MODERN COMEDY
Posted by anthonynorth on April 18, 2009
Including One Single Impression, Weekend Wordsmith and Acrostic Only.
Have you had a go yet?
PAPPA RAZZI
Modern Comedy
I find a problem with much modern comedy – it isn’t funny. It seems
to be based on insult or inane behaviour. Comedy proper is a process
of illogic, where a statement or action confronts the rationality of the
experiencer, causing a self-defence mechanism called laughter. True
comedy is so subtle that its practice is no laughing matter.
FROM THE ARCHIVES
Eye On the World – Choose an Essay
HEALTH NEWS: The UK growing more
fearful, it seems, causing rise in mental illness.
This is what happens when a society loses meaning.
WORLD NEWS: General Elections begin in India but can
democracy exist in such a big country? Can a Parliament be
representative here?
BRIT NEWS: Local councils to be watched by govt for using
anti-terror laws to increase snooping. Shame it took
public to show problem.
BRIT NEWS: A million householders in negative equity;
another 1m close. And there’s talk that we may
have turned a corner. Wanna bet!
Call back Mon for more NewsFlash
FUTURE ZONE
What’s ahead … and Beyond!!!
JUST ONE WORD
The future holds our destiny,
Tech for good or enmity,
Driving one word to ultimate power,
Providing a button that can devour,
Everything as the missiles hit,
Our leader safe in his pit;
Godly, he takes out man and bird,
For: In the End Was the Word
DREAM LIFE
Sci Fi: The boy had been having lots of dreams of late. He just lay
down and off he went again. This time it was a lovely dream, and
he felt at home with the person the dream made him become. Waking,
he turned round to the salesman and said: ‘I’ll have that one.’ After
all, things were so much easier now that you could have the
life you dream of.
THE LANGUID SPACEMAN
Languid spaceman, isn’t it time,
You went to planets, hoping to find,
ET and other magnificent stuff,
Even though it may be tough?
The tech’s been on the drawing board so long,
The aliens are wondering where we’ve gone,
Just orbiting the planet without any cred,
As if flies buzzing round something dead
OPPORTUNITY GAME
Ordeal of fire, proving yourself,
Pow! On the pyre, onerous smell;
Participants line up, having a go,
Only to duck, gladiator show,
Reduced to your genes, future guaranteed,
Tuned to the memes, orchestrated seed;
United society, the new way to be,
Normal entity, no you or me
It was a hard fight, but now he has won,
The fires burn all night, he can now have a son
Youth wins outright, eugenics begun
© Anthony North, April 2009
SCRIBBLERS’ NEWS
Check out my Writers’ Tips posts
Here we go with another Scribblers’ News. Is it proving useful?
I’m trying to do my bit to help advertise the prompt sites, as
too many have been disappearing. Can anyone think of other ways
of doing so? Let me know of any news or new sites.
Inspire Me Thursday
The prompt word is: green
One Single Impression
The phrase for a poem is: one word
Sunday Scribblings
Write something about ‘language’
Search Engine Stories
The phrase is: falling slowly
Weekend Wordsmith
The word is: languid
Poefusion
A prompt a day for NaPoWriMo
Tell a Tale
Still time. Tell a tale set on an evening
Naisaiku Challenge
Have you taken the challenge yet?
Acrostic Only
Choose a word or a phrase. Take a look.
Call back Mon for more prompts
Nave said
Enjoyed your posts .. n what varied textures .. Brilliant .. how do u get so much ideas and time to express em all … am surprised !!
anthonynorth said
Hi Nave,
I’ve been writing for a quarter century now nearly every day. As for the ideas, they just come. As for time, I do 4 posts a week at the moment. A poem or story will take about 5 minutes, and I build the posts bit by bit – say 30 mins for the writing, about 20 mins to sort out the news bits and 10 for the layout. An hour a post, or 4 hours a week.
Twilight said
We find the same thing as you about modern comedy. We almost always fall back on old DVDs or re-runs of old shows for laughs. Most of the really great ones have gone before, there are a few good comedic actors, but it’s hard to think of any present-day stand-up comedian worth his salt. Lenny Henry and Tracy Ullman do spring to mind though, as two current funny people, though I haven’t seen anything of Lenny since I left the UK.
anthonynorth said
Hi Twilight,
Yes, Lenny is still going strong, though he does a lot of documentaries nowadays. There is the occasional young ‘un come along, but they are few and far between.
Americanising Desi said
you just have this aweseom way of tackling a prompt!
wow!
anthonynorth said
Hi Americanising Desi,
Many thanks for those kind words, and welcome.
Travis said
I so agree about comedy today. I often think it’s just me, but I know I have a pretty good sense of humor.
anthonynorth said
Hi Travis,
No, it’s definitely not you. It’s them
Pretty Prats said
loved the fiction “dream life” !! and the prompt attempts were wow
Sweet Talking Guy.. said
Phew, the poetry just gets better and an acrostic to boot!
The Languid Spaceman is really cool!
I just read Dreamlife, did you realise it had 69 words?
Anyway, it’s 2.19 am the pub’s just closed and I’m going to get an early night.
SandyCarlson said
I enjoyed your poetry, Anthony. Very much. Opportunity leaves me thinking.
anthonynorth said
Hi Pretty Prats,
Thanks for that. Much appreciated.
Hi Andy,
What more can I say – decently 
Many thanks. Loved the ’69′ comment
Hi Sandy,
Many thanks. It makes it all worthwhile.
Amias said
Darn it! I am having the hardest of times posting my comment.
