What Makes You Laugh?

G. S. Carnivals

G. S. Carnivals

Our Temporary Supervisor
Well. We've certainly had dark topics here. I've had enough preferred deaths and grimmest horrors to tide me over for a while. I think it's time that we lighten up a bit. I'm curious about what makes you laugh. I mean tears in the eyes laughter, laughter that hurts your gut, laughter that is redemptive and therapeutic.

For me, gallows humor has always been the most rewarding type of humor. The darker it is, the better it is. And funnier. What can one say when we're all condemned?

Not much in literature has made me laugh. I give big nods, though, to Joseph Heller, Kurt Vonnegut, and Charles Willeford for the wry grin on my face.

Things that really make me laugh are films. An idiosyncratic list follows (in no order of preference, except Dr. Strangelove):

Dr. Strangelove
The Producers
The Party
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Monty Python's The Meaning of Life
The Dentist

There are more, but I tire of typing. These films have never failed to amuse me.

What makes you laugh?
 
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These folks used to make me laugh:

Phillis Diller
Dame Edna (really a man named Barry, no relation to me though)
Carol Burnet

Oh, my. I'm really showing my age. Good topic, G.S.

Barry
 
Movies: Dr. Strangelove, Monty Python movies (especially Life of Brian), Woody Allen, Caddyshack, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, A Fish Called Wanda, Albert Brooks, Rushmore, Bill Murray, Christopher Guest mockumentaries, Arthur, Bottle Rocket, Steven Wright concerts

TV - Dr Katz, Beavis and Butthead, Seinfeld, Mystery Science Theatre 3000

Books: Franz Kafka (especially Amerika), Joseph Heller, Mark Twain, Voltaire, Jonathan Swift, Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole, Saki, Evelyn Waugh, H.L. Mencken, Kurt Vonnegut, Anthony Burgess, Waiting for Godot, Punch and Judy

Cartoons: Calvin and Hobbes, The Far Side, Herman, Gahan Wilson, Playboy cartoons
 
I'm not going to do this in any organized manner/fashion. here we go...

Office Space
Anchorman
beavis & Butthead
Seinfeld
Family Guy
Christopher Guest
The Big lebowski
dark humor in general
things hitting people in the face unexpectedly
dry humor
lewis Black (at least he used to)
douglas adams
my friends

that's all I can think of
 
Thanks, friends, for your responses. My memory's been jogged. You've made me turn that frown upside down. :D

A few films that must be mentioned which did not immediately spring to mind: Little Murders, Putney Swope, and Lolita (1962). Thanks to bendk for reminding me about Woody Allen (Take the Money and Run, Zelig, and What's Up, Tiger Lily?), the mockumentaries (This Is Spinal Tap, Best in Show, and A Mighty Wind), and the generally ludicrous and irreverant (Beavis and Butt-Head Do America.) Many films offer scenes that are unforgettably funny. I single out Eddie Murphy singing "Roxanne" near the beginning of 48 HRS. Gut-busting!

In American television, I cite "I Love Lucy," "The Carol Burnett Show," "Barney Miller," "Taxi," and "Seinfeld." "Green Acres" remains a silly delight. British television gave us "Monty Python's Flying Circus," some of the most innovative and daring comedy ever attempted.

Among animated fare, my favorite is actually the soundtrack: the voice of Porky Pig as rendered by the great Mel Blanc absolutely does me in.

That's All Folks,
Phil
 
I keep finding myself thinking that I don't find comedy as funny as I used to but I'll make a list anyway.

Authors:
Douglas Adams
Joe R Lansdale

Comics writers:
Garth Ennis

TV:
The Simpsons
The Office (Original UK version. Not seen US version.)
Only Fools and Horses
Frasier
Futurama
Blackadder
Porridge
Firefly
Buffy
Angel
Drop the Dead Donkey
Have I Got News For You

Films:
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
A Fish Called Wanda
When Harry Met Sally
North By NorthWest

Stand-up comics:
Eddie Izzard
Bill Hicks

Newspaper strips:
Peanuts (I think my paper is reprinting the early ones at the moment as the art is cruder and the jokes are funnier.)
Calvin and Hobbes

Ugh. I know there's other stuff but my brain's shut down.
 
For the comics:

For something cruel and clever, Edward Gorey. For something funny but philosophical, Bill Watterson. For the absurd and well-read, Gary Larson.
 
What makes me laugh?

Practical jokes....specifically ones that involve scaring people. There's nothing as funny as seeing someone in full blown hysterics of fear (for example, some people hop from one leg to the other like they are walking on hot coals), seeing the bizarre look of panic on someone's contorted face, or witnessing them instinctively take flight (when they are not in actual danger of course).
One of my favorites was one I pulled about 10 years ago. My father owned a store, and one night he stayed after hours in his office to do bookwork. He was alone in the dark store well past closing time. I snuck in as I had a key to the store. While inside I was thinking to myself, "If I was in my father's position, what would really scare me?" I decided rather than sneak up and go "BOO!", it would be much more terrifying if he suddenly saw someone run past the office door a few feet from where he sat (in a silent, dark store that should be empty). So I crept up near the door and then ran past. It produced the desired response. It took him about 10 mins to fully calm down, and about twice that for me to stop laughing. Good thing my father has a strong heart! He tries to get me back occasionally with mixed success. Good 'Ol dad.
 
