Being Funny XII

Jon Stewart breaks down the truth again. It's biting humor, to say the very least.

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Being Funny XI

If you read my profile, you will see that among my favorite movies are The Godfather series and Goodfellas. I am always interested in dichotomies. These movies represent the best in love and loyalty to family members, immediate and extended, and the worst in acceptable violence and destruction among these same members. So, it would not be a surpise that among my favorite comedies is Analze This with Robert De Niro and Billy Crystal. When I first saw the movie in 1999, I could hardly breathe throughout the entire movie. I was laughing so hard.

Here are the bloopers/takeouts of Analyze This that got me laughing all over again.



It is this kind of rationalization and moralizing that I find interesting. Here is an exchange between Dr. Ben Sobel, the psychiatrist, played by Billy Crystal and mafia boss, Paul Vitti, played by Robert De Niro. De Niro, by the way, is one of my favorite actors.

Dr. Ben Sobel: What happened with your wife last night?
Boss Paul Vitti: I wasn't with my wife, I was with my girlfriend.
Dr. Ben Sobel: Are you having marriage problems?
Boss Paul Vitti: No.
Dr. Ben Sobel: Then why do you have a girlfriend?
Boss Paul Vitti: What, are you gonna start moralizing on me?
Dr. Ben Sobel: No, I'm not, I'm just trying to understand, why do you have a girlfriend?
Boss Paul Vitti: I do things with her I can't do with my wife.
Dr. Ben Sobel: Why can't you do them with your wife?
Boss Paul Vitti: Hey, that's the mouth she kisses my kids goodnight with! What are you, crazy?

Go figure! He doesn't consider his own actions. I suppose he doesn't kiss his kids goodnight.

In this scene Dr. Sobel is encouraging Paul Vitti to change his ways and find "closure" with the other mafia boss, Primo, as it is the stress of getting whacked that's got Vitti all stressed out. He had narrowly escaped a hit. Vitti calls Primo, the mafia boss suspected of calling the hit, with Dr. Sobel nearby encouraging him.

Boss Paul Vitti: Whoever did that thing to you-know-who, that good friend of mine, well they're trying to do that to me now. And I'm having a lot of feelings about that. And I'm trying to get some closure on that.
Primo: What kind of feelings?
Boss Paul Vitti: I'm very angry. I'm feeling very angry about that. I'm enraged. I'm feeling very, very mad about that.
Primo: So why are you telling me?
Boss Paul Vitti: Why am i telling you? Like you don't know nothing about it? You don't know nothing? What?
Primo: I don't know what your talking about.
Boss Paul Vitti: I'm just trying to, tell you about my feelings and that I'm angry, and that anger is a blocked wish. And I'm looking forward to seeing you next week at that thing. Then i can unblock that angered wish and then hopefully, hopefully you make one more move on me you motherfucker ill fucking cut your fucking balls off ill shove them up your fucking ass, ill fucking bury you, ill put ice picks in your eyes, ill chop your fucking eyeballs, ill send them to your fucking family so they can eat them for dessert. You understand me?
Primo: Hey Paul
Boss Paul Vitti: What?
Primo: Fuck you
Boss Paul Vitti: You Motherfucker!
Primo: [to Moony] You get a dictionary and find out what this "closure" is. If that's what hes going to hit us with, i want to know what it is
Boss Paul Vitti: [to Dr. Sobel] How was that?
Dr. Ben Sobel: It was going great until the, cutting off of the balls and shoving it up his, ass. You know what i do when I'm mad? I hit a pillow. Just hit the pillow. See how you feel
Boss Paul Vitti: [pulls out a gun and starts shooting the pillow] There's you fucking pillow.
Dr. Ben Sobel: Feel better?
Boss Paul Vitti: Yeah, I do
Dr. Ben Sobel: Good

I guess even mafia bosses try to reform their ways. I assume as Paul Vitti many are unsuccessful. This mafia boss, though, is likeable. After all, he's trying to change his ways. He obvious doesn't have the heart or stomach for the family business. He cries at the drop of a hat and is often mushy. It's a really good movie. If you haven't seen it, it's really funny. Some may have to get beyond the language. I see it as a reality that some live and love Analyze This!

Being a Super Majority

Unless you're the Republican Party with steamrollers like Dick Cheney and Karl Rove, in fact--they didn't even need a super majority to get legislation passed, the concept of super majority--being filibuster proof--itself means nothing. What is political capital if not used to pass legislation that the people voted you in for? The public option has 65% of support in the country and 70% among doctors. One cannot help but to wonder how lame and self-centered are leaders in the Democratic Party--really? Jon Stewart breaks it down for us.

