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Comedy: July 01, 2009 Issue [#3141]

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Comedy


 This week:
  Edited by: Robert Waltz Author IconMail Icon
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Table of Contents

1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions

About This Newsletter

"I had thought — I had been told — that a 'funny' thing is a thing of a goodness. It isn't. Not ever is it funny to the person it happens to. Like that sheriff without his pants. The goodness is in the laughing itself. I grok it is a bravery... and a sharing... against pain and sorrow and defeat."
- Valentine Michael Smith
(Robert Heinlein,
Stranger in a Strange Land)


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Letter from the editor

McMahon at the Top


         Last week, the comedy world lost another icon: the venerable, versatile and vociferous Ed McMahon.

         Most famous people - which I distinguish from "celebrities" because famous people are famous for something other than being famous, which is what celebrities are famous for - get that way by being the best at something, leading the pack, blazing the trail. Not our man Ed; oh, no. Ed was famous for being second fiddle.

         Oh, sure, there were times when he shone all on his own, but we all know he'd never have gotten those jobs if it weren't for his association with the original king of late-night comedy, Johnny Carson (who himself left us over four years ago).

         And what style he brought to the role! Carson was funny enough on his own, but Ed's infectious laugh and straight-line comments lent depth and character to the Tonight Show's host's wisecracks.

         "It's okay to be second fiddle," it's as if he said to all of us. "Sometimes your role in life is to make someone else look good. And if that fate falls upon you - master it."

         And true to form, even in death, Ed McMahon took second seat: we hadn't even had time to get used to the loss when attention fled to the deaths of other, more popular entertainers.

         But this one's for you, Ed. If I were a religious man, I could easily imagine you now, sitting stage right of a certain throne and intoning, "Heeeeeeeeere's Jehovah!" But I'm not, so instead, I'll imagine you in a throne of your own. You deserve it.


Editor's Picks

Death isn't funny... except when it is.

 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor


 All Over But The Singing Open in new Window. [13+]
Last birthday
by Sticktalker Author Icon


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by A Guest Visitor


 Telephone call from the afterlife Open in new Window. [18+]
I'm dead, and that damn phone won't stop ringing . . .
by Warm-blooded Winterdrake Author Icon


 Fly Open in new Window. [E]
Dedicated to all who lost their lives to the Blue Banshee swatter between 1998 and 2004.
by BeHereBook Author Icon


 What's wrong with me? Open in new Window. [13+]
(Respectfully, might I add--my greatgrandfather would have laughed at the situation.)
by sofia mays Author Icon


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by A Guest Visitor

 
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Word from Writing.Com

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Ask & Answer

Last month, I talked about FAIL.

percy goodfellow Author Icon: There should be a law that any literary work have a component of humor. After ninety-five percent of what I read, my mind screams out for comic relief. Writers, these days take themselves much too seriously.
         Congress could call that the Comedy Act.


Thomas Author Icon: If I comment to this newsletter and FAIL to make it to the Ask and Answer section, will you laugh at me? *Wink*
         Clearly, this is a rhetorical question.


francie: I laugh when I spill a copious amount of something on the floor. It makes more sense than being angry.

You brought up a good point in this newsletter. I enjoyed reading a few of the pieces as well.

Thanks for all your efforts, they are appreciated.
         When I spill something on the floor, I usually blame it on the cats.


THANKFUL SONALI Library Class! Author Icon: Let's see. If FAIL was an acronym:
Fall And I Laugh ... ?
Or how about:-
Fear All Is Lost ... ?
Your turn to come up with some!
- Sonali *Laugh*
         I'll try:
Finding Anomalies In Life
or
Falling Always Induces Laughter

*Bigsmile*

         And that's it for this week! Thanks for all the comments. Until next time,

LAUGH ON!

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