Too many things to think of, but here's a partial list:

The Producers (1968 not the remake)
Most other Mel Brooks movies as well
Kung Fu Hustle
Benny Hill
Marx Brothers
Monty Python
Stephen Frey
Lolita (the novel)
Arrested Development
David Lynch movies (also scare the crap out of me too)
17th Century British drama

I know I'll think of other things as well.
 
For some reason I'm still drawing a bit of a blank. Part of the problem is stuff that used to make me laugh doesn't necessarily get the job done these days. So some of the below used to make me laugh but now doesn't (or at least not as much.)

TV:
Scrubs.
Due South.
Moonlighting
M*A*S*H
Cheers
Friends
Dear John
Just Good Friends

Comics:
Justice League by Keith Giffen and J.M DeMatteis.

Films:
The Thin Man series
Blazing Saddles
Young Frankenstein
Charlie Chaplin
Buster Keaton
Harold Lloyd
Laurel and Hardy
The Marx Brothers
Arthur Askey
George Formby
Norman Wisdom
 
Although I am not a fan of the screwball comedies of the Marx Brothers, I am a recent convert to the genius of Groucho Marx. I had the privilege of viewing an old episode of The Dick Cavett Show earlier today, in which Mr. Cavett interviewed both Mr. Marx and his hat. Oh, to be so quick and so funny. And so consistently!
 
This reminds me of how much I loved Harpo Marx. I hope those stories about him playing golf in the nude or of hiding in the bushes (in the nude) and leaping out at passersby wielding an axe and screaming are true.
 
How did I miss this thread?

First and foremost, Thomas Ligotti, esp. My Work is Not Yet Done. I don't recall if I mentioned it here before, but a little while ago I was kicked out of a coffee shop whilst reading this book because I was laughing too loudly and, according to the manager, the other patrons thought I was drunk or stoned, which I wasn't. I recall there being some real gut-busters in Death Poems as well.

Current 93, some of the more extreme NS Black Metal, early Nurse With Wound, Diamanda Galas, various sideprojects invovling the members of Wu Tang Clan.

As for films, last week I cracked a few ribs while watching Hearts of Darkness, a documentary on the making of Apocalypse Now. Also the films of Jodorowsky, gallow films (which someone else mentioned), the 40 Year Old virgin...

Television: the 700 Club, CNN (esp. Nancy Grace and Glenn Beck, curently the greatest living comedians by my book, Pat Robertson follwing in as a close third), various Adult Swim programs... has anyone seen South Park's Imagination Land trilogy? I'm laughing right now, just thinking about it. There's a wonderful parody of the first major scene in Saving Private Ryan... Ronald McDonald looking for his severed arm...

I also find occult literature, esp. Crowley, very funny, which is probably why I'm no longer friends with various members of A.🅰️. and OTO.
 
We laugh at what we don't understand, I suppose.
Sounds like a child trying to seem brave.
Funny, that.
Yeah, I guess I don't get it.



"Shut up, Mr. Burton! You were not put upon this earth to 'get it'!" - Lo Pan
 
I agree that some of TL's stuff is very funny. And I remember laughing very hard at some of his comments in his interview in Subterranean Magazine.

Beakripped, you sound like you have good appreciation of the absurd. I agree with many of your choices. I also have a very learned treatise on angels and demons written by a Catholic scholar that has me in stitches whenever I read it. I never found much humor in Crowley, I just thought his books were a waste of time. He did live an interesting life, though.

Oh, and I will add the book The Good Soldier Svejk by Jaroslav Hasek to my list. It is hilarious.
 
Crowley was a big joker, but unfortunately it's usually his racist and sexist rants that pop out upon initial readings. Austin Spare had quite the sense of humour as well, but Crowley's punning (esp. in The Book of Lies, Liber Aleph, Book Four) nearly always brings me to a pause in contemplation.

Unfortunately I have neither the time nor desire to elucidate some of the funnier passages I've come across because they involve much in the way of Qabalistic interpretation and, in the end, I'd be more likely to bore you all than make you laugh. In short, over the years of study that I've put into ancient esoteric philosophies, the more coherent the texts seem to become the more they appeal to my sense of humour.

In regards to Ligotti, I think I laugh so much at it because I can relate to many of the situations in his stories, or at least the states of mind as depicted by Ligotti. Still, I find much of his work very disturbing as they sometimes give me sudden and severe flashbacks to manic episodes which, thankfully, have decreased slightly over the last year. In the NWW thread I remarked that some of Stapleton's work is so silly it becomes disturbing, and I suppose that may also be a factor in my experiences with Ligotti, and also Current 93, Diamanda Galas, but the Wu Tang stuff is just absurd.

Oh, and I forgot to put in my 2 cents in regards to Joseph Heller' Catch-22: Great book!

The Good Soldier Svejk... has that been mentioned in these forums before? Sounds familiar... I'll do my best to check it out in the new year, thanks for the recommendation,

Paul.
 
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