Laughter Is Lava
The mark of a truly funny joke or a bit or situation in a comedy isn’t “I laughed so hard I was in pain.” The mark of a really great world-class joke is when it comes back to you five or ten minutes later and it makes you laugh (or at least chuckle) all over again. Or it comes back to you on the way home, or a month or a year later. Or it makes you laugh ten years later.
I don’t “laugh” at the “nobody’s perfect” line at the end of Some Like It Hot, but every time I watch that film (roughly once a year) I always guffaw a little bit, or smile extra broadly.
Anyone who laughs so hard that their eyes water up and appear to be choking as they experience rib pain is experiencing a cathartic emotional geyser — an explosive release of a repressed feeling, memory or hang-up. There’s also regular-ass no-big-deal laughter (i.e., laughing at some joke on Cheers or some smart crack from Bill Maher) and all the other levels and gradations. But laughter is always about some recognition of truth — “Hah! I’ve been there myself and you can say that again!”
Stupid people think that people laugh when something is “funny” — thoughtful people know that all laughter is a form of recognition therapy. Whatever it is that the joke has released is some kind of buried guilt or anguish or regret or vision-recognition. This is why psychologists tell people that laughter is such a physically and emotionally healthy thing. Laughter is essentially about feelings breaking out of jail.
It follows that the darker the feelings and more intense the repression, the greater the geyser . There really isn’t that much difference between screaming with laughter like a raging banshee and a can of unopened baked beans exploding after being put on top of a campfire. Whatever it is that the joke has unleashed has been seriously bottled up for a long time, and so it triggers a kind of mad eruption. Which suggests that the laughing-in-pain person hasn’t dealt with whatever the issue may be, which indicates that he/she is probably lacking in terms of maturity and/or character.
Short version: if you laugh too loudly — if you scream and double over and slap your thighs and act like a howling monkey after having drunk a pint of bourbon — you may be a bit of a repressed putz. Not absolutely but probably. It means that you’re living or have lived under very tough rules (self-imposed or imposed by a tough spouse or parent) and you’re probably not all that thoughtful about your hang-ups and constipations.
My father had a drinking problem that he finally dealt with in the mid ’70s by joining AA. He wasn’t an emotionally expressive guy, to say the least, but one of my most vivid childhood memories of him is when he convulsed and howled at Lee Marvin‘s drunken antics in Cat Ballou. I mean, he really lost it when Marvin dropped a pint bottle of whiskey and saw it break upon a rock. I remember turning in my seat and glancing at him and going, “Jesus…what was that about?”
Even shorter version: If you laugh too loud you’ve got problems. You’re not dealing with your shit, or you’re a commoner of some kind, or you’re some kind of cultural or political conservative.
The people who go really wild at parties after they’ve had a few drinks — the ones who put lampshades on their heads (figuratively speaking) and who dance on table-tops and sing drunkenly at karaoke bars — are often (i.e., not each and every time but frequently) the more straight-laced types during business hours. Do you think Mahatma Gandhi ever howled like a drunken monkey having an epileptic fit while watching a Charlie Chaplin comedy in New Delhi or Bombay?
I know that if I notice someone who’s laughing too uproariously, I’ll make a mental note to keep my distance from him/her. And the people who in a very few minutes are going to angrily react to this article — not “disagree” but get pissy and insulting and trying to put me down any way they can — are probably cut from the same cloth.
Jesus, dude. When did you decide to transform “Hollywood Elsewhere” into “Earn Your Master’s Degree In Psychology With Andy Rooney?”
Jesus, dude. When did you decide to transform “Hollywood Elsewhere” into “Earn Your Master’s Degree In Psychology With Andy Rooney?”
god you’re miserable.
god you’re miserable.
Of course, I only say that because I happen to have a particularly booming laugh (I was shushed twice during a screening of “Cyrus” for Christ’s sake) and am thus cowering in insecurity over the fact that Jeff might consider me a drunken monkey having an epileptic fit. I don’t think I can live with the disdain…
Of course, I only say that because I happen to have a particularly booming laugh (I was shushed twice during a screening of “Cyrus” for Christ’s sake) and am thus cowering in insecurity over the fact that Jeff might consider me a drunken monkey having an epileptic fit. I don’t think I can live with the disdain…
Interesting theory, but I have this question: animals have now been proven to laugh, and even laugh uproariously. Do they also have repressed emotional issues? (I don’t mean to ask that in a snarky way – I’m just curious how far you extend the psychophysiological explanation.)
Interesting theory, but I have this question: animals have now been proven to laugh, and even laugh uproariously. Do they also have repressed emotional issues? (I don’t mean to ask that in a snarky way – I’m just curious how far you extend the psychophysiological explanation.)
Meanwhile, the great Marvin proves here that he’s a wonderful comic actor, but he never did comedy again, unless you count Paint Your Wagon–and I’m not.
Meanwhile, the great Marvin proves here that he’s a wonderful comic actor, but he never did comedy again, unless you count Paint Your Wagon–and I’m not.
Yes, let’s put rules around an involuntary reaction like laughter.
If I sneeze too loudly, does it mean I used to wet the bed as a child?
Yes, let’s put rules around an involuntary reaction like laughter.
If I sneeze too loudly, does it mean I used to wet the bed as a child?
Wells to Ryansi51: God, you’re ignorant.
Wells to Ryansi51: God, you’re ignorant.
Wells to Ponderer: “Interesting theory“? As to your question about animals laughing, animals go through tough experiences and are taught to repress feelings, so yeah, they have feelings that want to escape also.
Wells to Ponderer: “Interesting theory“? As to your question about animals laughing, animals go through tough experiences and are taught to repress feelings, so yeah, they have feelings that want to escape also.
