studio product — but the spirit and sensibility are the same: It's a stark autobiography and uncomfortable confession, where laughter is the casual byproduct of situation and personality (rather than the other way around) and dramatic beats ring painfully true.

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]]> http://www.salon.com/2012/12/28/defending_judd_apatows_midlife_crisis/feed/ 7 Must-see morning clip http://www.salon.com/2012/12/23/must_see_morning_clip_80/ http://www.salon.com/2012/12/23/must_see_morning_clip_80/#comments Sun, 23 Dec 2012 12:49:00 +0000 http://www.origin.railrode.net/?p=13153629 He's lonely, he's maybe a little insecure about his waistline. But that doesn't mean the droll basketball legend doesn't have holiday cheer. Watch Charles Barkley as he celebrates Christmas, Rupert Pupkin-style, with some of his favorite NBA frenemies.

And whatever you do, don't call him Santa.

From funnyordie.com

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]]> http://www.salon.com/2012/12/23/must_see_morning_clip_80/feed/ 2 Jerry Seinfeld explains how he writes comedy http://www.salon.com/2012/12/20/jerry_seinfeld_explains_how_he_writes_comedy/ http://www.salon.com/2012/12/20/jerry_seinfeld_explains_how_he_writes_comedy/#comments Thu, 20 Dec 2012 22:00:00 +0000 http://www.origin.railrode.net/?p=13151384 Analyzing comedy is a lot less funny than hearing it. But if you want to gain some insight into what goes into writing stand-up, legendary comic Jerry Seinfeld breaks it down for you in a video put out today by  the New York Times (and it's actually kind of funny, too).

Seinfeld talks about how he constructed a joke about Pop Tarts and, of course, his trademark "nothing." "In my world, the wronger something feels, the righter it is," he says. "So to waste so much time on something this stupid--that felt good to me."

Here's the Pop Tart joke from a 2010 performance on David Letterman's "Late Show" (at 1:19)--which is still a work in progress:

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]]> http://www.salon.com/2012/12/20/jerry_seinfeld_explains_how_he_writes_comedy/feed/ 7 Amazon greenlights six original comedies http://www.salon.com/2012/12/20/amazon_greenlights_six_original_comedies/ http://www.salon.com/2012/12/20/amazon_greenlights_six_original_comedies/#comments Thu, 20 Dec 2012 21:20:00 +0000 http://www.origin.railrode.net/?p=13151282 After starting production arm Amazon Studios two years ago, Amazon.com will finally begin its foray into producing original content. The company will be bringing six original comedy pilots to Amazon Instant Video.

Most of the pilots will be produced or written by top names: Doonesbury's Gary Trudeau brings an episode of "Alpha House," about four U.S. Senators who are roommates in D.C.; "The Daily Show" writer David Javerbaum delivers a musical comedy called "Browsers"; Kristen Schaal and Jason Micallef will produce "Supanatural"; "The Big Bang Theory's" Kevin Sussman and John Ross Bowie bring an animated series about slacker co-workers in "Dark Minions"; The Onion will bring back a form of its satirical news show. The sixth pilot features a comedy entry "discovered through Amazon Studios' online open door process" called "Those Who Can’t", penned by Denver-based comedy troupe Grawlix).

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]]> http://www.salon.com/2012/12/20/amazon_greenlights_six_original_comedies/feed/ 2 “30 Rock’s” Kevin Brown tweets the last photos from the set http://www.salon.com/2012/12/20/30_rocks_kevin_brown_tweets_the_last_photos_from_the_set/ http://www.salon.com/2012/12/20/30_rocks_kevin_brown_tweets_the_last_photos_from_the_set/#comments Thu, 20 Dec 2012 18:48:00 +0000 http://www.origin.railrode.net/?p=13151094 Kevin Brown, aka Dot Com, aka Walter Slattery, from NBC's "30 Rock" has been tugging at America's heartstrings, sharing what he calls (sadly) the last photos of the show, ever:

[embed_tweet id="281632540371083264"]

[embed_tweet id="281762404424110080"]

[embed_tweet id="281614240425582592"]

[embed_tweet id="281587778796523520"]

The series' hour-long final episode will on Jan. 31, 2013.

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]]> http://www.salon.com/2012/12/20/30_rocks_kevin_brown_tweets_the_last_photos_from_the_set/feed/ 0 Must-see morning clip http://www.salon.com/2012/12/20/must_see_morning_clip_78/ http://www.salon.com/2012/12/20/must_see_morning_clip_78/#comments Thu, 20 Dec 2012 12:50:00 +0000 http://www.origin.railrode.net/?p=13150730 Actress Aubrey Plaza went on "Conan" last night, where she revealed that she stole a secret document from the White House when her show, "Parks and Recreation" was taping an episode there.

