Archive for May, 2007
I watched a movie the other night called “Looking For Comedy In The Muslim World.” It stars Albert Brooks. I found the movie extremely funny, but I’m Jewish, and I think you have to be Jewish to appreciate Albert Brooks. I can’t imagine many non-Jews enjoying his stuff.
The movie is about Albert Brooks being assigned by the US government to find out what makes Muslims laugh. He travels to India and Pakistan to find out. In the movie, he says that he found out there are zero comedy clubs in India or Pakistan. I don’t know if that’s true or not, but if it is true, it’s pretty damn interesting. I love comedy. I enjoy comedy clubs and comedy concerts. After watching the movie, I started to think about comedians and what I find funny or unfunny.
Growing up, I remember my brother buying an 8 track tape of Cheech and Chong. I remember laughing at it a lot, but I don’t know if I was laughing at it just because my brother was laughing. I think I was too young to really understand drug humor. Almost 30 years later though, I still say “Dave’s not here” on occasion.
When I started getting into the record and cassette purchasing years, I remember buying everything that Steve Martin came out with. “Wild and Crazy Guy,” “The Cruel Shoes,” all those albums. I always loved Steve Martin’s stand up, and still do. I also remember listening to Bill Cosby records a lot. (A friend of mine turned me on to Cosby; we used to be able to recite the entire “buck buck number 1″ skit. Also loved his dentist routine, and of course, “chocolate cake for breakfast.”)
As I got older, I began to have a somewhat eclectic taste in comedy. I was really into Emo Phillips for a while. (Now I hear bits of his stuff, and I can’t believe I ever thought he was funny.) I saw Emo Phillips in concert once, and his then-girlfriend Judy Tenuta was the opening act. GOOD GOD Judy Tenuta is NOT FUNNY. (I don’t want to get off on a tangent, but there are very few funny women stand up comics. Sarah Silverman is funny. Lisa Lampinelli is funny. Margret Cho is a disaster. Paula Poundstone is the least funny person alive. I actually owned a Joan Rivers cassette growing up, and liked it. So I’ll say that Joan Rivers USED to be funny. Some of the SNL women were very funny in sketches, like Cheri O’Teri, Molly Shannon, and Anna Gasteyer. But I don’t know if they were funny in stand up.)
Growing up, I also loved Eddie Murphy and Richard Pryor. I remember going with my dad to see those Richard Pryor stand up comedy movies, like “Live on the Sunset Strip.” Eddie Murphy’s “Raw” and “Delirious” were groundbreaking. I also used to listen to Rodney Dangerfield growing up. I don’t know why he appealed to me, but he did. I actually saw him in concert in Las Vegas during high school- I had a fake ID. He really owned the theater when I saw him… the one line that sticks with me from that show was, “My wife’s a terrible cook. Toast shouldn’t have bones.”
In college, some friends and I were in Vegas and we went to see Redd Foxx at the Hacienda. That dude was really dirty. He did an entire routine about “washing your ass.” Makes sense. Opening for Redd Foxx was Slappy White. Nuff said.
Some comedians that everybody liked, but I never got into… George Carlin, Andy Kaufman, Jeff Foxworthy, and Drew Carey. I’m sure there are other comedians that were popular that I never got into, but I just can’t think of them. Dane Cook is really popular right now, but I can’t get into him. I’ve watched one of his comedy specials and I didn’t think it was that funny.
Right now Frank Caliendo is someone that really makes me laugh. I still enjoy Jerry Seinfeld too. I’ve seen Caliendo and Seinfeld in concert twice, and really enjoyed both shows. I’m also a big fan of David Spade. He has that snarky sense of humor that I love. I’ve seen Spade in concert once, and I would definitely go back to see him again. Chris Rock would be great to see in concert. I’d also like to see Katt Williams in concert, but I don’t want to be the only white guy there.
I leave you with a shameful admission: I’ve seen Carrot Top in concert twice, and I find him funny. I’m not making that up.
May 29th, 2007
Over the weekend I was downloading some new music for the show… You know, the music we play coming into each segment. We generally play all hip hop music coming into our segments— and a lot of the hip hop comes from the 80’s and 90’s when Dan and I were growing up. I’ve always had a love for music; I was a radio “D.J.” for many years before I was doing this show with Dan and Stugotz.