People who laugh too loud typically suffer from low self-esteem, and are just trying prove they get the joke.
I had a college roommate like this, and I quickly realized any movie we watched together had to be a drama. Not only would he overlaugh, but every time he did so, he’d look at everybody else to see if they were laughing.
People who laugh too loud typically suffer from low self-esteem, and are just trying prove they get the joke.
I had a college roommate like this, and I quickly realized any movie we watched together had to be a drama. Not only would he overlaugh, but every time he did so, he’d look at everybody else to see if they were laughing.
So let me get this straight. Everybody should repress themselves, lest they be viewed by you as repressed while you repress yourself to look cool and “high class”. Got it.
Do you think Ghandi would wait in line for hours for a shiny piece of glass? Does he judge 90% of the population as being below him like you do? Doubt it.
So let me get this straight. Everybody should repress themselves, lest they be viewed by you as repressed while you repress yourself to look cool and “high class”. Got it.
Do you think Ghandi would wait in line for hours for a shiny piece of glass? Does he judge 90% of the population as being below him like you do? Doubt it.
Wells to allstar397: I take it you’re one of those who thinks that when people laugh it’s because they’ve heard or seen something “funny”…right?
Wells to allstar397: I take it you’re one of those who thinks that when people laugh it’s because they’ve heard or seen something “funny”…right?
I take it you’re one of those who holds the world to some ridiculous standard based on how he wishes himself to be perceived?
I take it you’re one of those who holds the world to some ridiculous standard based on how he wishes himself to be perceived?
Healthy booming laughter in and of itself is fine, Glenn. In a theatre, I mean. There’s a fine line between healthy booming laughter and laughing too loud and causing irritation. I guess it’s like the definition of obscenity — I know the wrong kind of laughter when I hear it. As long as you don’t give in to booming laughter repeatedly and obnoxiously, it’s okay. But if you won’t stop then it’s a problem. And it’s REALLY a problem if you’re laughing too loudly in a cafe were I happen to be sitting, trying to write a column item.
http://www.hollywood-elsewhere.com/2010/04/worst_people_in.php
Healthy booming laughter in and of itself is fine, Glenn. In a theatre, I mean. There’s a fine line between healthy booming laughter and laughing too loud and causing irritation. I guess it’s like the definition of obscenity — I know the wrong kind of laughter when I hear it. As long as you don’t give in to booming laughter repeatedly and obnoxiously, it’s okay. But if you won’t stop then it’s a problem. And it’s REALLY a problem if you’re laughing too loudly in a cafe were I happen to be sitting, trying to write a column item.
http://www.hollywood-elsewhere.com/2010/04/worst_people_in.php
Read between the lines and there’s a lot of sad shit up there. Talk about repressed feeling, memory or hang-up.
Laughter parks its car in the same emotional-release garage as dancing. And anyone who has trouble with either of those is someone with some serious issues with emotional control and being able to open themselves up, to let go.
And anyone who tries to break down comedy this simplistically is really showing how little they understand one of the more nuanced disciplines there is. It takes a special kind of arrogant putz to equate unbridled laughter to some pet theory of human development.
The last time I seriously lost it watching something funny was the “Curb Your Enthusiasm” episode when they opened the restaurant with the Tourette’s afflicted chef. According to Dr. Wells here, I must have some sort of repressed issue with either cursing, cooking or Ted Danson. Considering that I grew up on Carlin/Pryor, do half the cooking here and still watch the odd “Cheers” episode this is pretty much beyond ridiculous.
Yet I ended up laughing so hard that I literally rolled off the couch onto the floor. Mrs DTG stopped her chuckling thinking I must have choked on something (and a small comedy of errors ensued because I couldn’t catch my breath to explain, which further cracked me up).
To this day I cannot tell you what put that over the top for me. Probably the sublime absurdity of what happens, how out of left field the choice Larry David made.
I can tell you this, I know my own sense of humor pretty well after all this time and that makes what Jeff wrote up there in absolutist terms complete bullshit.
Read between the lines and there’s a lot of sad shit up there. Talk about repressed feeling, memory or hang-up.
Laughter parks its car in the same emotional-release garage as dancing. And anyone who has trouble with either of those is someone with some serious issues with emotional control and being able to open themselves up, to let go.
And anyone who tries to break down comedy this simplistically is really showing how little they understand one of the more nuanced disciplines there is. It takes a special kind of arrogant putz to equate unbridled laughter to some pet theory of human development.
The last time I seriously lost it watching something funny was the “Curb Your Enthusiasm” episode when they opened the restaurant with the Tourette’s afflicted chef. According to Dr. Wells here, I must have some sort of repressed issue with either cursing, cooking or Ted Danson. Considering that I grew up on Carlin/Pryor, do half the cooking here and still watch the odd “Cheers” episode this is pretty much beyond ridiculous.
Yet I ended up laughing so hard that I literally rolled off the couch onto the floor. Mrs DTG stopped her chuckling thinking I must have choked on something (and a small comedy of errors ensued because I couldn’t catch my breath to explain, which further cracked me up).
To this day I cannot tell you what put that over the top for me. Probably the sublime absurdity of what happens, how out of left field the choice Larry David made.
I can tell you this, I know my own sense of humor pretty well after all this time and that makes what Jeff wrote up there in absolutist terms complete bullshit.
“Well….nobody’s perfect.”
HA HA HA!!! The FUNNIEST line from the FUNNIEST, BEST comedy of ALL-TIME!!!!!!!
(sorry….. just trying to fit in with cinematic conventional wisdom)
Lee Marvin.. the baddest ass in film history.
Jane Fonda during her scorching hot period.
