Category: comedy

comedy, television

Beginning: Happy 100th to Lucille Ball

Christa Avampato

Lucille Ball is a towering figure of comedy and of my childhood. When I was little, my mom would take my dad to the train station to go to work and I would wake up, make myself some oatmeal, and watch I Love Lucy reruns with my mom until I had to get ready for school. I loved her spunky, “I can do it” attitude, and in many ways I think I fashioned myself after that side of her.

She wasn’t content with an ordinary life, on screen or off, and I admired that. I wasn’t content with it either. Like Lucy, I had big dreams. I wanted to break through, and she showed me that was possible. That we could find our own way.

Today, Lucy would be 100 years old and though she’s been gone now for over 20 years, she’s still making us howl with laughter. With much love and thanks to her for giving me such special memories, here’s a classic Lucy clip that happens to be one of my very favorites. The Spanish subtitle make it even funnier. Enjoy!

comedy, film, friendship, women

Beginning: Women in Comedy Shine in Bridesmaids

Christa Avampato

My friend, Amanda, and I went to see Bridesmaids on its opening night. A group outing was promoted by G.L.O.C., Gorgeous Ladies of Comedy. Amanda, being a comedic actress and one of the funniest people I know, asked if I’d like to join her in supporting the movie and I didn’t hesitate to switch my plans and happily join her. The film is laugh out-loud funny with a whole host of stand-out performances and brilliant writing. It also felt great to be in a theater of women supporting other women in their creative endeavors, an activity that just doesn’t happen often enough. We need more of it.

It reminded me of the competitive streak that runs through us all, and yet seems to most prominently rear its ugly head as women duke it out with one another. There’s some of that tension in Bridesmaids as well, though I loved the twists and turns that the movie takes on this theme. Two of the bridesmaids go head-to-head right from the get-go but the incredibly talented Kristen Wiig, writer and leading lady of the movie, doesn’t let the stereotype go stale. She reminds us that every outward feeling we have toward another person, no matter the reason, is a reflection of how we feel about ourselves and the direction of our own lives. It’s a tough fact to accept though Wiig has a way of making this difficult and prickly subject feel fresh, vibrant, and something we can own.

The film also illustrates a story of regret, forgiveness, and redemption. It stands as an example of the magic that comes from brutally honesty with ourselves and others. That honesty is the foundation for the heartfelt, meaningful relationships that gives us the opportunity to learn a little more about ourselves everyday. Bridemaids is a perfect example of truth in comedy at its finest.

Now playing in theaters everywhere.

childhood, children, comedy, television

Step 212: 4 Things That Made Me Laugh This Week

Christa Avampato

As a kid, I loved the movie Mary Poppins. I still do. The scene of Uncle Albert and Bert on the ceiling (played brilliantly by Ed Wynn and Dick Van Dyke, respectively) brings a smile to my face every time I think of it. Imagine the energy of laughter so strong that we literally rise up to the ceiling. Can laughter make us fly, at least figuratively? I think so.

This week ended up as one filled with laughter, some true funny ha-ha laughter, some laughing at dumb luck, and some of the shaking head, “I can’t believe this is happening” variety. None of it literally got me to the ceiling, though on several occasions I doubled over and my face hurt. I consider that a week well-lived.

1.) The Del Close improv marathon. My pal, Amanda, scored us some tix and a rockin’ place in line to see The Colbert Report writers perform. Though they stated clearly that they are writers, no performers, I found them hilarious. (During the days of George Bush, I used The Daily Show and The Colbert Report as my daily dose of news. I chalk it up to survival instinct.) The Del Close Marathon runs this entire weekend with a slew of shows nearly round-the-clock. Check out the schedule and pricing here.

2.) Comedy in marketing. I snapped the photo above outside of The Plant Shed, a store in my neighborhood. According to the sign, customers received a hug with every purchase. True statement? No idea, but it made me laugh. A course in comedy should be required for every marketer. Johanna, one of my yoga teachers, uses comedy in her classes all of the time because when people laugh, they breathe. And we all need to breathe, whether passing by a store, taking a yoga class, or just getting through our daily lives. Yes, sex sells. I would wager that comedy sells more.

