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What's the attraction of Jerry Lewis? I can't figure it out. I mean, it's not like I don't find him funny - some of the time, and in small doses - but half of the time I really can't work out why he's so popular. I've always liked (some of) the Martin & Lewis films, but I've always found Dino ten times funnier than Jerry. Been rewatching a few the last couple of days, which I guess is what got me thinking about it.
Most of Jerry's act seems to consist of gurning, and rubbing his hands in his hair. It's not really very funny, is it. Or is it? Meantime, Dino's being funnier just by raising an eyebrow, or doing some neat piece of comic timing - but subtly, and in the background. I guess maybe I just don't find the more obvious joke to be the funniest. I Love Lucy is a case in point. More than fifty years old, and still one of the funniest sitcoms ever made - so I'm not knocking it. I just don't get all the adoration heaped upon Lucille Ball. There again, half her act seems to be gurning, and putting on a silly walk. She can be funny, there's no denying that. Some of the bits when she seems to be adlibbing, or has more of a free rein, she's really good. The rest of the time it's all silly faces, and putting on a whiny voice. Meanwhile Desi Arnaz is being effortlessly funny in the background, and it seems like half the viewers never notice. Every time the show gets a mention; every time it gets honoured; it's always Lucy this and Lucy that. I used to belong to an I Love Lucy internet forum, and every time I said that I thought Desi was funnier than Lucy, I got flamed like crazy. Things actually got really nasty a couple of times. Mad; and all because I said that the woman making stupid faces at the camera wasn't all that funny. Not a subtlety issue with ILL, though. Desi, bless him, could never be accused of being subtle. :D He's just funny. The episode I was watching today, "Job-Switching", is a really famous one. In it Lucy gets a job, whilst Desi stays at home to do the housework. Yes, I know, but that was a reasonably novel idea in September 1952 when that episode first aired. Probably. Everybody raves about when Lucy's working in the chocolate factory. Basically, this is Lucy getting chocolate all over herself. Back at the house, Desi is being attacked by two airborne, pressure-cooked chickens, whilst fighting a potentially lethal rice monster bent on world domination. It's funny, but every time it's Lucy who gets the plaudits.
Ah well - the world can giggle at Jerry and Lucy if they want to. I'm sticking with Dino and Desi. Which actually sounds like a promising double act. I'd watch. Everybody else might be clustered around the other stage, watching Jerry and Lucy trying to out-gurn each other, but I'd be watching the other two being funny. Or else they'd be propping up the bar whilst making eyes at the waitresses, which is quite probably more likely. But they'd be doing it in a funny way, and with style. ;)
The Guide To Fifties American Comedy:
I have to go hide from the Lucy Mafia now. :D
Most of Jerry's act seems to consist of gurning, and rubbing his hands in his hair. It's not really very funny, is it. Or is it? Meantime, Dino's being funnier just by raising an eyebrow, or doing some neat piece of comic timing - but subtly, and in the background. I guess maybe I just don't find the more obvious joke to be the funniest. I Love Lucy is a case in point. More than fifty years old, and still one of the funniest sitcoms ever made - so I'm not knocking it. I just don't get all the adoration heaped upon Lucille Ball. There again, half her act seems to be gurning, and putting on a silly walk. She can be funny, there's no denying that. Some of the bits when she seems to be adlibbing, or has more of a free rein, she's really good. The rest of the time it's all silly faces, and putting on a whiny voice. Meanwhile Desi Arnaz is being effortlessly funny in the background, and it seems like half the viewers never notice. Every time the show gets a mention; every time it gets honoured; it's always Lucy this and Lucy that. I used to belong to an I Love Lucy internet forum, and every time I said that I thought Desi was funnier than Lucy, I got flamed like crazy. Things actually got really nasty a couple of times. Mad; and all because I said that the woman making stupid faces at the camera wasn't all that funny. Not a subtlety issue with ILL, though. Desi, bless him, could never be accused of being subtle. :D He's just funny. The episode I was watching today, "Job-Switching", is a really famous one. In it Lucy gets a job, whilst Desi stays at home to do the housework. Yes, I know, but that was a reasonably novel idea in September 1952 when that episode first aired. Probably. Everybody raves about when Lucy's working in the chocolate factory. Basically, this is Lucy getting chocolate all over herself. Back at the house, Desi is being attacked by two airborne, pressure-cooked chickens, whilst fighting a potentially lethal rice monster bent on world domination. It's funny, but every time it's Lucy who gets the plaudits.
Ah well - the world can giggle at Jerry and Lucy if they want to. I'm sticking with Dino and Desi. Which actually sounds like a promising double act. I'd watch. Everybody else might be clustered around the other stage, watching Jerry and Lucy trying to out-gurn each other, but I'd be watching the other two being funny. Or else they'd be propping up the bar whilst making eyes at the waitresses, which is quite probably more likely. But they'd be doing it in a funny way, and with style. ;)
I have to go hide from the Lucy Mafia now. :D
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