I love remixes and mash-ups. I’m always scouring the internet to find the latest mash up or remix. (Dan is always bugging me to play more reggaeton, but it’s difficult for me to know what’s really hot in the reggaeton circles.) Coming into our segments you’ll hear everything from Run DMC to Whodini to Pitbull to 50 Cent. You’ll hear some really current artists like Ludacris… and you’ll hear lots of “blasts from the past” like Big Daddy Kane.
As I was downloading some new music this weekend for the show… (I found a cool rock remix from MIMS, and a cool remix of the old song “Apache”…) I started thinking about music that I like and concerts I’ve been to and songs that I never get tired of.
I would probably say my favorite musical act of all time is RUN DMC. Those guys shaped my childhood. The first time I heard “Rock Box” my whole idea of music changed. Then when I heard “Walk This Way” I couldn’t tell all my friends fast enough about the song. (That was also the first time I heaerd Aerosmith. I had no idea who they were until I heard Run DMC’s version of “Walk This Way.”) I was born in 1969, so I really didn’t start to get into music until 1983 or 1984, I guess.
I remember my first CD player… a BIG, hulking machine. If I remember correctly, the first rap CD I ever bought was “Crushin’” from The Fat Boys. (Still a great CD- It holds up after all these years.) I remember buying “Escape” from Whodini too. That CD had some great jams on it… “The Freaks Come Out At Night,” “Escape,” and “We Are Whodini.” I loved that group growing up too.
I think the best, most entertaining concert I’ve ever seen was Fishbone. I’ve seen lots of concerts over the years… (The first concert I ever saw was The Jacksons “Victory” tour at Comiskey Park in Chicago.) Back to Fishbone… greatest live act I’ve ever seen. The energy in the room was amazing. (I think they were opening for The Beastie Boys when I saw them.) The Beastie Boys were a great live act too. When they toured with Run DMC on the “Together Forever” tour, I was in heaven. “License To Ill” was another CD that changed my life. I still listen to that CD constantly.
I could write about music for days. I have a very odd taste in music, because for all the hip hop that I like, I also love some of the lamest music ever made by man. This is no joke… I’m a huge John Tesh fan. The guy is brilliant. My wife and I have seen John Tesh in concert twice, and both times it was amazing. My musical tastes truly run the gamut… In my car, you’re just as likely to hear Insane Clown Posse as you are to hear Neil Diamond. Other “lame” acts that I love… Barry Manillow, Christopher Cross, and Enya. The group I’ve seen in concert the most is Earth, Wind, and Fire. I don’t know why I love them so much, but I’ve seen them in concert six or seven times… Talk about energy on stage!
All you have to do is listen to the show and you’ll get a very good idea of the music I listen to most: Run DMC, LL Cool J, Luke, 50 Cent, Whodini, Kool Moe Dee, Beastie Boys, and too many others to get into. If there is some music you’d like to hear on the show, just let me know. I’m constantly adding new songs to the rotation… and many of them are suggestions from listeners. And for those of you that don’t like hip hop… I’ve actually heard “Footloose” coming into a segment of Hank Goldberg’s show.
May 22nd, 2007
On our radio show, we often get into conversations about movies, movie lines, movie characters, movie plots, etc. Guys love talking about movies. I guess it’s in our DNA. We even have Marlins team president David Samson on every Wednesday just to talk movies. I’ve always thought a good way to get to know a person is to find out what movies they like or dislike. Here are some of my own personal thoughts about movies.
Although I don’t actually have a “list” of top ten movies… I always instinctively answer the question of “what’s your favorite movie ever?” with “Fargo.” “Fargo” was one of those movies that completely captivated me from beginning to end. Every character in that movie was great… Every scene was great… It just had such a cool vibe throughout the movie, that- if pressed- I would probably pronounce “Fargo” as my favorite movie ever. (I defy you to name a better character than William H. Macy’s “Jerry Lundegaard.”)
Other movies that I absolutely love: Glengarry GlenRoss, Apollo 13, Shawshank Redemption, Boiler Room, Rocky, Dog Day Afternoon, A Bronx Tale, Carlito’s Way, and Titanic. That’s right- I said it. I loved Titanic. I get made fun of constantly for admitting I like that movie, but so what. I thought the entire sequence when the ship is going down… it’s dark out… it’s creaking in ways the ship was never meant to creak… I thought the entire way that sequence played out was captivating. (I thought the love story was good too. I’m man enough to admit that I was actively rooting for Jack and Rose!) I think most guys liked Titanic too… It’s just not cool to admit it.