3.) Kids say and do the darndest things. My niece, Lorelei, cracks me up on a regular basis. One of her favorite games is to have someone cover her up with a blanket and then wander around saying out loud, “Where’s Lorelei?” Then she jumps up from under the covers and you must pretend that she surprised you. I have no idea why we found this so funny, but we rolled around laughing about it for many hours and the game never got old. Spend more time with kids and you’ll laugh more often.

4.) Phineas and Ferb. I am a great believer in cartoons. I can be found in apartment watching them on a regular basis. I grew up on the Muppets, and I classify smart comedic writing for children that also amuses adults as high art. (I took a comedic writing class at UCB about two years ago. I was awful – I’ve never had to work so hard to write something decent. Out of 8 sketches, only 2 were even passable.) Comedy is hard. Smart comedy is a rare gift. Smart comedy for children that makes adult laugh is rarer still. Thanks to my brother-in-law and niece, Phineas and Ferb are my latest animated obsession. They must have a movie coming out – this kind of comedy cannot stay confined to the small screen. I watch every 20 minute episode laughing out loud. They are two brothers (with a pet platypus named Perry) who dream up crazy day-long stunts to keep themselves occupied and experimenting over summer vacation. They are wicked smart with big hearts. They believe the sky’s the limit. You should too because, well, it is.

That kept me amused all week. I didn’t get to the ceiling, but I’m not ruling it out as a long-term goal. What’s got you giggling lately?

comedy

Step 62: A Night at The Colbert Report

Christa Avampato

My friend, Rob, and I were in need of a good belly laugh and where better to get a healthy dose of humor served up with a side of news than at The Colbert Report. During the years of the Bush administration I relied on Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart for much of my news coverage. The actual political news was just too depressing to take in on a daily basis. When watching Comedy Central, I wondered if the Stephen Colbert we’ve all come to know and love is an entirely fictional character. And if his character is manufactured, what’s the real Stephen Colbert like?

He does an out-of-character Q&A with the audience for about 10 minutes before the taping begins. Almost any subject is free game in the Q&A. He night just be the single nicest, most genuine, humble guy in television. He plays with his staff and his audience. We could easily see the sense of camaraderie, even family, among everyone on the set. The guy is having a blast, and so is everyone alongside him. The dance of his show is complicated and quick-moving, and even with that pressure, he sees and communicates the comedy in every moment without ever appearing flustered.

“Off camera, I’m just a guy who says sh*t,” he said to us during a commercial break. While that may be true, he’s much more that. He’s a an incredible role model for us: someone who’s doing exactly what he loves with people he cares about that’s actually making a difference in our world. He gives us another viewing lens for our news and the society we’ve created in this country. He has an opinion about everything and rather than beating us over the head with it, he took the other side and made it entertaining. And both in and out of character, he’s one seriously hilarious, intensely intelligent, thoroughly likable guy.

comedy, dreams, gratitude, television

Step 26: We Could Learn a Lot from Conan

Christa Avampato

Goodbyes say a lot about someone. Does he walk away bitter and angry? Does she simply just shrug off the disappointment that comes with every experience, recognizing that all our experiences are opportunities for great learning? Does he leave grateful for what was, and hopeful for what will be?

This last sentiment describes the very eloquent goodbye given by Conan O’Brien last Friday as he bid adieu to The Tonight Show, his dream job that he wanted for most of his life. For 7 months he got to do this job, and in a series of unfortunate events, he lost the show to Jay Leno. I won’t repeat all of the bumblings and fumblings of this incident – you know them from the massive amount of press coverage it received.

Similar to every late night talk show host, Conan could say anything he wanted to on air, and certainly could say farewell to NBC, his professional home for over 20 years, and to The Tonight Show viewers in any fashion he saw fit. No one, and I mean not a single person other than NBC executives, would have blamed him if he really let NBC have it. He didn’t. Instead, he thanked them.

Some people have commented that Conan whimped out, that he was forced to say something nice. Not possible. Watch the final goodbye. It was heartfelt and sincere and gracious. He feels extraordinarily lucky that he got to have his dream job for 7 months. So many people never get to have their dream job at all. And the part that really got to me was his adamant dislike for cynicism. “I hate cynicism — it’s my least favorite quality and it doesn’t lead anywhere.Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But if you work really hard and you’re kind, amazing things will happen. It’s just true.” Conan is living proof that this formula works.

