The Funniest Nonsense You'll See This Week

Oh Frabjous Day!

Oh, I do hope you got to check in on tonight's "PUD" notification... Oh, dear. That doesn't sound right, does it? Maybe this will help: Because I have a tiny bit of a weird sort of OCD, I strive to post a blog entry before midnight every day (and actually get a little stressed when I miss an unscheduled day off). And because I usually start them later in the evening, readers who check Caliban's Revenge between 10:00 PM and 1:00 AM ET, usually find the post's title and an occasionally, cryptically relevant image accompanied by the words "POST UNDER CONSTRUCTION."

Now, stick with me here, and if you get to end of the post, I'll tell you what it said instead if the usual, tonight (the first variation ever).* Of course, that's all to do with tonight's post, anyway.

With me, so far? Good. Not for long, I bet...

Those who risk their sanity to regularly check in on what Uncle P has to say (and hey - who the heck knows what the hell I'm going to talk about on any given day, anyway? -- I rarely know myself, until I sit down to write) know how much I truly adore Nonsense. And no, I'm not talking about the ridiculousness of every day existence (though that usually plays a part). I'm talking about what some refer to as "High Nonsense" or "Smart Nonsense." Lewis Carroll. Edward Lear. The Pythons. Early Zucker Brothers. We laugh at these folks' works not only because it's silly, but because it is so with a usually intelligent, winking eye.

So, bearing all that in mind... I had made plans with a 'friendly acquaintance' (a talented, attractive and very funny actor/musician who has made appearances in two JTMF shows). I met (and cast) Mike thanks to D. Tonight, Mike and I got together for the first time in over a year and we very quickly managed to go from 'Friendly Acquaintances' to 'Friends' in one of those rare and surprising evenings when such things happen. And I love when such things happen. Q can attest to how she and I bonded in much the same way one night, while in college. 

And as if that weren't enough to raise my endorphin levels, I logged in to check out my usual haunts after getting home and came across the particularly hilarious bit of nonsense embedded below (via). Please take the time to read the often outrageously absurd credits which follow the 'film.' I haven't actually snorted at a YouTube video in a very long time. I lost count at seven.

Ladies and germs, I give you "Shortest Film:"

*Please don't cheat and go right to the end. Santa is watching, and every naughty thing you do goes in his book! Every. Naughty. Thing.

Now it's going to be anti-climactic, especially since you probably ignored everything I asked and you jumped right to the end of the post without even an iota or guilt or remorse... I hope you can live with yourself.

 So, today's "PUD" notification read: POST UBDER NUNSTRICTION. 

Sad, isn't it? I'm going to stand in the corner and think about what I've, now. And if you laughed at any of this, you might consider doing the same. Or not. I don't care. I'm not really going to, anyway. 

'Your mother was a hamster and your father smelled of elderberries.'

'Hey! There's a great dictator on the gramophone, tonight! Let's all go to Venezuela and smell it!'

I know... you don't get it. But those who do, know exactly what I'm talking about. Well, a bit. We did do the nose. And the hat. But she 'as got a wart.

More, anon.

Prospero

The Funniest Parody You'll See This Week

I was lucky enough a few years ago to catch Jackie Hoffman's hilarious performance in the Broadway production of Xanadu, in which she very nearly stole the show.

Jackie is currently appearing as Grand Mama in the critically reviled production of The Addams Family on Broadway, along with Nathan Lane and Bebe Neuwirth. How jealous can one get?

Jumping on the Gaga-haters bandwagon, Jackie is "Old Lady Gaga" in the latest parody of Gaga's (admittedly lame) video for the song "Alejandro."

I have to admit, I'm a fan of "Modern Family" star Jesse Tyler Ferguson's hilarious club version, but there's something both sexy and creepy about Jackie's performance in the below video (via) from comedy group The Battery's Down. And let's not mention all the hot Broadway dancers she's brought with her, shall we?

Yes, I am very tired. yes, I have my own show to worry about. Still, it's nice to take a little break and celebrate other performers' work. Enjoy.

Final dress for Sordid Lives is tomorrow and I have never been so happy to be almost finished with a show. I've loved just about every minute of it, but I am soooo tired!

More, anon.
Prospero

The Funniest Thing You'll See This Week

Okay, I lied. But I honestly forgot the Academy Award nominations were announced today until I got to work and read it on CNN. So of course, I had to comment, briefly.

The only real surprise for me was the nomination of Up in both the Best Picture and the Best Animated Feature categories, something that might actually backfire and cause Pixar to lose for the first time, ever, leaving Wes Anderson and Henry Selig to battle it out between Fantastic Mr. Fox and Coraline. In fairness, have yet to see Fox, but I adored Coraline. I'll withhold judgment until I've seen it, hopefully before March.

And, no surprise, but still much to my chagrin, Avatar was nominated for Best Picture and Director. The more time that passes since I've seen that movie, the more I realize how manipulative and cheesy James Cameron's plot was and the angrier I get that audiences don't realize it. So, in response to the movie's nomination, I am posting the review I wish I'd written. From the hilarious Plinkett at Red Letter Media (the same mad genius behind this brilliantly funny review of The Phantom Menace), comes this viciously hysterical (and NSFW language-laden) 2-part review of Avatar (via Sci-Fi blog i09 and my cubicle neighbor, Sue*):

There's a special seat in hell for you, James Cameron... I officially take back a star from my original review. So there!

*And yes, Sue has a terrific sense of humor. At least... I hope she does...

More infantile churlishness, anon.
Prospero