Amias said
Modern Comedy – You are so right Anthony. I am bored with this boring, so called politically correct comedy, which lives to insult. True comedy is no joke, but it is a laughing matter.— Your news flash should be a must read in schools around the world, as you could be talking about any country — Just one word – the thought of this word use to keep me up, but now that I am old and tired of all the bullshit, I don’t let it scare me out of living. Dream Life — oh give me a life, one where my “good” dreams come true instead of my nightmares. Languid Spaceman – us Earthlings are so very primitive, don’t you think? Well said!
Opportunity – it seems to me, Anthony, you are the most poetic person I have ever met — life is seen with raw vision, but always with a wonderful twist. Sandy is right, this indeed leaves me thinking … and that’s a good thing! Always I am left very much inspired when I drop in here. I sincerely thank you, as there are times when I want to just give up.
Jeeves said
You are so right about modern comedy. Laughing has become an effort. Can it be so? Like your post.
anthonynorth said
Hi Amias,
Thank you for those wonderful words. You are far too kind, but appreciated.
Hi Jeeves,
Many thanks. Laughing has indeed become an effort.
SandyCarlson said
I have found this to be true of modern comedy. It’s hard to take. And it’s a pity much of it is to be found in kids’ TV.
anthonynorth said
Hi Sandy,
Very true. They catch them young with the inane.
Edward S. Gault said
First I enjoyed your One poem, excellent rhyme.
I also agree with you about comedy, so much of it is based on put down humor and it effecting us in ways we are not aware of.
I quit watching t.v. in high school(three decades ago!) when I came bak from colege I had the chance to see the quality of my family’s interaction.Still watching quite abit, they derived humor from putting each other down!
I started my own family eight years ago. My wife and I won’t expose our daughter to t.v. And she hasn’t shown an interst in it anyway.
anthonynorth said
Hi Edward,
Thanks for that. Yes, most TV is rubbish over here in the UK, but there is the occasional gem. And nothing turns me off more than the put down humour you mention.
Selma said
It’s not the languid spaceman’s fault. He can’t get any government funding because it’s all being pumped into corporate bailouts. Think he’ll be earthbound for a while….
Maggie said
Tony,
I feel that aged brains will always out weigh youthful strength when it comes to making important decisions.
I enjoyed the read here today.
anthonynorth said
Hi Selma,
Very true. Governments make terrible explorers. Come on Branson, get a move on!!!!
Hi Maggie,
Thanks for that. And very true words.
Geraldine said
I agree so much re: modern comedy, with a couple of exceptions: John Candy,Rowan Atkinson…but mainly BORING!!!
I loved your Mr. Linky ditty btw.
Hugs, G
anthonynorth said
Hi Geraldine,
Many thanks. Yes, I’m getting committed when I start putting poetry on a prompt site comment
Ian said
I sometimes write offbeat English jokes as a break from more my serious writing. I don’t know what people make of them. Please let me know what you think:
TIP OF THE DAY
If you take off the back of your television set and remove everything inside it, which, if you have a good set of screwdrivers, should only take one or two hours, you can get your husband or wife to kneel down behind it and look out at you through the screen, and pretend that you are married to a movie star.
Catch your neighbours’ cat or dog, tie a rope around it, then climb up onto the roof of their house and lower the pet so that it dangles in front of their bedroom window first thing in the morning: they will think their cat or dog is flying and it will be one of the most exciting moments of their life.
Deborah Godin said
Fun with a dark warning, or dark with a comedic twist – either way a good read.
anthonynorth said
Hi Ian,
If I took the back off my television, a load of pointless celebrities would fall out, and I hate a mess on the floor
Hi Deborah,
Thanks for that. Much appreciated.
floreta said
i thought one word and dream life complimented each other well
anthonynorth said
Hi Floreta,
Yes, I can see that, looking at them again. Thanks for that.
Kilauea Poetry said
Oh my gosh..the dream one was a kick! Interesting post-
qualcosa di bello said
a very interesting twist on the Gospel of St. John
anthonynorth said
Hi Kilauea Poetry,
Thanks for that. I’m pleased you liked the post.
Hi Qualcosa Di Bello,
Many thanks. Yes, words can be the beginning or the end.
SandyCarlson said
Once upon a time takes me to a different time and place. I love the words…
anthonynorth said
Hi Sandy,
Yes, they invoke so much cultural expression of the past.
Tumblewords said
Wonderful take on ‘Just One Word.’ Enjoyable read!
deLi said
it reminded me of the article of “the paradox of our times”
gabrielle said
Bookends. In the beginning was the word. In the end so it seems. I’m interested in what’s between. wonderful take on the prompt!
anthonynorth said
Hi Tumblewords,
Thanks for that. Glad you liked it.
Hi DeLi,
Many thanks. Our times are certainly a paradox, that’s for sure.
Hi Gabrielle,
Thanks for the kind words. Inbetween you usually find confusion and chaos
patti said
I really enjoyed your poetry- so many different ideas and topics. The words “Everything as the missiles hit,
Our leader safe in his pit;”…so very true.
anthonynorth said
Hi Patti,
Many thanks. I enjoy going off in so many directions, and it’s good to be appreciated for it.
Beth Patterson said
Dang, you’re good, Anthony!
anthonynorth said
Hi Beth,
Very kind words. Much appreciated.
Rinkly Rimes said
Congratulations on the acrostc! I gather the one grabbing the opportunity was the successful sperm!Clever ‘take’ on the word.
Amias said
I think your acrostics are truly amazing, Anthony. They are find tuned little stories that speaks volume.
Just want you to know, you won honorable mentions over at Acrostic Only for this jewel. I thank you so very much for participating, you truly inspires me to write more and say less.
anthonynorth said
Hi Rinkly Rimes,
Thanks for that. Yes, provided by the ‘fittest’ in the contest.
Quite a nightmare scenario.
Hi Amias,
Many thanks for the kind words, and the honourable mention. It is very good of you.