The room was surprisingly packed when I got to the Mt. Tabor Theater on Saturday afternoon for the Humor Code. They were featuring four great comics (Pete Holmes, Myq Kaplan, Mary Mack and Jordan Morris), but the topic was kind of academic for 4pm on the third day of a 4-day comedy binge. Peter McGraw is a scientist and Joel Warner is a writer. Together, they’re working on The Humor Code, a project and forthcoming book to determine what “funny” is and how comedy works. At the panel, the two of them tried to explain their research while the comics commented, questioned, and interjected.
It’s pretty interesting stuff, but Pete Holmes put it well: “Comedy is this beautiful songbird, and you guys took it into a creepy lab and dissected it.” The comics were great, McGraw the scientist was pretty funny himself, and there was a really interesting discussion of gender and comedy, both from the audience perspective and the comedian’s perspective — a conversation during which Mary Mack was brilliant. She’s got another show tonight at 8 at the Eagles Lodge. If you haven’t seen her, do it.
At the Bagdad last night, Lance Bangs presented some of his favorite comics and a bunch of footage from film projects he’s worked on. Emily Heller, Ron Funches, and Pete Holmes all had really solid sets. I was looking forward to seeing Mary Lynn Rajskub in her only scheduled appearance, but ended up kind of disappointed. She was funny, but was really uneven and didn’t seem to be connecting. On the other hand, Brett Gelman was fucking fantastic, in his weird, antagonistic way. One of the show’s highlights was Gelman’s reaction to a heckler — a rant that went ON and included a description of the heckler having God’s shit for brains.
The Bagdad’s 10pm Delocated show didn’t actually start until nearly 11:30. But the place was packed, and no one seemed to mind. The comics, including the delightful Amy Schumer, Kurt Braunohler and Todd Barry, were all really strong. But the show was pretty much stolen by Jon Glaser, in silver hotpants and Danner Boots. Why the focus on Danner? “It’s a solid boot.”
BRETT GELMAN WAS ONE OF THE TWO LEAST FUNNY PEOPLE I’VE SEEN SO FAR AT BRIDGETOWN. THANKS FOR LETTING ME KNOW THAT I NEVER NEED TO LISTEN TO YOUR OPINION ON COMEDY EVER AGAIN.
Definitely no Louie Andersons, Paula Poundstones, or Andy Dicks there. But it got me out of the house.
I would like to hear/see that Gelman rant.
Glad I could help you out, Graham. But I encourage you to be more open-minded. Not *everyone* can be Whitney Cummings.
@TEMPLE: AM I SUPPOSED TO KNOW WHO THAT IS?
GELMAN’S WHOLE CONCEPT OF GOING ON A TYRADE ABOUT FUCKING YOUR MOTHER IN RESPONSE TO THE AUDIENCE AGREEING WITH HIS ORIGINAL MISOGYNISTIC RANT WAS INANE AND LACKED HUMOR. IT WAS OBVIOUS TO ME THAT WHEN HE WAS ACTIVLEY ASKING THE AUDIENCE TO SAY WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THEIR LIVES THAT HE WAS FISHING FOR SOMEONE TO COMLPAIN ABOUT HIS ACT SO THAT HE COULD THEN YELL AT THAT PERSON. IT WAS BORING, AND INTELLECTUALLY OFFENSIVE. MAYBE HE’S FUNNY AT OTHER TIMES, BUT IF I WANTED TO SEE ANGRY PEOPLE TROLLING; I’D STICK TO THE COMMENTS SECTION AND NOT LEAVE MY HOUSE.
BUT MAYBE I’M WRONG. HOW ABOUT YOU EXPLAIN TO ME WHERE THE HUMOR WAS IN HIS ACT; BECAUSE I’M REALLY NOT SEEING IT.
You’re very smart, Graham. Much smarter than I am, obviously. Despite your not being able to spell or take off the caps lock. It didn’t work for you. Jeff Dunham doesn’t work for me. To each their own. Happy trolling.
@TEMPLE: RATHER THAN DISCUSSING THE ACTUAL TOPIC AT HAND (BRETT GELMAN), YOU DECIDE TO TALK ABOUT ME AND WHOEVER THE FUCK JEFF DUNHAM IS. I EXPLAINED TO YOU HOW I INTERPRETED GELMAN’S ACT AND WHY I DIDN’T FIND IT FUNNY. YOU SAID YOU FOUND IT FUNNY AND I ASKED YOU TO EXPLAIN WHAT YOU SAW IN IT. IS TOO MUCH TO ASK THAT YOU TRY AND EXPLAIN YOUR POINT OF VIEW?