tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8394922.post113969278510266547..comments2024-02-19T00:54:37.767-08:00Comments on The Columnist Manifesto: Fame as a long term contractOscar Madisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05558650379298098292noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8394922.post-1139860311569418362006-02-13T11:51:00.000-08:002006-02-13T11:51:00.000-08:00Wendy: John Cleese doesn't do much more, according...Wendy: John Cleese doesn't do much more, according to his <A HREF="http://imdb.com/name/nm0000092/" REL="nofollow">filmography</A>.<BR/><BR/>I don't know about Groucho Marx, but I think Bob Hope and Johnny Carson sort of coasted on personality toward the end of their careers, rather than actually being funny. (It's a tougher argument with Carson because he stuck to a single format and retired before he wore out his welcome.)<BR/><BR/>I'll give you Ronald Reagan.Neel Mehtahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11286549029037039134noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8394922.post-1139837867079154772006-02-13T05:37:00.000-08:002006-02-13T05:37:00.000-08:00Hmmm... John Cleese does quite a bit more than app...Hmmm... John Cleese does quite a bit more than appear in bit parts in new Bond films (and that's a whole other topic... how many times are they going to basically remake a James Bond film?) - mostly I think it's corporate work and voiceovers that's getting done now.<BR/><BR/>And these aging comedians that you name (Cleese, Martin, Murray, and Murphy) haven't written their own material in decades, if they ever wrote their own material in the first place. I don't begrudge actors their right to work - and for some, the roles are much scarcer once they are too old to reach the target demographic of "13-year-old boy" for whom all "popular" movies seem to be made.<BR/><BR/>As for aging comedians who remained funny into their twilight years, here are a few: Groucho Marx, Bob Hope (I suppose that's debatable), Johhny Carson, and Ronald Regan.<BR/><BR/>"fquqsb" -- the first thing that comes to mind for this is "fouled up quizno's sub" (and I used a different f-word for fouled in my first draft)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8394922.post-1139794784782096402006-02-12T17:39:00.000-08:002006-02-12T17:39:00.000-08:00A better example: John Cleese. (I saw bits of A F...A better example: John Cleese. (I saw bits of <I>A Fish Called Wanda</I> and <I>Die Another Day</I> yesterday.) The creator of several comedic institutions gets by these days with bit parts in franchise movies.<BR/><BR/>My theory is not that Steve Martin, Bill Murray, and John Cleese (and Eddie Murphy, for that matter) are out of ideas: they are out of comedy. My guess is that each person can only have so much comedy within them, after which they have to quit or become unfunny versions of themselves. <BR/><BR/>I can't think of a single comedian, living or dead, that sustained a long career of being consistently funny. I'll have to think about this some more, and maybe address it on my blog.<BR/><BR/>wvlsm ("WEE-vil-some"): like a weevil.<BR/><BR/>wvlsm ("weh-vell-ISM"): a Mountaineer expression, like "You've been Pittsnogled."Neel Mehtahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11286549029037039134noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8394922.post-1139765236557468742006-02-12T09:27:00.000-08:002006-02-12T09:27:00.000-08:00Although I agree generally with your comments abou...Although I agree generally with your comments about Steve Martin (and I think they apply with nearly equal force to Bill Murray), I fear that I (we?) will all too soon be in a similar position. How often do you hear academics grumbling about older colleagues who refuse to retire and, consequently, make it difficult for their department to hire new, younger, and less expensive aspiring professors?Tonyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10156140761362996117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8394922.post-1139754154471854362006-02-12T06:22:00.000-08:002006-02-12T06:22:00.000-08:00How does one address you? TTWBTB? Or maybe just "W...How does one address you? TTWBTB? Or maybe just "World"?Oscar Madisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05558650379298098292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8394922.post-1139711042213350602006-02-11T18:24:00.000-08:002006-02-11T18:24:00.000-08:00Heather, it's your absolute right to love any goof...Heather, it's your absolute right to love any goofy comedy you choose.<BR/><BR/>Too true, psycgirl.<BR/><BR/>Aging L.S. -- Bitter? Me? You of all people should appreciate the logic. It's not Mo Vaughn sitting at home collecting a paycheck, it's the guy they keep in the lineup to justify the fact that they pay him so much -- keeping the prospects back in AAA.<BR/><BR/>Nice word verifiction.Oscar Madisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05558650379298098292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8394922.post-1139693577802113572006-02-11T13:32:00.000-08:002006-02-11T13:32:00.000-08:00Don't forget that crap with Queen' Latifah. As far...Don't forget that crap with Queen' Latifah. As far as I know you couldn't even blame that one on the fact that it was a sequel an/or remake.Psycgirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13476028853857792495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8394922.post-1139693220012684892006-02-11T13:27:00.000-08:002006-02-11T13:27:00.000-08:00I agree ... but I still love Father of the Bride!I agree ... but I still love Father of the Bride!Heather Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01810748538587918218noreply@blogger.com