John Marley is so entrenched in my mind as Jack Woltz it’s hard to see him in anything and not picture him calling Duvall his kraut-mick friend.
“Well….nobody’s perfect.”
HA HA HA!!! The FUNNIEST line from the FUNNIEST, BEST comedy of ALL-TIME!!!!!!!
(sorry….. just trying to fit in with cinematic conventional wisdom)
Lee Marvin.. the baddest ass in film history.
Jane Fonda during her scorching hot period.
John Marley is so entrenched in my mind as Jack Woltz it’s hard to see him in anything and not picture him calling Duvall his kraut-mick friend.
People that come up with theories like this are the actual repressed putzes. Along with people who mutter aloud in theaters.
People that come up with theories like this are the actual repressed putzes. Along with people who mutter aloud in theaters.
Wells to animalhouse: As I said at the end of the piece, “The people who in a very few minutes are going to angrily react to this article — not ‘disagree’ but get pissy and insulting and trying to put me down any way they can — are probably cut from the same cloth” of repression and fuck-up-ness and not dealing with their issues.
Wells to animalhouse: As I said at the end of the piece, “The people who in a very few minutes are going to angrily react to this article — not ‘disagree’ but get pissy and insulting and trying to put me down any way they can — are probably cut from the same cloth” of repression and fuck-up-ness and not dealing with their issues.
Martin Scorsese agrees with Jeff:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rm81LSKJC2k
Martin Scorsese agrees with Jeff:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rm81LSKJC2k
Whatever you say, Doctor. I could just as easily retort: “Anybody who responds angrily to my statement has deep issues.” So there.
Whatever you say, Doctor. I could just as easily retort: “Anybody who responds angrily to my statement has deep issues.” So there.
I completely agree with Deathtongue_Groupie. I laugh and sometimes laugh too loudly. Who wants to live in a world where we’re all so self conscious ALL THE TIME of everyone around us. It took me years to let go of some of that self consciousness, which actually crippled me socially at times, especially with girls. It can make you a bit crazy constantly wondering what people are thinking about you or if you’re offending someone, if someone likes you, etc.
Of course, we should respect our neighbors and keep it reigned in a bit in places where it’s unwarranted. But there is nothing more cathartic than laughing to the point where you can’t breath. I personally feel bad for people who haven’t had that or can’t let themselves do it sometimes.
I was recently in New York and went to a comedy show at the Comedy Cellar and when one of the many acts would really get on a roll and build the jokes well, I literally could not stop laughing. I did feel like a bit of a hyena at the time, but I figured “It’s a fucking comedy club. If people aren’t here to laugh then they’re in the wrong place.”
But I’m into uncomfortable “Larry David” type humor. I love non-pc, foul (yet smart) humor. Anything that goes against how uptight we’ve become as a society makes me happy. It makes me laugh. It IS a release. So maybe there’s a kernel of truth in Jeff’s post. I have to repress myself every single fucking day so I don’t offend someone. It’s tiring. And sometimes I fail.
But on this same note. I really feel like Jeff is turning into a blog version of Larry David. He can barely contain his disdain. I can just imagine Jeff’s face when one of the many events he writes about happens to him. And I see Larry’s pissed off, foaming at the mouth expression. Except, Jeff isn’t a character in a TV show. And I don’t get the feeling that he’s starting verbal wars with all these people like Larry would, rather seething internally so he can write about it later.
But how different is laughing too loudly in a movie and writing a ranting post on your blog really? Jeff, you’re still offending many people who are readers of your site. You’re still affecting people in much the same way you are affected. Sure, we can choose to leave, to not read. But it’s still the same kind of repressed release you are talking about, just a different avenue to express it.
I completely agree with Deathtongue_Groupie. I laugh and sometimes laugh too loudly. Who wants to live in a world where we’re all so self conscious ALL THE TIME of everyone around us. It took me years to let go of some of that self consciousness, which actually crippled me socially at times, especially with girls. It can make you a bit crazy constantly wondering what people are thinking about you or if you’re offending someone, if someone likes you, etc.
Of course, we should respect our neighbors and keep it reigned in a bit in places where it’s unwarranted. But there is nothing more cathartic than laughing to the point where you can’t breath. I personally feel bad for people who haven’t had that or can’t let themselves do it sometimes.
I was recently in New York and went to a comedy show at the Comedy Cellar and when one of the many acts would really get on a roll and build the jokes well, I literally could not stop laughing. I did feel like a bit of a hyena at the time, but I figured “It’s a fucking comedy club. If people aren’t here to laugh then they’re in the wrong place.”
But I’m into uncomfortable “Larry David” type humor. I love non-pc, foul (yet smart) humor. Anything that goes against how uptight we’ve become as a society makes me happy. It makes me laugh. It IS a release. So maybe there’s a kernel of truth in Jeff’s post. I have to repress myself every single fucking day so I don’t offend someone. It’s tiring. And sometimes I fail.
But on this same note. I really feel like Jeff is turning into a blog version of Larry David. He can barely contain his disdain. I can just imagine Jeff’s face when one of the many events he writes about happens to him. And I see Larry’s pissed off, foaming at the mouth expression. Except, Jeff isn’t a character in a TV show. And I don’t get the feeling that he’s starting verbal wars with all these people like Larry would, rather seething internally so he can write about it later.
But how different is laughing too loudly in a movie and writing a ranting post on your blog really? Jeff, you’re still offending many people who are readers of your site. You’re still affecting people in much the same way you are affected. Sure, we can choose to leave, to not read. But it’s still the same kind of repressed release you are talking about, just a different avenue to express it.
It’s amazing that someone Jeff’s age could believe in such drivel. I think the subtext of this post has a lot of sadness and anger, which is something Jeff displays with some regularity. Sorry Jeff, but your theory is 100% bullshit.
