A Detour to the Second City

Normally, when I would write a post like this, it would start with a warning in big, bold letters in a different font - In the interests of full disclosure, a complimentary ticket was provided for this post. However, the tickets came at the right time for me emotionally - my mother has been in and out of the hospital for the past few months, and my sense of humor was sorely out of whack. (But not so much that, when one coworker asked for another coworker's headband, I asked if he was planning to wear red leather and sing "Working for the Weekend"). But I've only been to Second City once before, years ago - dating a woman on a regular basis (my first "real" girlfriend), not going anywhere, but howling with laughter at News for Dogs with its generation-defining cry of "snacky wacky time" However, the current review, America - All Better!, was a complete and absolute blast. Obviously, it's taking aim at the slightly over-the-top hopes in the wake of the Obama presidency...but it contains some real comedic gems. And oh, is it funny....two couples at various relationship stages have a discussion. Mayor Daley impresses the Olympic committee. Students in a public speaking class face their fears. Two WWE wrestlers And my personal highlight - a wedding DJ makes some...well, unusual choices for an impending event. To say any more would be spoiling a wall-to-wall entertaining show. Although the entire cast is simply brilliant, major kudos need to go to Lauren Ash. No, it's not necessarily her resume or her ability to handle herself onstage...it's just that, well, I imagine with our combined intelligence, wit, and looks, we could create a race of genetic superbeings destined to rule the planet. So Lauren, please, call me. Seriously. But anyway, enough of my yakkin' - in recent months, it has felt like I've been going through the motions in many aspects of my life. So much so that I've felt like my blogging has become cookie-cutter, with a lack of personality to it. Thanks to Second City for the reminder that sometimes, it's best to just work without a net...and that improv is more than just a theatrical tool.

Your Labor Day Present

For your viewing pleasure: a charming comedy short film about iPhone navigation called The Big Day.

(Video link provided by Gold Cap Films, the makers of Never Say Macbeth and Desperate Acts of Magic)

Some Pre-Father's Day Thoughts

To be completely honest, things have been....well, busy.

Busy enough that I wish it were more busy, because....

...well, Father's Day has been tough over the past several years - since Dad died. Part of it is that June is also his birth month, meaning that I get a double whammy of grief and sadness.

It's also tough because, for the last few years of his life, my father and I never talked. In fact, I was persona non grata for reasons known only to him.

And within the space of a few weeks ten years ago, we tried to reconnect....and he was gone. His death kick started my return to Chicago.

In a strange way, I miss him - even though we didn't get along most of the time, the things we did connect around were special: Sherlock Holmes, books, and a strange fascination with office supplies.

(No, really - in college, Dad had asked the what-do-you-need question most divorced fathers ask of their children. I suggested legal pads and highlighters. Two weeks later, I received an American Tourister suitcase full of highlighters and legal pads....and pens....and file folders....and file folder labels....and a portable cassette recorder. Seriously.)

But in that spirit, I want to offer probably the closest you can experience to my father: Stacy Keach's work on Titus. (Ironically, I've been deep diving into Christopher Titus' standup work and podcast...and it's been rather cathartic)

So if you need an explanation as to why I've not been as prolific this past week....here you go. And enjoy these Stacy Keach/Ken Titus "highlights" before they're pulled.

Public Domain Drive-In: FLYING DEUCES

Right now, health issues with Mom are keeping me from blogging (and don't be surprised if I give up on NaBloPoMo). But until then, I know I need a good laugh - how about some Laurel & Hardy?

Review: I AM CHRIS FARLEY

So this past Monday night, I was fortunate enough to be invited to a special screening at Second City (it pays to be on their press list, you know) of I Am Chris Farley, a documentary to be featured as part of August 10th's "Chris Farley Day" on Spike TV. So I attended with my date for the evening, and enjoyed a fine, fine piece of work.

(The documentary, that is - I would never, ever refer to a woman as a "piece of work". And apologize for the slight innuendo)

I have to admit - I wasn't a fan of Chris Farley's work: I found much of Saturday Night Live during that period a bit tedious, and quit watching. However, I Am Chris Farley takes a completely opposite tack: instead of focusing on his comedic career, it focuses on Farley as a human being, and made me want to do something I thought I would never do - go out and watch Tommy Boy.