I never watched Conan’s shows. His brand of humor just wasn’t for me. However, after viewing his final sign off from The Tonight Show, I’m going to tune in to his next program, wherever he lands. His fond farewell speech may have just brought him a whole new audience. Grace always works in our favor.

art, comedy, dreams, television

My Year of Hopefulness – Drop Dead Diva

Christa Avampato

“You are who you wanna be.” ~ Jane on Drop Dead Diva, played by Brooke Elliott

Last night, the show Drop Dead Diva had its premiere on Lifetime. Most pilots are awful. Beyond awful. This one is inspired, funny, smart, and tragic. Best of all, the back story is one of striving and thriving – a great example for all of us.

My friend, Brooke Elliott, is the star of Drop Dead Diva. I met her in 2002 when I joined the touring company of Beauty and the Beast. She is the funniest person I know. Some people tell funny jokes. Some people have crazy stuff that happens to them and their recounts of those crazy events are funny. Brooke is just funny, about everything. I can be in the most horrid mood, and the way she says hello sets me into giggles. It’s a wonderful, rare quality.

Two years ago I moved back to New York after business school and reconnected with Brooke. We had been in touch over email over the years, but hadn’t seen each other regularly since I left Beauty and the Beast in 2003. By 2007, Brooke had left musical theatre and was focusing on crossing over to film and TV work.

Brooke’s story is one of the most hopeful and compelling I know. When she left musical theatre, a lot of people asked her if she was going to get a day job while she pursued TV and film. Her answer was simple, “No, I’m going to book an acting job. I’m an actor.” No frustration, no anger, no naivety. She was going to practice her craft and make a living doing it. That acting job she was going to book is now Drop Dead Diva. And as so many critics have said, “Brooke Elliott is drop dead terrific.”

Her success comes as no surprise to me. It was just a matter of time before Brooke had her own show. With talent, grace, and determination so immense, the world was going to find her sooner or later and give her the credit she so richly deserves. After all, you are who you wanna be. It’s advice we could all stand to hear a little more often.

If you missed the premiere of Drop Dead Diva, catch the replay of the full episode at http://www.mylifetime.com/on-tv/shows/drop-dead-diva/video and tune in to Lifetime on Sundays at 9pm Eastern.

comedy, education, media, New York Times, teaching, technology

My Year of Hopefulness – How-to with Howcast

Christa Avampato

Sunday morning is my favorite time of the week. I feel rested from Saturday, likely had a great time out with friends on Saturday evening, and I relax on Sunday morning doing anything that makes me happy. Usually it’s getting my coffee and reading the New York Times. Throw in a great feature story on CBS Sunday Morning, and I’m smiling from ear to ear all day. Sundays are a gift I treasure.

In this morning’s New York Times, I read about Howcast, a new company with a noble, elegant mission: “Howcast shows consumers engaging, useful how-to videos and guides wherever, whenever they need to learn how.” Its sole goal is to help people help themselves with just about anything. The range of content is immense: some are very serious, even life-saving, informative clips (how to treat someone for shock) while others are flat-out hilarious (how to fight off a vampire). The platform is easy to use and has a clean design. The videos are short and succinct. Best of all, community members can add how-to videos of their own, so if you have an expertise that you want to share with the world, now you have a clever platform to do it.

Some of my favorites from this morning’s hunt through Howcast:
How to Survive a Bear Attack – I was laughing out loud
Fantastic collection of Yoga poses – their sports and fitness collection is extensive, from how to dribble a soccer ball to how to roast the ultimate marshmallow
Websites an resources on how to learn a foreign language
How to get your home ready for a dog

The search function is robust; I found the info I needed quickly. The load times of the videos were much shorter than I expected and the resolution is high. There are also wikiguides on topics should you choose to read the information rather than watch a video. And while other sites require account creation with a username and password, Howcast can sync with a Facebook account, allowing users to participate immediately to comment, vote, and favorite videos. Whether you’re looking for useful, timely info or a source of smart entertainment, Howcast provides it anywhere you are, exactly when you need it. DIY really is the new luxury and Howcast helps you get it.

