Wrappin it Up

It has been so much fun writing these blogs, and I might even continue the blog into the Summer. I learned a lot about comedy and social media. I hope the blog has been helpful for everyone looking for something to laugh it. And I know I have found some great comedians to look out for in the future. So thanks for the ride, and of course thanks to Dr. Owens for assigning this, it's been crazy fun.
See all you comedy maniacs soon...

Best Funny Movies of all Time

This week I thought I'd talk about my top favorite comedy movies of all time. I'm going to stick to movies on Netflix, so people can see them a little cheaper.
5. Robin Hood: Men in Tights

This one is really funny, but I put it last because some of the jokes themselves are a little lazy. But overall it is hilarious and most of the jokes really are solid. I would suggest watching this one for fun, not as a comedy snob, it just way more fun that way.
This basic story is Robin Hood has come back from the Crusades with the help of a another man, who asks him as payment to seek out his son, who is a foreign exchange student, when he gets back to Britain, Achoo. Then when they return Locksely is a mess, and Robin Hood has to set it right and from Maid Marion from, let's say, her maidenhood (a metal chastity belt).
4. The Emperor's New Groove

This one you might wonder about. It is a kid's movies, but it has better quality writing than most Disney/Pixar movies. All the characters bring some hilarious to the table, and unusual for Pixar. This is a good one to look back on and watch know as a comedy snob, so you can finally appreciate it.
This is the story of the Emperor Cuzco, who rules Peru, but is turned into a donkey by Eezma, his nemesis who wants to rule the empire. He his helped by Patcha, a local citizen to get back to his own body, but he learns along the way, that it'snot all about opulence and power, it's what you do with it.
3. Monty Python's Meaning of Life

This one's a classic Monty Python. I think the best part, is that the nature of the subject allows them to go randomly from section of section of life, meaning the sketches are just as random as the comedians themselves. Monty Python is really in their element in this one. This is one for everybody no matter your level of comedy.
I can't even give you the plot, because there isn't one! The movie simply follows the stages of life, and attempts to connect them all at the end.
2. Fargo


Some might disagree with this one, as they don't view it as a comedy, and it does have an element of thriller in it. But, for me it wasn't about the crime but about Marge Gunderson, the cop who must solve it. It is a classic Cohen brothers directed picture. If you love some dark comedy, which I do, watch it immediately, it's freaking awesome.
This is the story of a used car salesman wife who gets kidnapped. But she is kidnapped by some pretty sucky criminals. The only person that can save her is the pregnant police chief Marge Gunderson. With all the folksy saying and accents, it will make you laugh, then feel terrible about laughing.
1. Clue

I was actually wanting this one to be 9 to 5, but they don't have it on Netflix. This one is still awesome though, with some classic comedy from classic comedians. It features classic comedians like Tim Curry (Dr. Frank-N-Furter from Rocky Horror Picture Show), Madeline Kahn (from every Mel Brooks movie ever, but her best was Lili Von Shtupp in Blazing Saddles). There's also Martin Mull, Susan Serandon. Christopher Lloyd, and Micheal Mckean.
This is the movie version of the game clue. It features crazy characters in crazy situations, trying to figure out who murdered Mr. Body. With such awesome comedians, it is definitely a laugh riot.

How to put together a joke: or why mine isn't working

Putting together an effective joke is one of the hardest things for new comedians. How long do I wait for the punchline? Is it realistic enough? And, the most commonly asked question, why aren't people laughing? Well, don't sweat it, the main thing to remember us that comedy is often an experiment in what works and what doesn't. Another key, is exaggeration. Don't go all out with an exaggeration at the beginning of the joke, slowly build up, to a highly exaggerated version of reality. This is where people start to trip up. Going all out at the beginning is usually a no-no. Take it slow, hit the good stuff at the end.

Nicole Byer, and UCB Comedy: The New Players in Comedy

For those of you who are not big enough comedy nerds to know what UCB stands for,it stands for Upright Citizens Brigade. They are one of the biggest improv groups in the country, on par with Second City. Many comedy stars of note are alums of the UCB including Amy Poehler, Matt Walsh, and Horatio Sanz. So obviously UCB itself isn't new, but their Youtube content is fresh and exciting. As I was looking through their awesome sketches I found so many gems, each is well produced and written, and they all feature incredible talents.

This virtual side for the group, is absolutely worth checking out. It is very similar to Funny or Die in both its editing and length, but the writing is completely different. The writing is much closer to what you would see on SNL or Mad TV (RIP 1995-2009). One of the comedians featured on their channel really caught my eye. Her name is Nicole Byer, and she has a great comedic voice that is definitely worth sharing. She actually has worked with Sasheer Zamata who I talked about last week a lot, but she still has a unique voice, and I hope she stays with UCB, and maybe even takes it to the next level (hint hint SNL).