Although the movie is similar to other films - a mix of vintage footage, home movies, and talking head interviews - I Am Chris Farley takes a much different approach to the subject matter. Yes, there are the requisite clips of past humor, but it's the tone of the film - seeing Farley as a human being driven to entertain - that gives it a life and presence that other, similar documentaries may lack. There's a great thread of warmth about Farley, even in the midst of revelations around his substance use (some participants claim Farley was in drug rehab seventeen times), and there's never a sense of exploitation about Farley.

(Although I still say that David Spade hasn't quite redeemed himself for this example of poor taste).

Granted, Spike TV may not be my kind of channel, but between this film and their earlier entry on Bruce Lee, they're showing exquisite taste and insight in their subjects. I Am Chris Farley will be shown on August 10th on Spike TV - if you have cable, be sure to catch it. If you don't, you might consider one of the more....esoteric ways of acquiring content, even if it means waiting for the inevitable DVD/streaming release. (Because my audience would never pirate things...nor would they admit that publicly).

As for me, the one thing I will admit publicly....is that I'm going to watch Tommy Boy again. If I Am Chris Farley gave me a new perspective on Chris Farley the man....the least I can do is revisit his work.

I Am Chris Farley celebrates the man's life, as well as provides a great opportunity for reevaluating his work. It's a must-watch.

Remembering Phil Hartman: YOU MIGHT REMEMBER ME

To be totally honest, I didn't really care for Phil Hartman's work.

In light of the circumstances around his passing, that's not the most endearing sentiment to have. Words like "genius" and "talent" get thrown around....but except for his work on NewsRadio, much of his work left me cold. It didn't help that SNL was approaching what it eventually became - a middlebrow "live" show that went off like clockwork without any sense of creative anarchy. So I approached reading Mike Thomas' You Might Remember Me with great curiosity, but not with great enthusiasm

The result: Mike Thomas presents a very intriguing portait of a man who may have been more comfortable portraying fictional characters than in his own skin.
In many ways, You Might Remember Me reflects HBO's Life and Death of Peter Sellers - both men seemed adept at playing a variety of characters, and whose personal lives had a great deal of turmoil. Thankfully, Thomas practices a great form of discretion with Hartman's life - it's a warts-and-all portrait that feels all the more human. Granted, Hartman led a more varied life than most people - starting as a graphic artist for record covers, early involvement with the Groundlings, moving onto television and (seemingly) progressing as a solid character actor.

When the tragic end comes, Thomas pulls no punches...but he also gracefull describes the aftermath and loss. (It's to his credit that Thomas doesn't dwell or speculate on what happened the night of Hartman's death, but provides as much detail as he reasonably can).

In the end, part of the frustration with You Might Remember Me is that Thomas' subject was also....well, tough to get to know. This isn't meant as a criticism of the book, and to Thomas' credit, he paints a pretty vivid portrait of Hartman's life. You Might Remember Me is a relatively brisk and easy read, but it also feels a bit unfinished....but since the book portrays an actor who was always on a quest for identity, that isn't a drawback - it's part and parcel of the narrative, and definitely worth exploring.
Highly recommended

Some Thoughts on Robin Williams

Originally posted on Facebook, but with some further additions. Please indulge me.
As much as I hate to be a curmudgeon, I want to put another spin on the "if you're depressed, talk to someone".

Having gone through my own dark night of the soul in recent months, I must admit that it's hard to open up.

Tough to be brave enough to open yourself to someone, especially in an online climate where things get nasty, and an admission of vulnerability can lead to someone snarking, "Oh, let daddy kiss your emotional boo-boos and make them all better".

Tough when, even after losing a friend to suicide almonst a year ago, the only thing that remains are a colleague's comments about, "If you're going through something, you open up. You don't go it alone."

As if I had the power to change things....and I don't.

Even despite the recent upturn in my personal matters, there are things that still linger... I'm still miffed that someone made a crack about me living on the south side of the city - in public. And running some fan-related events the past few weeks have me feeling that although I may love a particular franchise....I can't stand some members of its fandom.

(I can hear Robin making some wisecrack about "Hey, Gordon, great quote! Let's send it to Charlie Brown! He needs the material)

I've been a fan of Robin Williams since Mork and Mindy ...and right now, I wish I could find the rainbow suspenders I had as a kid, go around to people and announce, "I'm Mork, from Ork - Nano nano!"

Because the best way I can mourn Robin Williams is not just to declare what a great comedian he was, or even how I'll miss him....but by working harder to be a better human being, and actually reaching out to people I know are having a tough time (because, let's face it, many of us are having our own dark nights of the soul..