It’s amazing that someone Jeff’s age could believe in such drivel. I think the subtext of this post has a lot of sadness and anger, which is something Jeff displays with some regularity. Sorry Jeff, but your theory is 100% bullshit.
Welcome back, Chinaski!…..er, I mean “animal house”.
Welcome back, Chinaski!…..er, I mean “animal house”.
Stay on your knees, Crabtree. Works for you.
Stay on your knees, Crabtree. Works for you.
You shit in your cereal today Jeff?
You shit in your cereal today Jeff?
I’ve been told that I have an infectious laugh (I believe that is supposed to be a good thing, though in writing it seems closer to disgusting). When something is FUNNY, I will laugh. Heartily. Though the funnier the bit/joke/occasion, the closer I get to the nearly silent, gasping for air laugh that truly lets you know a home-run has been hit.
Two things, Jeff:
1, Your closing statement is cut from the cloth of a fourth-grade mind.”Yeah? Well if you don’t agree, then you’re a FAG!”
2. That last line from SOME LIKE IT HOT doesn’t provoke so much as a smile in me, let alone laughter. I am certain that my mom, however, found it very cute.
I’ve been told that I have an infectious laugh (I believe that is supposed to be a good thing, though in writing it seems closer to disgusting). When something is FUNNY, I will laugh. Heartily. Though the funnier the bit/joke/occasion, the closer I get to the nearly silent, gasping for air laugh that truly lets you know a home-run has been hit.
Two things, Jeff:
1, Your closing statement is cut from the cloth of a fourth-grade mind.”Yeah? Well if you don’t agree, then you’re a FAG!”
2. That last line from SOME LIKE IT HOT doesn’t provoke so much as a smile in me, let alone laughter. I am certain that my mom, however, found it very cute.
Wells – As an opening caveat, I’m not sure something as reflexive and intrinsic as laughing can be explained so easily. That said, your point about laughter being an emotional release is hard to argue with.
I guess the disconnect for me is the notion that someone experiencing emotions “escaping jail” is by default a less-developed, more immature person. I get that you’re talking about a certain kind of laughter here and you did take care to use “probably” and not “always”, BUT emotions are tricky.
Just because the jail has been emptied at some point doesn’t mean it won’t fill back up again. We are always in flux, always changing, always having alternating good and horrible days. It’s human nature to get stuff locked inside of us that needs to be let out.
One of my favorite quotes is by Tolstoy (I think), who said that we need good books like an axe to break up the frozen river inside of us. I love that image, because it captures the essence of how easily we grow numb, in a rut, keeping our head down and holding things inside.
We need laughter to wake us up. We all have things that need to be freed. Granted, if over a course of knowing someone, you see a distinct pattern of ALWAYS having to laugh uncontrollably, then you’re probably safe to make a judgment call there. But if you base it off of one instance, you might be dismissing a human for being human.
Wells – As an opening caveat, I’m not sure something as reflexive and intrinsic as laughing can be explained so easily. That said, your point about laughter being an emotional release is hard to argue with.
I guess the disconnect for me is the notion that someone experiencing emotions “escaping jail” is by default a less-developed, more immature person. I get that you’re talking about a certain kind of laughter here and you did take care to use “probably” and not “always”, BUT emotions are tricky.
Just because the jail has been emptied at some point doesn’t mean it won’t fill back up again. We are always in flux, always changing, always having alternating good and horrible days. It’s human nature to get stuff locked inside of us that needs to be let out.
One of my favorite quotes is by Tolstoy (I think), who said that we need good books like an axe to break up the frozen river inside of us. I love that image, because it captures the essence of how easily we grow numb, in a rut, keeping our head down and holding things inside.
We need laughter to wake us up. We all have things that need to be freed. Granted, if over a course of knowing someone, you see a distinct pattern of ALWAYS having to laugh uncontrollably, then you’re probably safe to make a judgment call there. But if you base it off of one instance, you might be dismissing a human for being human.
I think I’ve only been “in stitches” — laughing so hard it actually hurt or I was doubled over — during social situations, hearing someone tell a story around a table, that sort of thing.
In a movie, I think the hardest I ever laughed was in “Spaceballs” when the alien came out of John Hurt’s chest and started dancing like Michigan J. Frog. The humor of the joke was amplified by my pleasure that Brooks was acknowledging one of my favorite sci-fi movies (which I had only just seen for the first time on video that spring).
I think I’ve only been “in stitches” — laughing so hard it actually hurt or I was doubled over — during social situations, hearing someone tell a story around a table, that sort of thing.
In a movie, I think the hardest I ever laughed was in “Spaceballs” when the alien came out of John Hurt’s chest and started dancing like Michigan J. Frog. The humor of the joke was amplified by my pleasure that Brooks was acknowledging one of my favorite sci-fi movies (which I had only just seen for the first time on video that spring).
Nice try, Travis. I would look somewhere else for the reemergence of Chinaski.
Nice try, Travis. I would look somewhere else for the reemergence of Chinaski.
