FUNNY: THE SHAMELESS PROMOTION

FUNNY: THE PHOTOS (and a 22-second video)

California Women’s Conference: California Women’s Conference

Panel moderator
From 1975: From 1975

“Somerville”: David sings a medley of his hit.
St. Louis Jewish Book Festival: St. Louis Jewish Book Festival
From 1975: From 1975

David warns of the dangers of “Cat On The Back Disease.”
West Hollywood Book Fair: West Hollywood Book Fair
From 1975: From 1975

David demonstrates the remarkable properties of TV Socks (TM).
Santa Monica Public Library: “The Anthropology of Laughter”: Santa Monica Public Library: “The Anthropology of Laughter”

With the wave-form of a laugh.
From 1978: From 1978

David hosts the live tapings of “Mork and Mindy” in an unforgettable, unforgiveable ensemble of turtleneck-and-suede.
Columbia University: “Understanding Comedy: The Rules”: Columbia University: “Understanding Comedy: The Rules”
From 1988: From 1988

David directs a zombie (before zombies were cool) in the TV series “Monsters”.
Cal State Northridge: “Understanding Comedy: The Rules”: Cal State Northridge: “Understanding Comedy: The Rules”
From “Duckman” (1995): From “Duckman” (1995)

Duckman slams into a (for-no-reason-other-than-it’s-outrageous) wheelchair-bound David.
: (Note: A trick of the light makes it look as though David is losing his hair, but he totally isn’t.)

Play Video

Click To Play

FUNNY: THE INTERVIEWS

Choose from a smorgasbord of radio & TV gab-fests, listed by interviewer,
nationality, and the amount of time you can stand hearing David talk.
(No! No! Not interviews! Please, God, if I click here,
please take me back to the top of the page!)

SHORT & SWEET

The Dinner Party: The Dinner Party

David talks with Brendan Newnam.

NPR; American Public Media (radio; 5 min.)

Also available on Itunes and “The Dinner Party” website.
FOX25: Entertainment News

David talks with Gene Lavanche.

FOX25; Dedham, MA (TV, 5 min.)
KCAL Live At 2: KCAL Live At 2

David talks with Sandra Mitchell.

KCAL 9; CBS Los Angeles (TV, 4 min.)
Off-Ramp: Off-Ramp, with John Rabe

David talks with Hank Rosenfeld (“Irving Brecher: The Wicked Wit of the West”).

KPCC, Pasadena (radio; 4 min.); partial transcript and photos.
Off-Ramp: Crawford Forum: “Off-Ramp”, with John Rabe

An edited version of David’s talk with Alonzo Bodden (see “Video-rrific!”, below, for full version)

KPCC’s Crawford Family Forum (6 min.)
Bloomberg Weekend: “Off-Ramp”, with John Rabe

David talks with show biz legend Joe Franklin.

Bloomberg Radio (7 min.)

OverlaysShare Tweet

VIDEO-RIFFIC!

San Diego Living: San Diego Living

David talks with Marc Bailey of “San Diego Living”.

The CW / Ch. 6 (5 min.)
Connie Martinson (1): Connie Martinson Talks Books (1)

David talks (y’know, books) with Connie Martinson.

Syndicated (9 min.)
Connie Martinson (2): Connie Martinson Talks Books (2)

David continues talking (books) with Connie Martinson.

Syndicated (9 min.)
Connie Martinson (3): Connie Martinson Talks Books (3)

David continues even more talking with Connie Martinson.

Syndicated (9 min.)
Mr. Media: Mr. Media

David talks with Bob Andelman.

Streaming (29 min.)
KPCC Family Forum: KPCC Crawford Family Forum

David talks with Alonzo Bodden. (See “Short & Sweet”, above, for 6 min. edited audio version.)

Streaming (89 min.)

OverlaysShare Tweet

FURRINERS

Canada: The Stupf File Program: The Stupf File Program

O Canadia!

David talks with Peter Anthony Holder.

Podcast (12 min.)
Ireland: Moncrieff: Moncrieff

This one goes out to Ms. Erin G. Bragh:

David talks to Sean Moncrieff.