Movies that I liked as a kid, but now think they’re ridiculous: Iron Eagle, The Warriors, Red Dawn, The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh, Ruthless People, and Author Author. Author Author is a little known Al Pacino movie, that for some reason I loved watching growing up… and now when I see it on cable, I can’t figure out why I ever liked it. I saw Ruthless People in the theater THREE TIMES. I really loved that movie for some reason. Now, I don’t know why.
As I’m writing this, other movies are popping into my head that I haven’t thought of in years. I just remembered watching a movie called “Summer Lovers” over and over when I was a kid. This was during my “formative” years… if you catch my drift. It was set in Greece and starred Daryl Hannah, Peter Gallagher, and some short haired brunette. I fell in love with that brunette girl. That was probably the first time in my life I found someone “sexy.” I wonder if that movie still holds up? (I also wonder if Officer and A Gentleman holds up. I remember loving that movie too. I had a little thing for Louis Gossett Jr.)
The only two movies I can remember actually walking out of were “The Animal” with Rob Schneider and “Broken Arrow” with John Travolta. Good Lord were those movies awful. (I wish I walked out of “Wild Hogs.” That has to be the worst movie I’ve seen in a long time. I’m done with John Travolta movies.)
When I started writing this, I didn’t realize how many movies would pop into my head… movies that I want to talk about for whatever reason. But I just don’t have enough space in this blog. I haven’t even mentioned the movies that shaped my childhood, like “Breakfast Club,” “The Sure Thing,” “Sixteen Candles,” “Some Kind of Wonderful,” and “Fast Times at Ridgemont High.”
I haven’t even written about the stupid sex comedies I grew up with, like “Porky’s,” “Class,” “Private School,” and “Behind The Green Door.” (Okay, Behind The Green Door wasn’t a comedy. But it’s certainly worth mentioning.)
This is too big a topic for one blog. I’ll write more another time. I still haven’t even mentioned “Dead Man Walking,” “The Green Mile,” or “Thirteen Days.”
May 14th, 2007
My wife, son and I went to the Marlins-Padres game Saturday night. My son just turned 3 years old, and loves sports. He’s been to Marlins games before, but this was the first time where it seemed like he actually had a little bit of understanding of what was going on. Going to a baseball game with your son is a great experience. It’s too bad more people don’t go to the Marlins games, because we had a really fun night.
Granted, it’s not exactly the same feeling as when my dad took me to Cubs games at Wrigley Field. It’s kind of depressing when you pull up to the stadium on a Saturday night and there’s no traffic, no tailgating, no street parties. (If you’ve ever been to a game at Fenway Park- this is the opposite.) And it’s South Florida’s fault– not the Marlins.
I don’t know why South Floridians don’t go to the Marlins games. It’s such a fun night. The weather was great… The scoreboards are state of the art… The in-game entertainment is fun… David Wells is fat. (He was pitching for the Padres.) It truly is a fun, family night…and I wish more South Floridians would experience it.
Sure, there are drawbacks, just like at any stadium. Paying $7 for a bottle of beer is a little excessive, but that’s the way it is at all stadiums and concert venues these days. Parking for only $10 is actually a bargain by today’s standards. (I still can’t believe I paid $80 to park during last year’s Heat finals. That’s right- $80 for parking. And that was after searching for the cheap lots.)
I don’t want to hear anyone complain about the possibility of rain keeping them away from the ballpark. We’re in a DROUGHT. A massive DROUGHT. My lawn in brown because I’m not allowed to water it because we’re in a huge DROUGHT. So come out to the ballpark for a Marlins game. IT WON’T RAIN.
I wonder sometimes if we’ll ever have a baseball tradition in South Florida. I grew up in Chicago, and over many years the tradition of going to Cubs or White Sox games with your parents was passed down from generation to generation. Baseball hasn’t been around in South Florida long enough for that to have happened, but I hope it does. I had such a great experience at the Marlins game Saturday night with my son, that I look forward to him being a Marlins fan for the rest of his life. I hope to go to many games with him as he grows up. But we’re going to need more fans to go to the games for that to happen.
I know— The Marlins need to win for people to come out. The White Sox always had terrible attendance until they won the World Series. The problem with the Marins is that they’ve already won two World Series, and people still aren’t coming. What will need to happen for people to go to the games? I don’t want Billy The Marlin to go the way of the pets.com sock puppet.
Post your reasons for why you do or don’t go to the games. Marlins President David Samson is on our show every Wednesday at 6pm. I’ll tell him to read this blog and the responses… who knows? Maybe you can make baseball in South Florida work!
May 7th, 2007