I don’t have to tell you things are bad. Everybody knows things are bad. It’s a depression. Everybody’s out of work or scared of losing their job. The dollar buys a nickel’s work, banks are going bust, shopkeepers keep a gun under the counter. Punks are running wild in the street and there’s nobody anywhere who seems to know what to do, and there’s no end to it. We know the air is unfit to breathe and our food is unfit to eat, and we sit watching our TVs while some local newscaster tells us that today we had fifteen homicides and sixty-three violent crimes, as if that’s the way it’s supposed to be. We know things are bad – worse than bad. They’re crazy. It’s like everything everywhere is going crazy, so we don’t go out anymore. We sit in the house, and slowly the world we are living in is getting smaller, and all we say is, “Please, at least leave us alone in our living rooms. Let me have my microwave and my internet and my smartphone and I won’t say anything. Just leave us alone.” Well, I’m not gonna leave you alone. I want you to get mad! I don’t want you to protest. I don’t want you to riot – I don’t want you to write to your congressman because I wouldn’t know what to tell you to write. I don’t know what to do about the depression and the inflation and the Iranians and the crime in the street. All I know is that first you’ve got to get mad. You’ve got to say, “I’m a HUMAN BEING, Goddamnit! My life has VALUE!” So I want you to get up now. I want all of you to get up out of your chairs. I want you to get up right now and go to the window. Open it, and stick your head out, and yell “I’M AS MAD AS HELL, AND I’M NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS ANYMORE!” I want you to get up right now, sit up, go to your windows, open them and stick your head out and yell “I’m as mad as hell and I’m not going to take this anymore!” Things have got to change. But first, you’ve gotta get mad! You’ve got to say, “I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this anymore!” Then we’ll figure out what to do about the depression and the inflation and the oil crisis. But first get up out of your chairs, open the window, stick your head out, and yell, and say it. “I’M AS MAD AS HELL, AND I’M NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS ANYMORE!”
I don’t have to tell you things are bad. Everybody knows things are bad. It’s a depression. Everybody’s out of work or scared of losing their job. The dollar buys a nickel’s work, banks are going bust, shopkeepers keep a gun under the counter. Punks are running wild in the street and there’s nobody anywhere who seems to know what to do, and there’s no end to it. We know the air is unfit to breathe and our food is unfit to eat, and we sit watching our TVs while some local newscaster tells us that today we had fifteen homicides and sixty-three violent crimes, as if that’s the way it’s supposed to be. We know things are bad – worse than bad. They’re crazy. It’s like everything everywhere is going crazy, so we don’t go out anymore. We sit in the house, and slowly the world we are living in is getting smaller, and all we say is, “Please, at least leave us alone in our living rooms. Let me have my microwave and my internet and my smartphone and I won’t say anything. Just leave us alone.” Well, I’m not gonna leave you alone. I want you to get mad! I don’t want you to protest. I don’t want you to riot – I don’t want you to write to your congressman because I wouldn’t know what to tell you to write. I don’t know what to do about the depression and the inflation and the Iranians and the crime in the street. All I know is that first you’ve got to get mad. You’ve got to say, “I’m a HUMAN BEING, Goddamnit! My life has VALUE!” So I want you to get up now. I want all of you to get up out of your chairs. I want you to get up right now and go to the window. Open it, and stick your head out, and yell “I’M AS MAD AS HELL, AND I’M NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS ANYMORE!” I want you to get up right now, sit up, go to your windows, open them and stick your head out and yell “I’m as mad as hell and I’m not going to take this anymore!” Things have got to change. But first, you’ve gotta get mad! You’ve got to say, “I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this anymore!” Then we’ll figure out what to do about the depression and the inflation and the oil crisis. But first get up out of your chairs, open the window, stick your head out, and yell, and say it. “I’M AS MAD AS HELL, AND I’M NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS ANYMORE!”
“Does anybody remember laughter?” – Led Zeppelin
“Does anybody remember laughter?” – Led Zeppelin
“If I could just get the volume level on this world adjusted, all would be well.” You could try living someplace besides fucking New York or LA, but those places would be inferior to your put upon soul.
Anyone who giggles at the line “Nobody’s perfect,” in that film is a repressed homo. Come on, out with it, man.
I’m waiting for the article on H-E about how to tell when someone is superior to you, but then they don’t read this blog. Wells is pandering to low self-esteem masochists.
“If I could just get the volume level on this world adjusted, all would be well.” You could try living someplace besides fucking New York or LA, but those places would be inferior to your put upon soul.
Anyone who giggles at the line “Nobody’s perfect,” in that film is a repressed homo. Come on, out with it, man.
I’m waiting for the article on H-E about how to tell when someone is superior to you, but then they don’t read this blog. Wells is pandering to low self-esteem masochists.
“Wells is pandering to low self-esteem masochists.”
We park in the same garage.
“Wells is pandering to low self-esteem masochists.”
We park in the same garage.
“Spaceballs”….. one of four movies in my entire life that I actually walked out on.
When I realized that Mel Brooks was dead.
I argue with people on this one quite a bit, surprisingly.
No offense, but those who tend to love “Spaceballs” tend to do so because they saw it when they were kids, and loved the fact that it took so much of its “humor” from “the bestest, coolest, greatest movie ever “Star Wars”".
“Are they combing the desert?”
“Yes. We’re COMBING the desert? Get it? Eh? Because we have this giant comb? And we’re using it to COMB the DESERT? Eh?”
“Spaceballs”….. one of four movies in my entire life that I actually walked out on.
When I realized that Mel Brooks was dead.
I argue with people on this one quite a bit, surprisingly.
No offense, but those who tend to love “Spaceballs” tend to do so because they saw it when they were kids, and loved the fact that it took so much of its “humor” from “the bestest, coolest, greatest movie ever “Star Wars”".
“Are they combing the desert?”
“Yes. We’re COMBING the desert? Get it? Eh? Because we have this giant comb? And we’re using it to COMB the DESERT? Eh?”
“Spaceballs” is horrible. Love the Brooks, but ugh.
“Spaceballs” is horrible. Love the Brooks, but ugh.
All of these “lifestyle” posts have the same theme threading through them, but I’d be the last one to point out what it is. It is the one certain, ironclad way to get banned from HE.
Spaceballs has a couple of mildly amusing moments. I’ll occasionally toss out “moichendizing” or “ludicrous speed” in a conversation. But on the whole, it is pretty awful. And, like Travis, I got in more than one argument about it back when it came out.
