[B]ut near the end of the show things turn tasteless as well. Ferrell/Bush asks the audience for a moment of silence to honor our troops who died in Iraq and Afghanistan. At the performance I saw, most of the audience members went silent but a few tittered nervously. Who can blame them? This is a comedy show. They were expecting a gag, and they soon got one.
After a few seconds of silence a phone on the stage rings, and everyone laughs. The relief is palpable. Hurrah! That thing about honoring our war dead? It really was just the setup to a joke!
Ferrell/Bush is startled by the noise too, because he’s already told us that the phone is just a prop that isn’t connected to anything. He picks up the phone, listens for a second and says, “I didn’t know ‘Annie Get Your Gun’ is playing! I love Tom Wopat too!” Then he tells the audience that he was afraid God was calling him on the phone. “Swear to God – I thought I was having a heart attack in my butt hole!”
The problem is, during what turned out to be merely a pause to set up the punchline, I actually was thinking about our war dead, and so were a lot of others. Left and right, we all believe, or supposedly do, in honoring the sacrifice of our servicemen and women.
Here, Hollywood is letting its mask slip. Ferrell and his director Adam McKay are so confident that everyone shares their contempt for Bush that they slosh over into contempt for all things associated with Bush: the show includes cracks about Texas, Christianity, and finally the military.
And now it’s…
Springtime for Ferrell and Hollywood
Blueland is happy and gay!
We’re marching to a faster pace
Come see us masturbate!
Springtime for Ferrell and Hollywood
Wineland’s a fine land once more!
Springtime for Ferrell and Hollywood
Watch out, racists
We’re going on tour!
And when a little girl at the charter school visited by the Obamas announced that she dreamed of becoming first lady, Mrs. Obama flashed her self-deprecating wit. “It doesn’t pay much,†she advised.
Uh . . . yeah. If you consider deeply embedded bitterness as “self-deprecating wit.”
Economist turns theater critic.
Sister Toldjah, who should have linked me, instead of Surber, because I’m more funnier.
Not to rain on Wilder or Mostel’s parade, but Kenneth Mars and Dick Shawn stole that movie…
Agreed, but I’m referencing the remake.
If you gave me a bunch of talent and money I promise I wouldn’t be a complete wanker.
Ahhhh, with Broderick and Lane…no wonder, haven’t seen that one.
Well, happy, you’ve got the talent, you’re just not a wanker.
You could be famous if you acted like one, though…
Fame terrifies me actually. It’s a huge price to pay for success I think.
oh. oops. I meant to say thank you that was nice to say.
Y’know, that’s an Irish name, Ferrell. Well, sort of, anyway. According to my dad, who went to Ireland to vacation and while there, do a little genealogical work, there’s only one Ferrell in the whole of the Irish nation-wide telephone book. Where there are thousands of Farrells.
Seems when the English conquered the Farrell territories (Lincoln Co., if I remember aright) they gave the people the option of converting from Roman Catholicism to their Englishy Church and withall, keeping their land, or if not, so the story went, not. The Farrells who went along with the English proposal became thereafter Ferrells and those who didn’t go along, remained Farrells. Funny thing. Most all the Ferrells now live elsewhere, like here in the states and as above, verging on zero in Ireland itself.
That photo explains it, thanks.
Was Ferrell at least funny in Mar’s role?
Huh. I thought they all became Ferrets.
Mars’
Yeah, he was funny in the role. As remakes go, it was pretty good.
Haven’t seen the musical “Producers” … thoroughly enjoyed the original.
Is it me or are the contemporary “comedic actors” like Ferrell spectacularly unfunny?
Ferrell is this generation’s Chevy Chase.
I like Will Ferrell, but some things you do not joke about. Troops wounded and killed in action. People’s kids. These topics are not funny.
I enjoyed Talladega Nights.
Despite Bush’s unprecedented unpopularity, Ferrell’s facsimile has come to market with 98 percent of its run sold-out.
http://www.playbill.com/news/article/126058.html/pg1
I’m starting to think you guys really have no idea what the word “capitalism” really means.
Then again, I think Radiohead are good, despite their politics.
Except that Limbaugh guy, right nipply? Cause he’s just propped up by rightwing haters.
You’re an idiot, and I mean that kindly.
I did catch the season of “Curb” that covered it…was pretty funny.
What I don’t get is why these folks think it is ok to alienate roughly half their audience.
In the past ten years, I’ve stopped buying most movie tickets, renting movies and otherwise sending dollars to Hollywood, for the most part.
Even killed HBO two or or so years ago, ’cause I just can’t give those screws any more money to undermine my country.
Scott Johnson at Powerline wrote a post on this show today too. Dicks of New York.
