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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by pseudoname on October 8, 2006, at 12:30:13
I just read "Backstage at the Tonight Show" by Don Sweeney (2006), the music supervisor for the ‘The Tonight Show’ from 1975-1995; 17 years under Johnny Carson and 3 under Jay Leno. If you’re interested in TV and Hollywood insider stuff, it’s not bad.
Sweeney seems like a pretty nice guy and conveys things fairly well, including the Carson-Leno changeover and his own adventures as a part-time musician in Beverly Hills. No co-writer is listed on this apparently low-budget publication: if he actually wrote it all by himself, it’s impressively constructed, with, by my count, no typos, only 3 misspellings, and 1 instance of needlessly sexist language (“a woman reporter”).
I've been almost catatonically depressed lately (my med may have pooped out, then I went off it). This light book is all I could handle. I was glad I had it to read for several nights of insomnia, too.
Posted by pseudoname on October 8, 2006, at 12:59:23
In reply to “Backstage at the Tonight Show”, posted by pseudoname on October 8, 2006, at 12:30:13
Also related is the documentary "When Stand Up Stood Out" (2005) about Boston stand-up comics, 1978-1988, including Leary, Garofalo, Poundstone, and Goldthwait. I've watched the DVD 3 times this weekend. (Like I said, this is about all I can handle.)
Before there were 450 comedy clubs all over America, Boston was the first place after NY & LA to have any. For several years, the locally-grown comics were playing to sold-out houses and raking in fistfuls of cash, which many promptly spent on drugs. After a few years, ‘The Tonight Show’ put ONE of the gang on national TV: deadpanner Steven Wright, who was a big hit (although he's not mentioned in Don Sweeney's book, above). Success meant Boston's comedian comeraderie devolved into chaos and backstabbing rivalries, the comedy boom played itself out, and the clubs closed. Now, in the post-standup era (?), all is forgiven as the gang comes back together in 2000 for a benefit performance.
Why it took five years to release this movie I have no idea.
Posted by Jost on October 8, 2006, at 13:48:00
In reply to “Backstage at the Tonight Show”, posted by pseudoname on October 8, 2006, at 12:30:13
Light books are great. Do you ever watch any comedy shows (not sitcoms, but actual comedy, like Jon Stewart, or Bill Maher--depending on your political views) or funny movies?
I find that any time I laugh or smile about something funny, it reminds me that my state of mind isn't unshakeable by any means.
Jost
Posted by pseudoname on October 8, 2006, at 14:45:01
In reply to Re: “Backstage at the Tonight Show” » pseudoname, posted by Jost on October 8, 2006, at 13:48:00
Hi, Jost.
> Light books are great.
I have a growing stack of heavy stuff I'm not getting through, but I've been doing fine with "The Pedant's Revolt" – commonly-held errors about history etc — and "Grammar Snobs Are Great Big Meanies: A Guide to Language for Fun and Spite", which I agree with wholeheartedly so far.
> Do you ever watch any comedy shows (not sitcoms, but actual comedy, like Jon Stewart, or Bill Maher--depending on your political views)
I don't have cable, so I can't watch any comics like those, unfortunately. If I'm up late, I sometimes listen to Craig Ferguson or the Letterman or Leno monologues. (Even though I think Leno has the WORST joke-delivery in show business.) I really like Ferguson's opening spiel. I listen to it audio-only (no picture) in the dark in bed: relaxing and oddly reassuring. I would like Craig Ferguson for my therapist.
> or funny movies?
I like dark comedies (like "Fargo") or gagfests (like "Airplane!"). They're a distraction or an anodyne for me, but I don't think they really lift my mood much. I can laugh and be achingly depressed. I don't really care much for romantic comedies, even gay ones.
I would like to see more of Steven Wright, the deadpan comic, but I guess he doesn't have any DVDs out.