The weird thing is, Moranis and Candy should have known better. Maybe they just really wanted to work with Brooks.
Spaceballs has a couple of mildly amusing moments. I’ll occasionally toss out “moichendizing” or “ludicrous speed” in a conversation. But on the whole, it is pretty awful. And, like Travis, I got in more than one argument about it back when it came out.
The weird thing is, Moranis and Candy should have known better. Maybe they just really wanted to work with Brooks.
What’s wrong with that mildly funny “combing the desert” bit is that not only do you see it once — Brooks cuts to a close-up just in case you missed it.
What’s wrong with that mildly funny “combing the desert” bit is that not only do you see it once — Brooks cuts to a close-up just in case you missed it.
Am I exempt since when I laugh the hardest (like at Ryan Phillipe going through MacGruber’s journal) my laugh is completely silent? I think that I am, since your main opposition to others laughing is IMO that it infringes on your experience. It’s like the applause of a Bill Maher audience. It’s enough to make any noble contrarian roll his eyes.
I love to laugh. For me the release of an uncontrollable laugh eruption is as good as an orgasm. It’s like a spiritual orgasm if you will. I do, however, prefer to have these spiritual orgasms in private the same as the regular orgasms. What I mean to say is: I tend to only laugh like a drunken monkey having a fit when i’m alone watching something, not at a theater. I used to smoke weed and watch Arrested Development and laugh until I cried. It’s still funny straight, but not as laugh out loud funny to me.
Women love to laugh and most studies show they like men who make them laugh. Hence, Well’s misery.
Women love to laugh and most studies show they like men who make them laugh. Hence, Well’s misery.
Dead on with the “combing the desert” bit, house. That’s why that scene so encapsulates everything that started stinking with Brooks. That vaudevillian, schticky, “eh? EH?”, way he started trying to sell bad laffs.
Krusty the Klown’s skool of komedy.
Compare to “Airplane!” and the “shit’s really gonna hit the fan” bit. It’s the same type of “laff”…. obvious and lame. Yet, Zucker and co. fly past it quickly and, by that time, have already kept you in stitches for nearly an hour so that you either don’t mind it or you laugh at the silliness of it…. in other words, they get a pass, because they’ve earned it.
Dead on with the “combing the desert” bit, house. That’s why that scene so encapsulates everything that started stinking with Brooks. That vaudevillian, schticky, “eh? EH?”, way he started trying to sell bad laffs.
Krusty the Klown’s skool of komedy.
Compare to “Airplane!” and the “shit’s really gonna hit the fan” bit. It’s the same type of “laff”…. obvious and lame. Yet, Zucker and co. fly past it quickly and, by that time, have already kept you in stitches for nearly an hour so that you either don’t mind it or you laugh at the silliness of it…. in other words, they get a pass, because they’ve earned it.
Moranis gets the worst of Brook’s shtick, especially his mugging when they drop in the “Spaceballs” video tape.
But I assume any comic would want to work with Brooks.
Moranis gets the worst of Brook’s shtick, especially his mugging when they drop in the “Spaceballs” video tape.
But I assume any comic would want to work with Brooks.
Forced laughter is the only kind of laughter for which I have no patience.
I’m talking about when people in a theater laugh SO YOU KNOW they find something funny.
I sat near an imbecile during 500 Days of Summer who was laughing way too loud and way too hard at the Hall & Oates dance sequence. It’s like, “We get it. You like it. It’s yours.”
On the other hand, genuine lost-control laughter is sublime. Scenes that made me have that reaction include Pee-wee and the Hobo train sequence, Matthew Perry’s stray, random fart in (of all things) The Whole Nine Yards and Jonah Hill suddenly getting hit by Joe LoTrugglio’s car in Superbad.
Forced laughter is the only kind of laughter for which I have no patience.
I’m talking about when people in a theater laugh SO YOU KNOW they find something funny.
I sat near an imbecile during 500 Days of Summer who was laughing way too loud and way too hard at the Hall & Oates dance sequence. It’s like, “We get it. You like it. It’s yours.”
On the other hand, genuine lost-control laughter is sublime. Scenes that made me have that reaction include Pee-wee and the Hobo train sequence, Matthew Perry’s stray, random fart in (of all things) The Whole Nine Yards and Jonah Hill suddenly getting hit by Joe LoTrugglio’s car in Superbad.
“Interesting theory?”
Sure. All concepts are theories. Gravity’s a theory. Your concept is an interesting theory that may be right or wrong, but I certainly hadn’t heard the notion before.
“Interesting theory?”
Sure. All concepts are theories. Gravity’s a theory. Your concept is an interesting theory that may be right or wrong, but I certainly hadn’t heard the notion before.
I look forward to post in which Jeff argues that people who have loud sex are repressing childhood memories of sexual abuse.
Seriously, this post makes me sad. Yeah, some people who laugh loud are annoying and may be hiding some insecurities. But some people just love to laugh. There’s a lot to be said about the psychology behind laughter, but the tone of the piece is obviously misanthropic.
Furthermore, there are few things sexier than a beautiful woman’s loud, boisterous laugh. It saddens me that when you experience this, you judge the woman as emotionally and intellectually inferior.
I hope you get the irony of you writing about the repression of people who aren’t miserable.
I look forward to post in which Jeff argues that people who have loud sex are repressing childhood memories of sexual abuse.
Seriously, this post makes me sad. Yeah, some people who laugh loud are annoying and may be hiding some insecurities. But some people just love to laugh. There’s a lot to be said about the psychology behind laughter, but the tone of the piece is obviously misanthropic.
