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July 29, 2007
Are There Any Team Comedians Today Like Abbott & Costello Doing "Who's On First?"
By:
The Dude on the Right
Yesterday I'm driving around in the Dude-Mobile, listening to my Sirius
Satellite Radio, channel-surfing as I'm am wont to do on the weekends, and I
land on the family friendly comedy channel, Laugh Break, Sirius Channel 105.
In all honesty I'm more of a fan of Raw Dog, Channel 104, the uncensored comedy
channel, but hey, it was only one channel higher, so there I was, on 105, and as
much as I can be a fan of dirty jokes, there it was, one of the best comedy
sketches ever, the brilliant work of Abbott and Costello doing "Who's on First?"
The thing with the "Who's on First?" sketch is it is so simple in its concept, yet it is the genius of Abbott and Costello that really brings it to life. Why do I say that? Because if you just read the sketch, and there's a transcript and a link to the audio at Baseball Almanac.com, it's really not that funny, actually kind of juvenile, and if you read it the skit doesn't seem to work on paper. What makes it funny is the deadpan nature of Bud Abbott, and the frustrated, "I'm gonna sock you one in the jaw if you don't tell me who's on first," attitude of Lou Costello. And I started to wonder, because there are some great comedians nowadays, but you don't really have the teamwork of some of the acts of yesteryear, unless I'm missing some of them right now with a brain fart or something. The closest thing I can recall as a team of comedians is a ventriloquist and his dummy, and then instantly, because I'm a twisted dude sometimes, I think of Otto & George, probably the filthiest of a "team," and still remember their talking of JFK and George's reenactment of JFK's assassination.
So where am I going with this blog? Oh hell, I don't know. All I do know is that yesterday, thanks to having my satellite radio, I got a really good laugh from a comedy sketch that is nearly 70 years old, and as much as when I hear the number "Eighty-eight" I instantly think "Red Ball freight," the phrase "I don't know" always kicks in a "Third base!"
That's it for this one! I'm The Dude on the Right!! L8R!!!
Posted by Rightdude at July 29, 2007 7:38 PM