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Being Moammar Gadhafi

This SNL re-enactment of the Libyan leader is hysterical. I saw the real speech, all one hour and a half of it live. It was supposed to last for 15 minutes.

Being an "Ask" Kicker

Yeah, I know this may not be funny to some. But I must admit to laughing my "ask" off!



I love the teachable moment at the end too. "Oooo"

Being Funny X

Here is SNL's take on the recent outburst in Congress. It's pretty funny! There is also a great impression of James Carville here too--spot on.

Being for Campaign Reform II

Recently I wrote a post, Being for Campaign Reform, which addressed the Supreme Court's hearing of the possible expansion of the role of corporations in our election process. But Steve Colbert does a much better job than I. Check him out. It's funny and, oooh, so very relevant. "Let Freedom Ka-Ching."

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It's amazing that the Supreme Court, the highest court in the land, would even hear such a case. Last week the Court heard Attorney Theodore Olsen argue that "corporations are persons entitled to protection under the first amendment." Now, do we need to be a Supreme Court justice to see the ridiculousness of hearing this case? Corporations must not be allowed to donate to campaigns without restrictions. Period.

Being Funny IX

The jazz trio along with such bad performance art, with words taken directly from Palin's speech, is a riot!



This had me rolling! I could barely breathe I was laughing so hard!

Being Inspired by Others

E N C O R E!

Being on Sesame Street

Being a Pundit, Newscaster and Analyst

I have written here about pundits, newscasters and financial analysts, the likes of Santelli and Cramer, who often enrage me with their arrogance and ignorance. Here Jon Stewart pokes fun at them:

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CNBC Gives Financial Advice

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Joke of the Day

But is he dead serious?

Being Funny VII

Here is David Letterman on Rush Limbaugh's performance at CPAC.



From one comedian about another "comedian" this is funny!

Being Real with Seth

Here is a clip from Saturday Night Live regarding the Michael Phelps controversy after he was dropped by Kellogg's. There are some laughs here and some things that make you think or wonder, "really!?!"

Being Able to Laugh at Yourself

David Letterman's "Great Moments in Presidential Speeches" will be missed. I have laughed often. I wonder if President Bush did too.

Being Live on Saturday Night

Here is "Rachel Maddow" interviewing "Governor Blagojevich" and "Roland Burris." Some lines are not so funny, but some are quite funny indeed. You may think differently; humor's like that.

Being Funny VI

Senator McCain shows once again that he's a good sport (wish we has seen more of this early on) and that he has great comedic timing. (Remember the Al Smith Memorial Dinner? Funny!) As heard by the raucous response to his jokes, the live audience was quite appreciative. Audience members were also appreciative of Senator McCain's mere appearance on SNL. He received a great round of applause, even from an elite New York non-patriotic audience.



Here's the Weekend Update. What a sport! He's very different from Sarah Palin who did not participate, but was a mere observer of her own image. Yuck! Enough of her, here is Senator McCain, the comic.

Being Funny V

Obama and Palin Rallies of Fear

Being Funny

Senators Obama and McCain appeared at the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner tonight where they roasted one another. Hands down, Senator McCain was the funnier one. He's got jokes and great timing. He also seemed very pleased with his performance as roaster but less pleased as the roasted. As usual, Senator McCain appeared quite uncomfortable at times whereas Senator Obama flashed his customary mega-watt-gentle-natured smile throughout, even when the lines were piercing.



Senator Obama, the sensitive serious one, was the caring beautiful leader whose presence was one that carries the thoughts of others. Yes, this was a dinner of men and women in tuxedos and gowns, but there was something about the atmosphere that beckoned to Obama where we are indeed, where just outside of the doors of the Waldorf Astoria so many families are without during this very difficult time for many Americans. Even in this comedic setting, Obama beckoned us to remember others.



There is no doubt that the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner will raise money that will help many families while a good time was had by all. But there is also no doubt that the man who once worked on the south side of Chicago after serving as Editor of the Harvard Law Review and graduating from Harvard Law School carries with him the weight of others as most great leaders do.

Funny is good; serving others and reminding us that we are our brother's keeper, especially in extraordinary times, is far better. Senator Obama, though, was quite handsome in that tux and pretty funny too!

Being Wanda Sykes

This is quintessential slightly irreverant in your face Wanda Sykes.