The the new fresh female voice in comedy: Sasheer Zamata

SNL has taken a big step towards equality in comedy by bringing on a woman of color: Sasheer Zamata. This is the first time they have had a black woman on the show since Maya Rudolph left, and its about time.And even better, Sasheer is incredibly talented and funny, and has a fresh new voice to bring to both the African American and Female comedy communities. Here is a video of her early stand-up, and her timing is impeccable. Not to mention, how poignant the topic she discusses is. I have always felt that comedy is at its best when it making jokes about things that are viewed to be "inappropriate". Those things we don't want to talk about can be discussed in the forum of comedy, forcing people to laugh and pay attention to those things they don't want to here.

Since joining the SNL cast, I don't feel they have used her talents as well as they could. While they have increased the number of jokes about race and gender inequality, I feel they continue to use her as a backup to senior member of the cast, Kenan Thompson and Jay Pharoh. This is understandable as she is a newbee, but she clearly has a voice that needs to be heard. I hope in the coming season, they give her a chance to show the world her comedy. Here is sketch from her work on Saturday Night Live.

Sasheer is definetly worth checking out if you have some time, her channel is under her name "Sasheer Zamata" and she has some great sketches and stand-up posted. Get ready, cause this girl is taking the comedy world!

Things That Don't...Make the Line Go Faster

I have been working in retail for over a year now, and I've noticed a few... lets call them, bad habits, that people do when their waiting in line. So, I thought, since I was getting ready to do my first "Things That Don't" segment, the best topic would be, "Things That Don't... Make the Line Go Faster. Without disclosing where I actually work, it is a grocery store, that it often very busy. We tend to have a... lets call them, discerning, clientele. This leads to some pretty inflated egos sometimes, and inflated egos, don't like waiting. I have seen some incredibly rude people do some incredibly rude things, so I have included in this post, all of the worst things I've seen.

Thanks for watching, see ya next week!

Nigahiga, the Funniest Guy on Youtube

This week instead of talking about myself, I though I'd review another comedian. So, I searched all over and found one of the best comedian I found on YouTube. He does lots of great parodies of movies and music. He also consistently puts out new videos, since YouTube is really his job. Here are a few of his better videos and my reviews of them (just a hint, they're all positive).

This is one of Nigahiga earliest videos and as time has gone by his production values have gone way up, but it's still a pretty solid video. The writing in this early one is a little clunky, but to be fair so was the original. Overall the whole cast does an amazing job of taking the stupidest parts of Twilight and exaggerating them, which is the whole point of comedy. I give this video...4 out of 5 smiles. : D : D : D : D

The production values on this next video went way up, and the recording quality is great. The writing is also a big improvement. The jokes are much smoother and fit well next to each other. This whole video is just so funny I couldn't stop laughing while I was watching. This one definitely gets the full five smiles. :D:D:D:D:D

This video isn't as funny as "Nice Guys" but still is solid comedy. The writing continues to get better and better as Nigahiga makes more videos and I'm excited to see what he puts out next. I'm also impressed the editing and even the subject matter is on point. This video gets 4 and a half smiles. :D:D:D:D:

Well, that's it for this week, hope you enjoyed it. All the videos are courtesy of Nigahiga and if you enjoy them definitely check out his channel. Also check out my twitter @Laughtaff and my YouTube channel Laughy Taffy.

Annoying Stuff in Movies and TV (written by the People, mostly)

Hi again. it's time for another blog post, and this time it's about you. That's right, you, the readers. I interviewed William Peace University Students about what annoyed them the most about movies and TV. I was inspired by an old show my parents watched with me when I was a kid. It was called Mystery Science Theatre 3000. It was three guys (then four) commenting about the stupid stuff actors and directors did in bad movies. So they thought I would ask some people whether there were anything annoying they noticed in the movies or TV. I put on my reporter jacket and my fancy microphone (AKA poster board and construction paper), so here's what i came up with.

By far the best part is the seriousness with which they use the microphone. Well, see ya next time. If you like check out my twitter, @laughtaff or my YouTube channel, Laughy Taffy. Special thanks to Halloween Hit Master, Jon Williams, and The Walking Dead for the music.

Introduction of Me

Let me introduce myself, I'm Rebekah Malkin and I'm a comedy addict. I love watching comedy, writing comedy, and performing it. This blog is my love letter to the world of comedy and everything it has done for me in my life. It is also a way for me to be incredibly self-promotional, and everybody loves that, right? I hope that by sharing my comedy with the world, I can get some feedback to take my rough comedy and at least make it mediocre.
For my first introductory post I wanted you to get to know me a little. So I put together a little intro video about me and all my interests. I also threw a couple one-liners in there, since it is a comedy blog after all. Throughout the year I will be posting little videos of my own stand-up,sketches that I write performed by others, as well as worthwhile material I see from others. Please feel free to comment on any video or post, feedback from other comedy nerds is the best way to perfect my bits, so I would love constructive feedback. And without further ado I present: A Summary of Me.

If you like, check me out on twitter @LaffTaff or on Youtube at the channel Laughy Taffy.