Random Musings FROM GERRY MANDEL
GERRY MANDEL writes plays, short stories, essays, blogs and an occasional novel. He also plays blues and boogie, which you can enjoy on Facebook. Enter his name in the Facebook Search.
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to My Musings
A Some kind of joke?”
R A N D O M
M U S I N G S
Rim shot.
CLM
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priest, a minister and a rabbi walk into a bar. The bartender looks at them and says, “What is this?
to me; Bic pen poised over my notebook. Next to me sits Woody in wrinkled shirt and slacks. Across the table from me, Mel smokes a cigar, throws out hilarious lines. Neil just shakes his head. I don’t smoke but I might as well. The meeting begins, Carl at the head of the table. The dialogue: Carl Reiner: Listen up, guys. We need a closer here. Neil Simon: Where’s here? Carl: The restaurant, Neil. Sid and Imogene. Sid asks for frog legs. Larry Gelbart: That’s funny right there. Carl: Last line. Selma?
Selma Diamond: “We’re out What’s so funny? These days, not a lot. of legs. How about a couple of Yet the laughs keep coming. Take your shoulders?” choice of sources: sit-coms (old and new) Carl: Not funny. Frogs don’t have on TV, movies, stand-ups, streaming, shoulders. Anybody? websites, podcasts, apps. Laughter Sid Caesar’s writers. Carl Reiner is 4th from left. Photo: AP Mel Brooks: “You want a pair of persists for one reason: we need it. We argyles with those legs?” need that balance in our lives, the bright ago. I spent thirty years as a writer for ad release from the dark. It’s a special human Carl: C’mon, guys. Gerry. Whaddya got? agencies and was pretty good at it. But gift. Researchers claim that some animals my soul wanted something else. To write Gerry: How about this? Sid asks the waiter, laugh - chimps, dogs, rats, dolphins. But comedy. Funny plays, movies, TV shows. “Do you have frog legs?” The waiter says, they only react to physical stimulation, like What I really wanted was to have been one “No, I walk this way because I’m chafed.” playing and tickling. They’re unaware of of a special group of writers who wrote for BIG LAUGH AROUND THE TABLE. punch lines, and haven’t evolved as far as Sid Caesar from 1950 to 1954. It was called “knock-knock” jokes. Carl: Bingo. Thanks. Well done. “Your Show of Shows,” and starred Sid, Which brings me to Carl Reiner, who died My fantasy continues ad infinitum. I love Imogene Coca, Howie Morris and Carl. this past July at the age of 98. That’s a lot the process, the people, the life of a comedy His stable of writers included men and of years and a lot of laughs for a whole lot writer in New York in the early ’50’s. I go women who tickled America’s funny bone. of people. Carl became a comedy legend to the Carnegie with Mel and Carl. I go You’ve heard of some of them: Neil Simon. in many media, as writer, actor, performer to the Village to hear jazz with Woody, Larry Gelbart (Mash). Mel Tolkin (All in and director. My favorite Reiner creations Selma and Danny. Carl calls me and asks the Family). Danny Simon (Neil’s brother… were The Dick Van Dyke Show and The me to work on a TV sit-com he’s developing. what a funny family). Woody Allen. Selma 2000 Year-Old-Man albums with Mel Diamond, Joe Stein, Lucille Kallen. Among Character’s name is Rob Petrie. I say “sure” Brooks. They are as funny now as when I and feel validated. I watch “Your Show of them they created some of America’s most first discovered them many years ago. Make memorable moments and shows, as well as Shows” on TV and wait for my lines, my that decades ago. ideas, mingled with those giants of comedy, a style of humor barely recognized at the who are making America laugh. And I feel time. The driving force behind that laughter complete. was the writers. Today there are some In my more fanciful moments over the incredibly talented comedy writers, with Charlie Chaplin said, “A day without laughyears, I’ve fantasized about sitting in Sid’s more outlets for their efforts than ever. ter is a day wasted.” writers’ room, cup of coffee - black - in my But the seeds were planted, the formats hand; a half-finished poppy-seed bagel with Charlie was right. and rhythms developed seventy years a glob of cream cheese on a paper plate next