Relieving someone's dark times for a few moments - and remembering our common humanity - is the best tribute I can give him.

Public Domain Drive-In: MY MAN GODFREY

After a busy, turbulent few weeks, need a little time to rest, relax, and catch up on some writing. So rather than another why-I-haven't-been-blogging post (and trust me, I have a few posts that need to be uploaded in the next few days), why not enjoy the comedy magic of William Powell in My Man Godfrey?

Harold Ramis: A Personal Perspective

When I read that Harold Ramis had passed away, I was as surprised as many other people. Perhaps even a bit stunned (after all, my initial views of report of his demise were followed with the words "possibly a hoax").

It wasn't as if his illness was public knowledge, but I have to admit - he did seem to be a recurring meme in my life. (Did I just actually use the word meme in a casual blog). We shared similar backgrounds - grew up in Chicago, spent time in St. Louis (he was a student at Washington University; my story's a bit more complicated), and we both had involvement with Second City.

(Just pray you never have to read the "how my life is like Bob Newhart's" blog post. That's going to be painful).

Part of it was that many of his films (which he either wrote and/or directed) were part of my pop culture adolescence - so many that I will definitely forget one. For a guy at a Catholic grammar school (it was K - 8, so we didn't have any stinkin' middle school), it was catchphrase heaven: Stripes, Animal House, Caddyshack, Ghostbusters....and even as an adult, movies like Groundhog Day and Analyze This struck a deep chord....

....and that's Ramis' greatest gift - his ability to wrap high-minded themes around comedic stories. He was a deep thinker who didn't take himself too seriously. A man who had some high-minded goals....but also realized that they needed to be placed in entertaining contexts.

This is still....like many others, I have "the feels" (a phrase that I think should be outlawed). I'm really grieving this one, but only because Ramis was more than just another actor/writer director....he was more like a kindred spirit.

Your Conspiracy Theory Moment of Zen

The Dark Truth Behind the Most Famous Cartoon Company Ever -- powered by Cracked.com

DESPERATE ACTS OF MAGIC: A Review

(Note: Special thanks to Gold Cap Films for providing a complimentary screener DVD for review)

Back in the early days of the blog, I reviewed a small, independently produced film called Never Say Macbeth. I liked it, and was pleased to receive a copy of Tammy Caplan and Joe Tyler Gold's follow-up, Desperate Acts of Magic. At the risk of an overly cute tag line, Desperate Acts of Magic accomplishes great narrative sleight of hand, starting as a near-typical romantic comedy and becoming a sharp, entertaining gem which deserves a wider audience.

Taking advantage of a "Fire-tunity", Jason (Joe Tyler Gold) decides to pursue his dream of being a successful magician, much like his pal Steve (Jonathan Levitt). In one of the most original "meet cutes" ever written, Jason meets Stacy (Valerie Dillman), who is looking to make the big time as a female magician. After insulting Stacy, Jason is inspired to create a new act - one which uses the magician/assistant relationship to focus on larger issues. Shenanigans a-plenty ensue as Jason attempts to win back Stacy, deal with his pal Steve, train new assistant Ellen (Sascha Alexander), and hopefully, gain entry into the world of magicians....

What elevates Desperate Acts of Magic from being just another cookie-cutter romantic comedy is the misdirection of the script. Places where you might expect it to fall into cliche, the story moves into a slightly different direction. Rather than pull familiar rabbits out of hats, Desperate Acts provides plenty of colorful twists, some dead-on performances, and quite honestly, some exceptional film making.

(One of the film's selling points is that much of the magic is done "on camera", and this would be impressive enough...but the movie goes several steps further. One key scene - where Stacy is performing a magic act with a video playing in the background - is very well-edited, and never feels indulgent - it's the best sequences in the entire film. Listen to the director's commentary, and you'll not only get the usual behind-the-scenes information, but you will also get a great crash course in guerilla filmmaking. Although it took a long time to complete this film, the craft and care with which Desperate Acts of Magic was made shows in every single frame.)

Desperate Acts of Magic will be available on DVD on September 10th, and their web site lists other viewing options....but this is definitely a movie to check out. Unlike its bigger budget cousins, Desperate Acts of Magic is a smart, funny, well-scripted movie that manages to accomplish its feats without any smoke or mirrors. Definitely worth seeking.