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]]> http://www.salon.com/2012/12/20/must_see_morning_clip_78/feed/ 0 Ali G returns http://www.salon.com/2012/12/13/ali_g_returns/ http://www.salon.com/2012/12/13/ali_g_returns/#comments Thu, 13 Dec 2012 21:11:27 +0000 http://www.origin.railrode.net/?p=13124249 Although audiences have seen comedian and actor Sacha Baron Cohen take on supporting roles in dramas (Inspector Gustav in "Hugo" and Thénardier in the upcoming "Les Miserables"), most will forever remember him as Bruno, Ali G and Borat in his hilarious character sketch comedy, "Da Ali G Show."

Ali G made a triumphant return to television at the British Comedy Awards two nights ago, where Ben Kingsley honored Cohen with an outstanding achievement award. Ali G, who hasn't been on TV for 10 years, said he's all "grown up now."

I ain't living in my nan's house anymore," said the wannabe rapper. "I am living in her garage."

Watch the full speech below:

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]]> http://www.salon.com/2012/12/13/ali_g_returns/feed/ 2 Aziz Ansari is the person behind the “Homeland” Twitter parody account http://www.salon.com/2012/12/12/is_aziz_ansari_the_person_behind_the_homeland_twitter_parody_account/ http://www.salon.com/2012/12/12/is_aziz_ansari_the_person_behind_the_homeland_twitter_parody_account/#comments Wed, 12 Dec 2012 22:00:00 +0000 http://www.origin.railrode.net/?p=13123220 The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed that "Parks and Recreation" star and stand-up comic Aziz Ansari is the voice behind the popular "Homeland" parody account. THR notes that it suspected as much when one of Ansari's tweets was quickly deleted and appeared minutes later on Nicholas Brody's Twitter account. He often retweets from the character's account, as well.

Here are some of Ansari's recent tweets as the show's ex-Marine congressman:

[embed_tweet id="273931325537390592"]

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Ansari, a fan of the show, told EW last month, "The turns are unexpectedly sharp, and the season’s plot has been aggressively paced in the best way. To put it bluntly, crazy s— just keeps happening."

 

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]]> http://www.salon.com/2012/12/12/is_aziz_ansari_the_person_behind_the_homeland_twitter_parody_account/feed/ 0 Is “The Daily Show” replacing Wyatt Cenac with a puppet? http://www.salon.com/2012/12/12/is_the_daily_show_replacing_wyatt_cenac_with_a_puppet/ http://www.salon.com/2012/12/12/is_the_daily_show_replacing_wyatt_cenac_with_a_puppet/#comments Wed, 12 Dec 2012 16:21:00 +0000 http://www.origin.railrode.net/?p=13122735 It looks like "The Daily Show's" Wyatt Cenac, whose last day on the show is Dec. 13, will be replaced by a puppet. Or at least, that's what this photo recently tweeted by ABC's senior White House correspondent Jake Tapper led us to believe:

[caption id="attachment_13122777" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="at the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)"][/caption]

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]]> http://www.salon.com/2012/12/12/is_the_daily_show_replacing_wyatt_cenac_with_a_puppet/feed/ 4 “Arrested Development” to extend Season 4 http://www.salon.com/2012/12/12/arrested_development_to_extend_season_4/ http://www.salon.com/2012/12/12/arrested_development_to_extend_season_4/#comments Wed, 12 Dec 2012 14:05:00 +0000 http://www.origin.railrode.net/?p=13122508 Good news for "Arrested Development" fans: Mitch Hurwitz, the creator of the cult comedy canceled by Fox in 2006, is extending Season 4. Although there have been whispers of it before (David Cross hinted at it months ago) Deadline just broke the news that Hurwitz will add two to five episodes onto the original ten.

Production was supposed to end by Thanksgiving, but the crew came up with more plot ideas and extra footage that Hurwitz now wants to add to the show. Hurwitz is reportedly taking a hiatus to review current footage to figure out how to add it in; he'll also determine what actors he needs back to film additional scenes. The second round of filming is planned to begin in late January, but as far as we know, this won't set back the projected spring release date on Netflix.

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]]> http://www.salon.com/2012/12/12/arrested_development_to_extend_season_4/feed/ 2 Jon Stewart almost quit “The Daily Show” because staff was “insane” http://www.salon.com/2012/12/11/jon_stewart_almost_quit_the_daily_show_because_staff_was_insane/ http://www.salon.com/2012/12/11/jon_stewart_almost_quit_the_daily_show_because_staff_was_insane/#comments Tue, 11 Dec 2012 18:09:00 +0000 http://www.origin.railrode.net/?p=13121589 Comedian Jon Stewart opened up to Stephen Colbert at last week's fundraiser for the Montclair Film Festival, surprising the audience when the fake news anchor admitted that "The Daily Show," as we currently know it, almost didn't happen.