Furthermore, there are few things sexier than a beautiful woman’s loud, boisterous laugh. It saddens me that when you experience this, you judge the woman as emotionally and intellectually inferior.
I hope you get the irony of you writing about the repression of people who aren’t miserable.
“If a woman gets too vocal during sex, I assume she’s repressing something and it reminds me off all those loud Hispanic animals. So now I sleep alone. Forever.”
“If a woman gets too vocal during sex, I assume she’s repressing something and it reminds me off all those loud Hispanic animals. So now I sleep alone. Forever.”
I love that Wells wrote this piece, absorbed maybe 20 to 25 comments from people who disagreed with him, went back and changed the ending to point fingers at those same detractors.
If that isn’t passive-aggressive behavior, I don’t know what is.
I love that Wells wrote this piece, absorbed maybe 20 to 25 comments from people who disagreed with him, went back and changed the ending to point fingers at those same detractors.
If that isn’t passive-aggressive behavior, I don’t know what is.
I’d like to have a try here…
55 years of laughing and observing people laugh leads me to disagree with your thesis. The causes of laughter, normal and overly loud, include your definitions; and it is obvious that haveing some knowledge of the subject of the ‘humor’ can elicit a more heartfelt response. However, a small amount of critical thinking about the enormous variety of situations, psychologies, and sources of humor leads to the conclusion that what you ahve presented is a generalization of a complex behavior.
I feel confident that if we gathered 10 people in a room to watch a Chris Rock ‘concert’ you would agree with me.
thank you for reading
I’d like to have a try here…
55 years of laughing and observing people laugh leads me to disagree with your thesis. The causes of laughter, normal and overly loud, include your definitions; and it is obvious that haveing some knowledge of the subject of the ‘humor’ can elicit a more heartfelt response. However, a small amount of critical thinking about the enormous variety of situations, psychologies, and sources of humor leads to the conclusion that what you ahve presented is a generalization of a complex behavior.
I feel confident that if we gathered 10 people in a room to watch a Chris Rock ‘concert’ you would agree with me.
thank you for reading
Something tells me Wells must be a real blast at parties.
Something tells me Wells must be a real blast at parties.
Allow me to take a brief break from giving Jeff shit and assure the Hollywood Elsewhere commenters who don’t know him personally that he is, in fact, better than perfectly fine at parties, and a congenial, lively, no-hassle dinner companion as well. We’ve exchanged our share of chortles-not belly laughs, no, but still-at a variety of celebratory social events. I was just recalling the other day swapping one-liners with the man at the “Inconvenient Truth” beach party for Al and Tipper and Laurie at Cannes back in ’06. Good times.
Allow me to take a brief break from giving Jeff shit and assure the Hollywood Elsewhere commenters who don’t know him personally that he is, in fact, better than perfectly fine at parties, and a congenial, lively, no-hassle dinner companion as well. We’ve exchanged our share of chortles-not belly laughs, no, but still-at a variety of celebratory social events. I was just recalling the other day swapping one-liners with the man at the “Inconvenient Truth” beach party for Al and Tipper and Laurie at Cannes back in ’06. Good times.
So there is something majorly wrong with you if you; laugh really loud, take long showers, are fat, or don’t live on the coast. I need to start making a list. I’m sure within a year or two Jeff will have narrowed it down to him and Polanski as the only two people in the world that aren’t complete dipshits. Funny that raping a little girl doesn’t make the cut.
I will say that he has a point with where laughter comes from, but only some of the time. Yes feeling a connection to something is one form of laughter. But what about a completely rediculous situation such as the previously mentioned Larry David stuff. And surely i’m not the only one that gets a good chuckle out of the clever vulgarity of Tre and Matt. Thats certainly not something that I have a connection with.
So there is something majorly wrong with you if you; laugh really loud, take long showers, are fat, or don’t live on the coast. I need to start making a list. I’m sure within a year or two Jeff will have narrowed it down to him and Polanski as the only two people in the world that aren’t complete dipshits. Funny that raping a little girl doesn’t make the cut.
I will say that he has a point with where laughter comes from, but only some of the time. Yes feeling a connection to something is one form of laughter. But what about a completely rediculous situation such as the previously mentioned Larry David stuff. And surely i’m not the only one that gets a good chuckle out of the clever vulgarity of Tre and Matt. Thats certainly not something that I have a connection with.
“Healthy booming laughter in and of itself is fine, Glenn. In a theatre, I mean. There’s a fine line between healthy booming laughter and laughing too loud and causing irritation. I guess it’s like the definition of obscenity — I know the wrong kind of laughter when I hear it.”
Jesus. Fucking. Christ. Are we taking this in front of the Supreme Court now (“The People vs. Jeffrey Wells” would be quite an apropos title…).
“As long as you don’t give in to booming laughter repeatedly and obnoxiously, it’s okay. But if you won’t stop then it’s a problem. And it’s REALLY a problem if you’re laughing too loudly in a cafe were I happen to be sitting, trying to write a column item.”
And it’s REALLY your problem (what’s that old chestnut? If you’re looking around and wondering why people don’t have problems with something, the problem is with you). Unless it’s particularly obnoxiously loud disturbance in the wee hours of my apartment complex when I’m trying to get some sleep, I’m always just happy that other people are enjoying themselves that much.
What you say about the repression is probably true, but these days who isn’t repressed in some form or another (certainly not you!)?
Your post here reeks of jealousy for people who actually allow themselves to live in the moment and enjoy it to the fullest — either that, or it’s just more premeditated bait for repeat page hits (I’ve never really been able to tell where the real JW ends and the schtick begins…I’m not even sure there’s a line anymore).