Comedy Tonight (Two Weeks From Today)

Yes, I know I've been away from the blog awhile...and you'll have the opportunity to bug me about it in person!

As many of you know, I blog about tech and the social good for Chicago Now. Occasionally, we have regular "Blatherings" - get togethers that allow us to have a good time, network, and have fun.

At our next Blathering - April 16th - we'll be gathering at the Laugh Factory, located at 3175 N Broadway, near Belmont and Broadway. Starting at 7:30, we'll be putting on a stand-up comedy show, where each blogger gets up for three minutes and attempts to make the audience laugh. (Doors open at 6:00 pm)

And for that night, I'll be returning to my roots of almost 20 years ago, hanging with Andy Martello at a coffee shop, doing open mike comedy. Unlike 20 years ago, Andy won't be there (he's living in Vegas, and is more than likely on the road as I write this), and I'll actually be funny.

Who knows what will happen - I might stammer. I might be the opening act, or the closing act. You might hear about my lack of love life, or politics, or other wacky shenanigans. And yes, I'll figure out a way to record this for the Zone 4 podcast.

But here's a chance for you to enjoy a great night out, say "hello", and - most importantly - have a laugh. Because that should always be a priority.

Remember - April 16th. Laugh Factory. 7:30 pm.

Be there.

Public Domain Drive-In: Jack Benny Goes Christmas Shopping

OK, this kind of lifted me out of my funk...because nothing says Christmas like Jack Benny. Enjoy!

Your "I Can't Believe This Got Made" Moment of Zen

Found this via browsing....and you will be amazed that this got made. Please read into that statement what you will.

Public Domain Drive-In: THE GENERAL

Between recovering from Mom's move, and a mad dash for work, things have be a bit busy....so until I gather my thoughts (and catch up on my electronically submitted books) for a blog post, enjoy the comedic stylings of Buster Keaton in The General:

Clap For The Wolfman

Wolfman Mac Photo Via Flickr

One aspect of Chicago life that I absolutely love...is watching Svengoolie. Yes, there is the slightly nostalgic aspect to it, but there's also the fact that Sven is proof that local pop culture can be just as influential - and enjoyable - as its more corporate, global cousins.

Thankfully, a random Google search some time ago led me to discover another practitioner in the art of horror hosts....I'm talking, of course, about Wolfman Mac, host of Chiller Drive-In out of Novi, Michigan (about 30 minutes from Detroit). Much like Sven, Chiller Drive-In (thankfully available via online streaming video as well as a fledgling digital channel) shows classic/vintage horror/science fiction movies (mostly B-movies) interspersed with comedic sketches and interludes.

And much like Sven, the humor is very much in a tongue-in-cheek loving tone. Although Wolfman Mac and his co-stars (including a cheeky skeleton) create a more 1950s/hipster vibe, they serve to complement the movie that they're showing. (Thankfully, the show never stoops to mocking its films openly, carefully balancing irreverence with a love of lesser-known material). It's also very family friendly, and quite honestly - if you're going to procrastinate, I can't think of any better way to do so.

For the longest time, I felt fortunate enough to have my own local classically-inspired horror host. Now, I'm fortunate enough to have two of them.

The Venture Brothers & The Spirit of Halloween

I've always had a very soft spot for The Venture Brothers - it's a heady mix of fascination with Hanna Barbera, Marvel Comics, and slightly askew humor just hits the right spot. It's also frustrating being a Ventures fan: on the one hand, I dislike the long breaks between seasons, but also understand that achieving something halfway interesting takes time, talent, and work.

So when I read about the Very Venture Halloween special that recently aired, I made a point of placing it on my calendar, and caught it yesterday.

It goes without saying - I really enjoyed it.

One of the great things about watching the show is how Doc Hammer (who wrote this particular episode) and Jackson Publick are able to weave a lot of subplots, references to past continuity, etc, into each episode without it feeling overstuffed or somehow lost in the shuffle. Very Venture Halloween works excellently as both an excellent done-in-one....as well as a teaser for 2013's new episodes.

Do yourself a favor - go watch it now online. Watch past episodes. You'll be hooked.

Today Really IS A State Of Mind

So sayeth my newest favorite show:

Happy Birthday, Groucho Marx!

Kind of a rough day professionally, but thankfully, today means one thing: time to celebrate with comedy!

Mojo Nixon Monday

Because quite honestly - everyone needs a little Mojo in their lives.

(And video # 3 is definitely NSFW, so watch them at home)