Third Beat reports that Stewart had serious doubts after taking the helm of the show, previously hosted by Craig Kilborn. "What I did not realize is, a lot of the people who worked there were assholes,” Stewart said.

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]]> http://www.salon.com/2012/12/11/jon_stewart_almost_quit_the_daily_show_because_staff_was_insane/feed/ 23 “The Dark Knight” reimagined as a romantic comedy http://www.salon.com/2012/12/11/the_dark_night_reimagined_as_a_romantic_comedy/ http://www.salon.com/2012/12/11/the_dark_night_reimagined_as_a_romantic_comedy/#comments Tue, 11 Dec 2012 17:08:00 +0000 http://www.origin.railrode.net/?p=13121499 With just a few changes (bright, poppy music and a few inspirational quotes), Matin Comedy turns the "The Dark Knight" into a rom-com:

h/t Clip Nation

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]]> http://www.salon.com/2012/12/11/the_dark_night_reimagined_as_a_romantic_comedy/feed/ 0 What do you mean, you don’t know who Gilda Radner is? http://www.salon.com/2012/11/30/what_do_you_mean_you_dont_know_who_gilda_radner_is/ http://www.salon.com/2012/11/30/what_do_you_mean_you_dont_know_who_gilda_radner_is/#comments Fri, 30 Nov 2012 19:22:00 +0000 http://www.origin.railrode.net/?p=13111396 It was sad to hear that some chapters of the Gilda's Club cancer charities have decided to drop Gilda Radner's name from their title because young people no longer know who she was. (See the Nov. 28 post by Salon columnist Mary Elizabeth Williams on the subject.) We say that not just because we love Gilda's comedy, but because we liked who she was as a person. What many people don't realize is that there were some dramatic contrasts between the Gilda Radner you saw on "Saturday Night Live" and who she was behind the scenes.

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]]> http://www.salon.com/2012/11/30/what_do_you_mean_you_dont_know_who_gilda_radner_is/feed/ 7 Bob Saget is writing a book with “dirty humor” http://www.salon.com/2012/11/28/bob_saget_is_writing_a_book_with_dirty_humor/ http://www.salon.com/2012/11/28/bob_saget_is_writing_a_book_with_dirty_humor/#comments Wed, 28 Nov 2012 23:00:00 +0000 http://www.origin.railrode.net/?p=13109703 Most comedy fans know that Bob Saget has a really, really foul mouth. The rest of America, however, still remembers Saget as the cuddly-wuddly dad on the ’90s sitcom “Full House,” or the wholesome host of “America’s Funniest Home Videos.” But Saget’s new book, due out in 2014 by It Books, an imprint of HarperCollins, aims to shed that image once and for all.

It Books executive editor Mark Chait, who helped negotiate the deal, said of Saget, "I've been dying to do a book with Bob ever since he almost made me p-ss my pants with laughter in 'The Aristocrats,'" a reference to the 2005 documentary in which Saget, along with 99 other comics, improvised perverse and absurd renditions of a classic Vaudeville joke. "It is now well-known that Bob Saget is very different from the neurotically conservative Danny Tanner character he played on 'Full House.' With this book he truly lets it all hang out -- the full monty of his crazy self, his dirty humor and unique personality," Chait said.

The AP notes that the book will have "filth and craziness and stories of such comedians as Richard Pryor and Don Rickles." And, if Saget's tweets are any indication, "it may get dirty."

h/t THR

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]]> http://www.salon.com/2012/11/28/bob_saget_is_writing_a_book_with_dirty_humor/feed/ 6 Rainn Wilson parodies Angus T. Jones’ meltdown http://www.salon.com/2012/11/28/rainn_wilson_parodies_angus_t_jones_meltdown/ http://www.salon.com/2012/11/28/rainn_wilson_parodies_angus_t_jones_meltdown/#comments Wed, 28 Nov 2012 16:11:00 +0000 http://www.origin.railrode.net/?p=13109125 After "Two and a Half Men's" Angus T. Jones broke down on camera begging viewers not to watch the "filth" that is his show, comedian Rainn Wilson seized the opportunity to make comedic gold. Wilson, along with "Office" co-star Craig Robinson (Darryl Philbin) taped a brilliant parody saying, "'The Office' is nothing, okay. If you watch 'The Office,' please don't watch 'The Office.'"

Wilson's parody effectively turned into an ad for the show, as he reiterated not to watch the show's final season, which airs at "Thursday nights, 9 o'clock, on NBC." "It's the enemy," said Wilson. "Hopefully people will listen to me, and not watch this filth called 'The Office.'"

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