I used to work in radio. Like countless other young folks in the 60s and 70s, I was inspired by some truly creative guys we’d either hear live on our favorite local stations or on distant AM signals – or through airchecks that got endlessly passed around(that’s how I originally heard this one). Ah, those halcyon dares of yore. This is before the corporate suits sanitized and downsized radio into nothing more than a commodity. Outside of Stephanie Miller’s syndicated progressive talk show, I’m not hearing much of this type of thing anymore
I heard this aircheck when it was actually fairly new – way back in the lat 70s. It’s from the great Robert Murphy, aka Murphy in the Morning, on the classic former AM Top 40 giant, WAYS in Charlotte, NC. It’s the Pass The Loot Club — PTL, get it? Charlotte is where the actual PTL Club, starring Jim and Tammi Faye, originated. This funny bit was produced long before their downfall. Sorry, I don’t care much for shock jocks. This kind of morning comedy(thatwas actually creative) was much better:
Well, I’m gonna quit, cause the lawyer fees are takin’ away from the teachers and the workers and you betcha and I love my job and Alaska, but y’know it’s all about jobs and people and Katie Couric hurt my feelin’s with those, you know, those gotcha questions and the media won’t leave my family alone and y’know that Letterman – what he’s sayin’ about my daughter and all and I just gotta do what’s right, by golly gee.
Anger, depression, total rage – regardless of whatever emotion(s) you will begin to quickly feel – the new Rolling Stone expose on Goldman Sachs – The Great American Bubble Machine - is a must read: FULL STORY HERE
After reading that, come back and cheer yourself up with another great clip from the Golden Age of Intelligent Comedy, featuring a brilliant 1 man bit from the short lived, Peabody Award winning 1962 Bob Newhart comedy/variety show:
I once read that this old Chinese saying was actually meant as a curse. Somebody must have cursed out all of us – we are now officially living in very “interesting” times:
“Boys Will Be Boys” — Some idiot Sheriff’s deputy in San Diego raids a party for a Democratic congressional candidate following a complaint of loud noises, apparently coming from an apparent homophobic neighbor(the party was hosted by a lesbian couple). “Barney Fife on Acid” proceeds to physically assault and arrest one of the co-hosts and pepper spray others in this crowd of mostly middle aged women: FULL INSANE STORY
“Media Sluts Will Be Media Sluts”– Former CIA analyst Michael Scheuer told Fox News’ Glenn Beck Tuesday night, “The only chance we have as a country right now is for Osama bin Laden to deploy and detonate a major weapon in the United States.” Just think — this attention craving psychopath used to work for the CIA in an important position. I just assumed they did extensive psychological testings for job candidates for sensitive government positions: FULL INSANE STORY(with a humorous commentary from Jon Stewart)
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Gov. Mark Sanford said Tuesday that he had visited with his Argentine mistress more times than he initially disclosed and that he had had inappropriate flirtations with several other women as well: FULL STORY FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES
Probably my all time favorite comedian. I have to wonder if a thinking person’s comic like Mr. Klein were starting off today, would he be as accepted as easily today as he was when started out in the late 60’s. Perhaps in New York and other hipper comedy scenes, not sure about the comedy club circuit throught the rest of the country, where the business model is so often “waiters push drinks/audience let’s it’s guard down/comics regale audience with safe, rapid-fire bawdy jokes.
Now that the cat’s out of the bag re: South Carolina Governor/Social Conservative Mark Sanford’s fling in Argentina, might Rush Limbaugh blame it on — Barack Obama?? Fake Rush Quote: “Well who could blame Governor Sanford. The stress from Obama’s stimulus package was too much for any man to bear. I point the finger on the most notorious, treasonous socialist to ever command a national audience since the odious Eugene V. Debs – and that man would be Barack HUSSEIN Obama.”
Forget tax cuts(I never get them anyway, so I don’t care) – we “average folks” will have a lot more money left over each month to pump back into our great American economy if we can have a government option. I would also get the personal satisfaction of cutting Blue Cross out of my life forever. I don’t like getting letters in the mail from them and I hate the “on hold” light jazz music they play when you have to call them.
It's money that matters - Hear what I say
I currently shell out a mere $213/month(it goes up every January) for a cheap, yet basically crappy health plan called Healthy NY. I had to exhaust my COBRA option(see below) before I could do that. There is a yearly deductible for prescriptions and prescriptions are only covered up to 2 thousand dollars. Then you’re screwed. If I am still paying premiums for Healthy NY next year at this time, I am going to scream. I’m serious. June 23, 2010 – no government option, I’m still paying Healthy NY monthly premiums and from my direction, you’ll hear a very loud: “Agggghhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!”
It's money that matters
COBRA – that’s short for the that’s short the Consolidated Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1985.. In short, if you lose or quit your job, you can stay on your employer’s health plan, but you pay everything. Trouble is you’re out of work — maybe on unemployment– and paying a hefty health insurance premium each month is the last thing you need. If lots of people lose their jobs at once and a government option might be free(or almost free) for unemployed people, might not they still have a little money left over each week to take the family to a dollar movie or Pizza Hut? Might that not make recessions a little less severe? It’s interesting. Members of congress are usually highly educated folks. They are on the surface very smart. Conversely, many of them appear to act like morons.
...In the USA -- Randy Newman (from the album "Land of Dreams")
So much craziness in the news this week(as is so often the case). Let’s return to the days when “thinking person’s comedy” was actually in vogue. This gem is from the year 1953. It’s a classic bit from Sid Caesar’s Your Show of Shows. This bit features the entire main cast: Sid, Imogene Coca, Carl Reiner and Howard Morris.
Posted by chuckmccoy 
Posted by chuckmccoy 
Posted by chuckmccoy 
