Postcard: Love that Bob
If you know me, you know I'm always up for a little cultural enrichment, so I spent Thursday evening at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall on Sarasota Bay with actor and comedian Bob Newhart.
No, I didn't go there with him. It wasn't a date. He was there doing a classic standup show, which was hilarious. Newhart is 81 years old, but you would never have known it -- except for the rest of the crowd. I was there with a fiftysomething friend and we got carded at the bar.
It wasn't a one-man show. The opening act was Deana Martin, the daughter of famous Rat Pack crooner Dean Martin. She delivered a 40-minute set dedicated to her dad and sang a duet with a video of the King of Cool.
Though the heydey of the Rat Pack was a bit before my time, I still got a bit nostalgic. Maybe I was a big band crooner in a previous life.
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Comments
I know every generation thinks the taste of the newer generation sucks, but in this case it's true.
With the exception of Chris Rock and Ricky Gervais, there is not a funny person out there today. The giveaway of these new guys and gals is when one hundred percent of the act is sex jokes.
As for music, I watch the Grammies and never heard of any of them. And after watching them peform, I can see why. I don't expect everyone to be the Beatles, who are a once in a lifeftme thing, but nobody approaches Bob Dylan or Simon & Garf or Steely Dan, either. And yes, rap is dreadful. I know that I'm an old fart white guy, but that doesn't make it any less true. Sorry.
Posted by: Fang | February 27, 2011 8:47 AM
As the saying goes...40 years ago there were 60 comedians and only 6 good ones, now there's 60000 and still only 6 good ones.
Bob Newhart is still a funny guy.
Posted by: jim66 | February 27, 2011 9:36 AM
Bob's good buddy Don Rickles is still a funny guy too.
Posted by: dave taylor | February 27, 2011 10:51 AM
ricky gervais pulls a 'don rickles' at one of those silly awards shows and the folks who have annointed themselves as The World"s Most Talented and Important People squirm, cringe and get all pissed off.
Now that's funny stuff.
Posted by: jim66 | February 27, 2011 11:08 AM
Fang-
There are several very funny comedians out there. You really should check out Louis C.K., John Pinette, Lewis Black, and especially Eddie Izzard. All of these guys are brilliant.
Posted by: Ryan | February 28, 2011 12:26 AM