Follow them on Twitter @howcast.

comedy, entertainment, humor, writer, writing

My Year of Hopefulness – Empty Your Pockets

Christa Avampato

Last night I was flipping through the channels and landed on PBS which was airing a biography of Carol Burnett – one of my all-time favorite entertainers. I have fond memories of watching the show with my family, and my mother would laugh so hard she could barely breathe. I never knew much about her childhood before this biography. Her story of endurance and love and what her family termed her “pipe dream” is inspiring. 

After Carol Burnett’s biography, PBS aired a shorter biography of Erma Bombeck, one of my mom’s favorite authors. I would read her column in my mom’s magazine’s as a kid and found her so funny, engaging, and honest. I wanted to write that way. The biography ended with Erma’s untimely death from kidney disease and they captured how she viewed life with one of her most famous pieces:

I always had a dream that when I am asked to give an accounting of my life to a high court, it will be like this:  ‘So, empty your pockets. What have you got left of your life?  Any dreams that were unfilled?  Any unused talent that we gave you when you were born that you still have left?  Any unsaid compliments or bits of love that you haven’t spread around?’

And I will answer, “I have nothing to return.  I spent everything you gave me.  I’m as naked as the day I was born.”

Isn’t that how all of us should answer? Why return any bit of energy, any dream or wish or hope? We don’t ever get it back. Once we make our graceful exit to the other side, anything we hoped to start, try, or finish will have to fall to someone else. That’s no way to go out, and frankly it’s not fair to the rest of us for you to be selfish and keep you dreams and talents to yourself. This world needs you; it needs all of us and everything we’ve got. 

career, comedy, holiday, office space, television

Holiday card mishap

Christa Avampato

This story is just too good to keep to myself. I debated about whether or not to tell it in a public forum but I just can’t resist. My friend, Jane, had me laugh so hard today that my eyes were tearing over. My stomach was aching. 


She has a boss who’s a bit of an exhibitionist. For example, when they needed to use some photography for a new product her company was launching, he used a photo of himself. In a muscle shirt. And the presentation was being sent to perspective clients.

So with this year’s holiday cards, he got a little creative. Most people get a family photo where everyone’s smiling, the dog seated on the couch, etc. Not this guy. He took a trip to Bali this past summer and thought he’d like to showcase that. Now, a normal person would choose a picture of the sunset, the ocean, maybe even a picture of himself sipping a tropical looking drink. 

Jane’s boss decided to have someone take a photo of him in a black speedo (what Jane describes as an ill-fitting banana hammock) and used that for his holiday card. Yep – sent it to family, friends, co-workers, business contacts. I was floored. Talk about lack of judgement!

Now the card is all the talk about the office. People crowding in corners, at the copier, at the water cooler. Some are laughing, some are appalled, all have lost respect for him. Even clients are commenting on the card. It sounds like a stunt that Steve Carell would pull on The Office. (I’m thinking of sending the idea in to NBC.) Would anyone in their right mind seriously do that? Well, you know what they say – in all good comedy, there’s a little bit of truth.     
art, comedy, humor, NBC, television

I Might Be Liz Lemon, and So Are You

Christa Avampato

I’m a little late to the party on this one – 30 Rock has already won several Emmy’s and is in its 3rd season. I’m just now getting into the series on DVD. Hilarious. And comedy writing is not easy – I’ve tried it and I was terrible. I laugh out loud at the ridiculous behavior of those characters and marvel at how often I think things at work that they say freely to one another. If only all workplaces were that honest, we’d have greater job satisfaction. It’s the passive-aggressive behavior, the simultaneous smile and toss under the bus that kills morale. 


Liz Lemon, Tina Fey’s character, is someone I relate to immensely. She is a single 30-something who lives on the UWS, just a few blocks from me. Works hard, sometimes to the detriment of her personal life, makes impossible relationships a hobby, and eats as much as I do. She’s nerdy and independent. We love our humidifiers. While she has this dream job, she’s constantly worried that she will be reduced to teaching improv at the Y. She’s all our unsavory features rolled in to one sympathetic, funny shell. We don’t love the character because she’s perfect or well-balanced or someone we aspire to be. She isn’t any of those things. We love her because she is who we are, warts and all.

30 Rock is proof that we can do something original in an over-crowded field. It just requires that we put aside our egos, stop looking to others for “copy-and-paste” ideas, and just be exactly who we are and say exactly what we think, funny, nice, meaningful, or not. And for goodness sake, we need to learn to laugh at ourselves and those around us.