“Newstalk”, Radio Ireland (14 min.)

OverlaysShare Tweet

MEDIUM, PRETTY DAMN SWEET

Write On! Radio: Write On! Radio

David talks with Steve McEllistrem.

KFAI Minneapolis (20 min.)
Viewpoint: Viewpoint

David talks with Eddrick Osborne.

Podcast (21 min.)
On Screen And Beyond: On Screen And Beyond

David talks with Brian Zemrak.

Podcast (31 min.)
Reimagine That!: Reimagine That!

David talks to Chris Mann.

Podcast (32 min.)
L.A. Review of Books: Los Angeles Review of Books

David talks with Ellis Weiner.

Podcast (35 min.)
Speaking of Art: Speaking of Art

David talks with Edwin Hoffman.

WAAM Talk 1600, Ann Arbor (37 min.)
Sheena Metal Experience: The Sheena Metal Experience

David talks with Sheena Metal.

Podcast (39 min.)

OverlaysShare Tweet

LENGTHY, YET STILL SUBSTANTIALLY SWEET

TV Confidential: TV Confidential

David talks with Ed Robertson.

Podcast (47 min.)
Bill Leff: Bill Leff

David talks with Bill Leff.

WGN Radio, Chicago (54 min.)
The Nerdist: No Math: No Math Allowed!

David talks with Jessica Barton of The Nerdist.

Podcast (59 min.)
The Jordan Rich Show: The Jordan Rich Show

David talks with Jordan Rich.

WBZ Radio, Boston (69 min.)

OverlaysShare Tweet

FUNNY: THE ARTICLES

L.A. Weekly: The Medieval Origins of April Fool’s Day, Explained
Goldendale Sentinel: Humor Book Fascinating and Funny
New York Jewish Week: People of the Comedy Book
Florida Weekly: Comedy Writer Takes A Serious Look At Laughter
J Weekly: What’s So Funny: Author Dissects What Makes Us Laugh

OverlaysShare Tweet

FUNNY: THE TRAILERS (click photo to play)

Funny: The Movies

— The book talks about Tricksters; John Belushi in “Animal House” is one of the great examples, embracing havoc for havoc’s sake.

— Proof that comedy doesn’t get the respect it deserves: Steve Martin has never won an Oscar.

— “The Court Jester” was, at the time, the most expensive comedy ever made… and still one of the best. (“The chalice from the palace” is in a different trailer.)

— A Chaplin party trick became one of the iconic comedy bits of all time, reprised last year by Amy Adams in “The Muppets.”

Funny: The Movies: The Sequel

— “Some Like It Hot” is generally considered the funniest movie ever made.

— One of those lines constantly quoted by those irritating people who constantly quote Monty Python. Like me.

— No one did Stupid/Smart like Judy Holliday.

— Bringing American 6th-grade humor to the world: “Airplane!”

Funny: The Battle of the Sexes

— “The Thin Man” is still one of the most sophisticated (and sexy) depictions of marriage.

— Why you’re not friends with the people you think you’re friends with.

— “Two For The Road”: Man the Aggressor; Woman the Victorious.

— Snark, thy name is “Juno.”

Funny: The Stand-ups

— From arguably the greatest stand-up performance ever filmed.

— Lenny may be more provocative today than ever.

— Perhaps if it had been carefully explained that “Who” was the man’s actual name, all the confusion could have been avoided.

— Steve Martin brings existentialism to standup.

— Woody was probably the smartest comic in history; this joke made Carson collapse.

— Mel and Carl’s improvised routines made literal and figurative history.

Funny: The Chase

— Buster is my hero. Note how he slides facing the camera. And by the way, that hurt.

— Buster is Jackie’s hero. But who else could do that bike-jump?

— Woody attacked by Freud.

— Director Peter Bogdonavich, a scholar of film history, revived the art of slapstick in “What’s Up Doc.”

Funny: The Body

— The world’s noisiest campfire was outrageous at the time; it still is.

— Mr. Creosote’s digestive issues also shocked audiences.

— A slumdog has a crappy day.

— Bridesmaids, please: Avoid the hair.