Professional comics fascinate me. Why would anyone voluntarily stand before a firing squad? Yet the potential for laughter lures the most insecure, angry, objectionable, self-loathing, and hilarious personalities to the microphone stand on a nightly basis.
Director Christian Charles made a documentary in 2002 about Jerry Seinfeld's attempt to piece together a show's worth of material after his famous sitcom came to a close. Titled Comedian, the movie offered candid interviews with Seinfeld, Chris Rock, Colin Quinn, and Bill Cosby as it presented an insightful glance into the hearts, guts, and minds of these seasoned funnymen.
Vince Vaughn's Wild West Comedy Show makes for a nice companion piece. On the heels of his 2005 hit Wedding Crashers, Vaughn handpicked four Los Angeles comedians and loaded them on a bus for an ambitious traveling concert tour captured on camera by Ari Sandel. The group intended to hit 30 cities in 30 consecutive nights. As you'll see, Hurricane Katrina disrupted plans, but also gave Vaughn and his crew a unique human angle to explore (not exploit… big difference).
Vaughn's Wild West Comedy Show, however, is light on laughs, so the picture only half works. Clips from the comedians' live sets are a definite weak spot for a documentary that's supposed to be about comedy. The sharpest performer is Sebastian Maniscalco, who, we learn late in the film, isn't even a full-time comic. He pays his bills by waiting tables. Foul-mouthed and bitter John Caparulo reminds me of a young Larry the Cable Guy. I forget large chunks of his material, but recall he wore the same white t-shirt and blue baseball cap for the entire 30-day shoot. Ahmed Ahmed, an Egyptian comedian, bases his entire act on his Middle Eastern appearance. In off-stage interviews, he says he is forced to address his heritage. I understand that. But there's no reason that has to be his only joke.
The professional comedians are upstaged at almost every turn by Vaughn's guest stars. During a rehearsed sketch on stage in Hollywood, longtime collaborator Jon Favreau suggests that anyone could have played Vaughn's role in the iconic buddy comedy Swingers. The challenge opens the door for Dodgeball star Justin Long to do his pitch-perfect Vaughn impersonation. Vaughn, himself, is the ideal emcee for such an unpredictable stage show. His banter carries interactions with Dwight Yoakam or best friend and Wild West producer Peter Billingsley (the famous kid actor best known for A Christmas Story).
So while West isn't consistently hilarious, it is insightful when trying to better understand the unique individuals drawn to this field.
Aka Vince Vaughn's Wild West Comedy Show: 30 Days & 30 Nights - Hollywood to the Heartland.
Yee haw.
See Also
Sunday 25 May 2008
Wild West Comedy Show: 30 Days and 30 Nights - Hollywood to the Heartland - 6/3/2008
Thursday 22 May 2008
Ferrell a huge hit during UCD appearance
Ferrell a huge hit during UCD appearance
Teetotum Hollywood star Will Ferrell last night appeared in University College Irish capital to bear a prestigious honour in front of 1,D students.
The 40-year-old star of 'Anchorman' was dressed in the full Irish Gaelic rugger outfit as he accepted the Henry James Joyce Honour from the Literary and Historical Beau monde for his outstanding contribution to comedic acting.
Ferrell had a packed O'Reilly G. Stanley Hall in stitches end-to-end his XL second speech where he joked: "As I look come out at this crowd, I come across the future of Emerald Isle, the hereafter of EU. And let's face it, the future looks jolly bleak."
The star too rundle about his two-week trip of Emerald Isle with his brother Patrick and father Roylee, whose family hail from Co Longford.
He said: "The trip has been a bit of craic and I'm non talking or so mouth and laughter, I'm actually talk about snap cocaine."
During his vacation Ferrell travelled to Galway, Mayo, Capital of Northern Ireland, Bushmills, Cork, Waterford and Longford. He joked: "The photos are wholly over Bebo if you demand proof."
Ferrell added: "I'm so committed to my Irish whiskey roots that I intend to continue eroding this kit (rugby kit) upon my render to the US. I will too uphold to drive on the left side of the road.
"Volition it be dangerous? Yes. Is it illegal? Highly. Just that's just how committed I am."
His speech besides touched on what he believes ar his similarities to Epistle of James James Augustine Aloysius Joyce; Westlife and a excavate at UCD's equal Blessed Trinity College Irish capital.
Generating huge clapping he said: "The accuracy of the matter is those guys are expiration to be workings for you."
The star, wHO commands $20m a moving-picture show, joins other populace figures honoured by the L&H, including United Nations weapons examiner Hans Blix, academician Noam A. Noam Chomsky and former South African prexy FW De Klerk.
Ferrell told the L&H: "I'm genuinely honoured to be in the same troupe as previous recipients".
Highway To GWAR, 1989, In The Loder Files
Monday 19 May 2008
Keshia Chante
Artist: Keshia Chante
Genre(s):
R&B: Soul
Discography:
2U
Year: 2006
Tracks: 14
Canadian-born R&B vocalist Keshia Chanté makes sulfurous and attention-getting coeval pop and soul. Born in 1988, Chanté has pursued music since her betimes teens reference around age 15 with her chart-topping singles "Shook (The Answer)," "Unpredictable," and "Badly Boy" altogether off her 2004 debut self-titled record record album. That saami class she garnered various Urban Music Awards and as she saw her tV for "Unsound Boy" begin to pay for heavy traffic circle question on the U.S. telecasting mesh Bet. Such accolades, on with a 2005 Juno Prize for R&B/Soul Recording of the Twelvemonth brought her to the attention of Sony record execs, domain Wellness Governance gestural her to a transcription sign on. Later on, Chanté resettled from Toronto to New York Metropolis and began act upon on her sophomore movement, 2U, which dropped in Canada in 2006 and the U.S. in 2007.
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