Happy, I’m quite frightened by it too. If my business does what it is supposed to by the end of ’09, I will have some fame, and it makes me queasy.
Are you saying no Republicans have profited from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Dan?
Or, like the stimulus bill, it’s only bad if Democrats do it?
Is it me or are the contemporary “comedic actors†like Ferrell spectacularly unfunny?
I don’t get Ferrell at all. Or Adam Sandler or Jim Carry. I blame Jerry Lewis.
You make no sense at all, nippers.
Are you saying no Republicans have profited from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Dan?
Yeah, tuber, that is exactly what he said.
I have no adjectives to describe what a monumental fucking idiot you are.
B Moe:
You are correct…all of them had their best days doing sketch comedy early in their careers…
This is a typical snippy interaction:
1 + 2 = 3, maybe.
Then, bunnies!
Best of luck, Lt. York. This is a very very good year to attain a bit of success I think. It’ll be more difficult in times ahead I think, and it may very well be that fame might become a small enough price to pay. I wonder what Warren would say to that?
Then what is your point, Dan?
As usual, all you’ve done in your post is cut and pasted other people’s work, so it’s a little hard to tell.
Are Republicans being rounded up in New York and forced to see Farrels wildly successful spoof?
Are you somehow against free speech?
Are atheists now required to believe that “praying” for our fallen troops actually does them some good?
Other than just making the same movie again and again, Will Ferrell is a broad comedic talent
You don’t read very well, do you, snippy?
As much as I think Alec Baldwin’s politics suck bilge water, he can be hysterically funny. The hulu Superbowl commercial was a delight.
I’m not a fan of mean-spirited slapstick. I enjoy good, snappy writing. House over Jackass everytime.
veggie is like Mandy — one grey cell filled with a personal obsession through which everything is filtered.
Parsnip. I do not find mocking dead troops funny. I like Will Ferrell and think he is very funny. I like free speech. I like his movies, even if they tend to repeat themselves. I like his George Bush impression. I just do not think that particular bit is funny.
You apparently do.
You are free to say so. You are free to be a jackass.
“I wonder what Warren would say to that.”
I live in Omaha. You just wouldn’t believe the story if I told you. I can’t say yet…give me six months.
Help me out here, Dan.
Are you actually trying to take credit for your mediocre ripoff of Mel Brook’s work?
How long did that take?
*giggle*
“Are Republicans being rounded up in New York and forced to see Farrels wildly successful spoof?
Are you somehow against free speech?”
Where does Dan imply people are being forced to go?
Where does he advocate censorship?
Where doe he imply that the government should intervene in any way?
Really, sir or ma’am, you embarrass and dishonor yourself.
Took about 30 seconds, snippy. When you have an independent thought, please notify me at vermontaigne-at-gmail-dot-com.
veggie is actually trying to take credit for its mediocre ripoff of a human being.
How appropriate, he’s wearing a nazi helmet.
It would be interesting or nice once in my life to meet or hear a liberal who had the minimal personal reflectiveness to realize the unipolar world they live in and wish for something better, that is, more truly “liberal.” It would of couse be a miracle to meet one who actually rued the monolithic political nature of the popular culture. For instance, they don’t ever have to conceive of the idea of a Broadway parody of Bill Clinton, which wouldn’t in fact have to twist truth to fit a narrative myth. Because I work in Hollywood I come across this sad shriveling of the “liberal” mind into non-reflection every day.
I’m glad Ferrell has his opportunity for “artistic” exanthem at the expense of a President who did his best to keep this country safe and was nothing if not earnest and gracious in his eight years of political and public conduct. As for his joke at the expense of the military, I’m sure laughs were had by most everybody. I hold out the hope that a miracle or two takes place, and someone leaving engages in that minimal reflection I spoke of and at least considers the bad taste of it all.
“Comment by parsnip on 2/8 @ 2:36 pm #
Are you saying no Republicans have profited from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Dan?”
BECAUSE OF TEH OIL!!!!!11!!!
Or something.
Anyway, alfie proves once again he’s nothing more than a retarded marmoset.
“Comment by rrpjr on 2/8 @ 3:01 pm #”
Excellent…
actus is consistantly obtuse.
“Despite Bush’s unprecedented unpopularity, Ferrell’s facsimile has come to market with 98 percent of its run sold-out.”
He fought a midget in “Elf.” Hell. Everyone’s gonna buy a ticket.
But we appreciate you and Will riffing on our fallen Service Men & Women.
Feel free to pepper your resume with the word “despicable.”
Cocksucker.
