Ahab Posted January 30, 2014 Posted January 30, 2014 Bill Cosby is a great example of clean comedian who was wildly popular but he does not craft his jokes by looking for what is virtuous, lovely or of good report. For example, his most successful stand-up show, Bill Cosby Himself, focused largely on the premise that his children were BRAIN DAMAGED.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyMSc97UksMSpending an hour focusing on the stupidity of your children doesn't seem like the most Mormon-y thing to me. In fact, it might cause one to re-examine that "families can be together forever" thing.It is a perfectly true, rational, and humorous explanation for why children say they "don't know" why they do what they do.How else would you explain it?
Ahab Posted January 30, 2014 Posted January 30, 2014 I don't know. How many Mormons does it take to change a light bulb?Change it to what?How many rednecks does it take to make chocolate chip cookies? 13. 1 to mix the batter and 12 to peel the M&M's.
The Nehor Posted January 30, 2014 Posted January 30, 2014 I don't know. How many Mormons does it take to change a light bulb? One Bishop to decide it needs to be changed, ten to sit in Ward Council and discuss it, one Elder's quorum president to assign it, one assignee to call in sick, one counselor to assign it to someone else, and one more assignee to blow it off, and then one relief society member to complain about it not being done, and one true follower of Christ to change the stupid thing. 4
altersteve Posted January 31, 2014 Posted January 31, 2014 I somewhat suspect that the popularity of comedians like Regan and Gaffigan is a "lesser of two evils" choice for many Mormons. Everyone likes to laugh and if the choice is between, say, Bleepy Bleeperson and Gaffigan, then Gaffigan starts to look pretty darn good. This is the case even when the comedian is not Mormon or even particularly religious. For example, Gaffigan is, at best, lukewarm about his Catholic faith. He has a few routines where he is downright blasphemous (I assume he leaves this out in SLC). And he certainly doesn't have an "uplifting message." However, since he doesn't use profanity or talk about sex (very much), it's "close enough" for us.I hate to say this, but some of Jim Gaffigan's "blasphemous" routines have made me laugh. Especially his joke about Moses and the burning bush:
cinepro Posted January 31, 2014 Posted January 31, 2014 Mormons excel in many fields but comedy is not one of them. And I believe it may be because our doctrine and culture discourage humor. I think you're defining "comedy" too narrowly. Do you mean "stand-up comedy" specifically? Because specific types of entertainment comedy (sketch, improv, stand-up etc.) are specific skills, and the incidence of people that can "excel" at specific types of comedy is very, very low among people in general. How many really good stand up comedians are there in America? 50? 100? Most are average or terrible (and rely on quantities of alcohol being consumed by their audiences, an advantage not enjoyed by LDS comedians). So I would say there are very, very few people who are good comedians, and that goes for LDS as well. 2
Bill “Papa” Lee Posted January 31, 2014 Posted January 31, 2014 The Church does not discourage humor. The issue of "loud laughter", does not mean that we should not laugh. "Loud laughter" is usually goes hand in hand with "laughing someone to scorn", which can cause us to be stumbling blocks to others. Every Sunday in my home and the interaction with my kids...you would think it his would be great the stage. There are a number of parodies by BYU students that will have you in tears. The only people I have know who misunderstands what the commandment refers too, have a sense of humor that makes them humorless. But Mormons are very funny, the only group I know of is Morticians...now these people are outrageous...you know as a coping mechanism.
Calm Posted January 31, 2014 Posted January 31, 2014 Doctors tend to be a very funny group too, though the humour can often cross the line.
strappinglad Posted January 31, 2014 Posted January 31, 2014 Doctors tend to be a very funny group too, though the humour can often cross the line. My Dad underwent surgery some years back in which the anesthetic quit working but the paralytic remained in effect. He could feeling every cut but was unable to move even his eyes. The doctors didn't believe him until he repeated to them the raw conversation they had while he was supposedly under. Good thing they were wearing masks.
Calm Posted January 31, 2014 Posted January 31, 2014 I hate stories like that...not being able to move is close to a phobia for me.
Garden Girl Posted January 31, 2014 Posted January 31, 2014 (edited) The sketch comedy on Studio C on BYU TV definitely has its moments.Hello Mormonnewb...Kevin Christensen cites Studio C...I was also going to mention Studio C... shown on BYU-TV... some of their sketches are really funny... the whole ensemble is zany at times... a fun show for the family... GG Edited January 31, 2014 by Garden Girl
Calm Posted January 31, 2014 Posted January 31, 2014 I provided a link earlier...I love their Phantom of the Awkward....
Kenngo1969 Posted January 31, 2014 Posted January 31, 2014 My Dad underwent surgery some years back in which the anesthetic quit working but the paralytic remained in effect. He could feeling every cut but was unable to move even his eyes. The doctors didn't believe him until he repeated to them the raw conversation they had while he was supposedly under. Good thing they were wearing masks.Uhhhh . . . Been under the knife eight times. Don't remember a second of it after going under. Wouldn't want to remember a second of it. (I wonder if it's possible to build up a tolerance to anesthetic ... ? ) Yikes!
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