“Healthy booming laughter in and of itself is fine, Glenn. In a theatre, I mean. There’s a fine line between healthy booming laughter and laughing too loud and causing irritation. I guess it’s like the definition of obscenity — I know the wrong kind of laughter when I hear it.”
Jesus. Fucking. Christ. Are we taking this in front of the Supreme Court now (“The People vs. Jeffrey Wells” would be quite an apropos title…).
“As long as you don’t give in to booming laughter repeatedly and obnoxiously, it’s okay. But if you won’t stop then it’s a problem. And it’s REALLY a problem if you’re laughing too loudly in a cafe were I happen to be sitting, trying to write a column item.”
And it’s REALLY your problem (what’s that old chestnut? If you’re looking around and wondering why people don’t have problems with something, the problem is with you). Unless it’s particularly obnoxiously loud disturbance in the wee hours of my apartment complex when I’m trying to get some sleep, I’m always just happy that other people are enjoying themselves that much.
What you say about the repression is probably true, but these days who isn’t repressed in some form or another (certainly not you!)?
Your post here reeks of jealousy for people who actually allow themselves to live in the moment and enjoy it to the fullest — either that, or it’s just more premeditated bait for repeat page hits (I’ve never really been able to tell where the real JW ends and the schtick begins…I’m not even sure there’s a line anymore).
Daddy issues!
I’d like to have a try here…
55 years of laughing and observing people laugh leads me to disagree with your thesis. The causes of laughter, normal and overly loud, include your definitions; and it is obvious that haveing some knowledge of the subject of the ‘humor’ can elicit a more heartfelt response. However, a small amount of critical thinking about the enormous variety of situations, psychologies, and sources of humor leads to the conclusion that what you ahve presented is a generalization of a complex behavior.
I feel confident that if we gathered 10 people in a room to watch a Chris Rock ‘concert’ you would agree with me.
thank you for reading
“I sat near an imbecile during 500 Days of Summer who was laughing way too loud and way too hard at the Hall & Oates dance sequence. It’s like, “We get it. You like it. It’s yours.”"
Reminds me a girl I went out with for a couple of years. We were watching BOYS DON’T CRY (in a theater) and the karaoke scene came on. It’s one thing to chuckle at the goofiness and the bad singing as the scene starts — but at a certain point there’s a shift as we see how captivated Swank’s character is by Chloe. It’s an important moment.
But my girlfriend just kept on guffawing, as if these singing hicks were the funniest thing she’d ever seen. I knew we weren’t going to last as a couple, and I wanted to crawl under my seat.
Even worse: the entire time I was thinking about how my previous girlfriend would have gotten it, and wondering if she had seen the movie, and where she was, and if she even cared enough anymore to wish me dead.
“I sat near an imbecile during 500 Days of Summer who was laughing way too loud and way too hard at the Hall & Oates dance sequence. It’s like, “We get it. You like it. It’s yours.”"
Reminds me a girl I went out with for a couple of years. We were watching BOYS DON’T CRY (in a theater) and the karaoke scene came on. It’s one thing to chuckle at the goofiness and the bad singing as the scene starts — but at a certain point there’s a shift as we see how captivated Swank’s character is by Chloe. It’s an important moment.
But my girlfriend just kept on guffawing, as if these singing hicks were the funniest thing she’d ever seen. I knew we weren’t going to last as a couple, and I wanted to crawl under my seat.
Even worse: the entire time I was thinking about how my previous girlfriend would have gotten it, and wondering if she had seen the movie, and where she was, and if she even cared enough anymore to wish me dead.
This is great, Jeffrey. Couldn’t agree more. I’ve always enjoyed the comedy which sneaks up on you in a quiet car ride.
I could revisit all the subtle brilliant jokes from ANNIE HALL over and over again. They make you quietly smile. I’m tired of the movies that are essentially just extended sitcoms. It’s like PREMISE (Get him to the Greek) followed by 7 or 8 jokey sequences. There is no truth to it, suggesting that the times we live in (both politically and socially) are pretty nuts. Everything is not ok — we do not behave well, and thus there is room for humor in this.
I try to address some of these concepts with my experimental comedies. Take a look if ya want:
http://www.theblankpress.com
This is great, Jeffrey. Couldn’t agree more. I’ve always enjoyed the comedy which sneaks up on you in a quiet car ride.
I could revisit all the subtle brilliant jokes from ANNIE HALL over and over again. They make you quietly smile. I’m tired of the movies that are essentially just extended sitcoms. It’s like PREMISE (Get him to the Greek) followed by 7 or 8 jokey sequences. There is no truth to it, suggesting that the times we live in (both politically and socially) are pretty nuts. Everything is not ok — we do not behave well, and thus there is room for humor in this.
I try to address some of these concepts with my experimental comedies. Take a look if ya want:
http://www.theblankpress.com
Sorry, didn’t post it right.
http://theblankpress.com/
Sorry, didn’t post it right.
http://theblankpress.com/
Where’s the vinegar rub to get TheBlankPress’ blowjob out of my eyes….
Where’s the vinegar rub to get TheBlankPress’ blowjob out of my eyes….
I know some people who laugh because they’re happy and joyful. (Must find a chance to tell them how screwed up they are.)
I know some people who laugh because they’re happy and joyful. (Must find a chance to tell them how screwed up they are.)
Well this stuff is so interesting I have not idea of this, however is good to get new knowledge day by day. So only when you laugh a few time after somebody make a joke. Sound weir but interesting.
Well this stuff is so interesting I have not idea of this, however is good to get new knowledge day by day. So only when you laugh a few time after somebody make a joke. Sound weir but interesting.
Love the article, keep it up!
Love the article, keep it up!
Pretty good post,thank you for sharing.I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you post again soon.
Pretty good post,thank you for sharing.I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you post again soon.