Posted by Jost on October 9, 2006, at 5:18:50
In reply to comedies » Jost, posted by pseudoname on October 8, 2006, at 14:45:01
Don't know this is that Steven Wright--I Have a Pony
Price: $5.09
Steven Wright: New Rhino Flashback CD 081227954925
Used Book CentralSpoken Word Comedy CCD0812279549
How about movies like Groundhog Day, or even Chevy Case moves about Vacations. I'm sure there must be tons and tons of movies you can rent from netflix or other online rental organizations. I'm trying to think of funny movies, because they're one of the few, other than sci=fi, that I really like.
You're really missing something in not getting the daily show-- although they have it online, at the Comedy Central Website-- and probably all over youtube, if you want to catch them.
Jost
Posted by Declan on October 11, 2006, at 7:40:23
In reply to Re: comedies, posted by Jost on October 9, 2006, at 5:18:50
"Happiness" by Todd Solondz. One of its kind, and Phillip Seymore Hoffmann's greatest role.
Good family entertainment round here, father and son stuff.
Posted by Jost on October 11, 2006, at 16:58:51
In reply to Re: comedies, posted by Declan on October 11, 2006, at 7:40:23
Declan, I fear to inform you that your double-quotation technique is yet in its infancy
There is a crucial step of checking to see if there are alternatives to your book listed; in the case of happiness, there are-- and in this instance, I am recommended to read the "The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom" (A Toltec Wisdom Book) by Don Miguel Ruiz.
While I am curious about the Toltec Wisdom book, and would consider it if it were recommended by you, I find myself unable to overcome the suspicion that it is not Todd Solondz' Happiness.
Hence I must decline to order it, unless upon your specific instructions.
Jost
Posted by Declan on October 12, 2006, at 3:57:01
In reply to Re: comedies, posted by Declan on October 11, 2006, at 7:40:23
Well, clearly I don't know how to work this thing. And I went to so much effort, clicked the DVD and up it came.
It's not a perfect movie, but it has the best representations of alienation I have seen. In the comedy section of our video store.
Posted by Jost on October 12, 2006, at 12:19:18
In reply to Re: comedies, posted by Declan on October 12, 2006, at 3:57:01
Sorry for teasing you Declan. I can see from the other posts recently that you're having a hard time right now. I appreciate your going to the trouble.
I did the same thing my first time, but amazone asked me to choose, if there were several titles that fit my criteria.
I'll see if it works for yours.
Jost
Posted by Jost on October 12, 2006, at 12:22:13
In reply to Re: comedies, posted by Jost on October 12, 2006, at 12:19:18
How it works is, it does a keyword, not a title search.
so with "Happiness"--as a keyword there are zillions of matches-- so the first twenty or so weren't the Solondz book.
I added his name and it was exactly the title.
When you ask for a reference, after you submit, a second page comes up and at the bottom, it offers selections, if more than 1 title match the keyword.
So it's good to check. I didn't notice it the first time-- but now that I know to check, it's just barely visible at the bottom of the page.
Thanks for the reference.
Would you tell a little about the book?
Jost
Posted by Declan on October 12, 2006, at 13:09:50
In reply to Re: comedies Declan, posted by Jost on October 12, 2006, at 12:22:13
It's a film that is really quite outrageous. Some parts don't bear repeating here. It is about how we exist within our own personal bubbles and communication between us is partial at best. There is one moment where Joy is trying to track down the bloke who has suicided when she turned him down. She goes to his workplace, a big office and gives a description. They go through various descriptions and mistakes of identity. Noone knows for sure. 'Maybe you could ask over there'. In the background someone actually says (softly) 'something something something'. I suppose it's a black comedy about relationships. Not everyone likes it. I think it won a prize at Cannes when it came out.
Posted by Dr. Bob on October 26, 2006, at 0:37:29
In reply to Re: comedies Declan, posted by Jost on October 12, 2006, at 12:22:13
This is the end of the thread.
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