I’m glad Ferrell has his opportunity for “artistic†exanthem at the expense of a President who did his best to keep this country safe and was nothing if not earnest and gracious in his eight years of political and public conduct.
If people skipped that they should have a chance to read that again I think.
The midget-fighting was better in “In Bruges”.
Parsnip. This is not some subtle play and homage on Mel Brooks. It is a joke that does not really work. Kind of like your logic and mental processes.
“Are you saying no Republicans have profited from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Dan?”
If we’ve profited so much, how come we need a fucking $trillion dollar stimulus?
Gawddamn you make it easy snippy.
BTW Dan, that last tax payer funded opium shipment I got from Afghanistan was crap. The shit was cut three ways from Sunday and had Russian cabbage all in it.
You’re a registered Republican. Do something about that.
“Comment by Lt. York on 2/8 @ 2:56 pm #
Really, sir or ma’am, you embarrass and dishonor yourself.”
LT, EVERY post by alfie proves that he was oxygen deprived as a newborn.
My thory is that the doctor tried to strangle him.
Well, that’s another actor I don’t have to see. Oh, and snippers, that’s not censorship. I’m not the government.
On to the Obama soap opera: Will Michelle ever find happiness?
The midget-fighting was better in “In Brugesâ€Â.
All joking aside, I caught that movie late at night on cable a while back and it is fucking brilliant.
I’d never even heard of it.
Even the anti-American stuff is funny as hell, well played, and self deprecating.
That movie has a philosophical “Groundhog Day” thing to it.
Anyway, I’m on whichever side the Vietnamese are on.
It’s a really great movie, Lamont.
Parsnip. You have the free speech right to be a jackass. I have the free speech right to tell you so. It is all good.
The truly stupid portion of parsnip@16’s quote was the implication that since President Bush was so unpopular, Will Ferrel’s impersonation of him would not sell tickets.
Of course, 1% of 8 million people is 80,000 potential customers so I don’t believe that it would take a phenomenal percentage of NYC’s population to fill the playhouse.
“It’s a really great movie, Lamont.”
Do you think Obama is gonna make all the black midgets take on all the white midgets during the stimulus vote?
I’m just asking.
He’s all about “distractions” ya know.
And I never will. I have the original on DVD; why settle for second-rate tin when I can watch the golden original?
Good Lord! I thought I was the only person in the world to see that movie.
It was surprisingly good, wasn’t it?
I have bad timing on this… added to the Netflix queue months ago, but just as it got to the top it changed to “long wait” cause it won some award.
““It doesn’t pay much,†she advised.”
She should know–what pays is getting your Senator husband to earmark you a $250,000 salary at the hospital you work at, for a job that is so unnecessary the hospital doesn’t take steps to hire your replacement.
“I have bad timing on this… added to the Netflix queue months ago, but just as it got to the top it changed to “long wait†cause it won some award.”
Dammit Jim, I’m a doctor. I can’t make more copies of that movie.
Ha ha. Made you smile.
BTW maggie, you’ll get #56 after you see the movie, and watch Collin Ferrell karate chop a midget jacked up on cocaine & ketamine.
Wait…
Weren’t we talking about about “Ferrell’s” earlier?
Man, I love closing the loop like that.
I can’t watch Ferrell. He’s got the worst goddamned teeth this side of the Atlantic.
I think it’s Farrell, Colin Farrell, one of the ones that stayed.
[…] Protein Wisdom) (Link […]
can’t watch Ferrell. He’s got the worst goddamned teeth this side of the Atlantic.
I may be alone in this, but I find it refreshing to see folks w/o those perfect teeth you see on every celebrity. There aren’t a lot left -the doc character from Lost is one.
And, FTR, Ferrell cracks my ass up. I’m sure it says something bad or base about me …
Regarding politics, well – he should shut the fuck up.
oh for Christ’s sake, Ferrel isn’t mocking the troops. He’s mocking Bush and his God-really-talks-to-me-Christianity. And quite frankly, Ferrel’s impression is pretty damn funny, has been since he gave us “strategery.” The problem is, Bush’s presidency has become no laughing matter…
Uh, no, he’s not mocking the troops. He’s disrespecting them for laughs.
I’m sorry to hear that Judge Ruth Bader Ginsberg has pancreatic cancer. Please bow your heads and pray . . . . .
. . . . .
That she gets a fucking clue before she dies! Hahahahahahahaha!
Dipshit.
From a fellow sociopath…that was teh funny!
It really is quite amazing how deeply invested the lefties are in their caricature of Bush.
FWIW, I’ll take the fictional religious beliefs attributed to Bush to the ones Obama listened to for twenty years.
“Comment by KG on 2/8 @ 6:56 pm #
oh for Christ’s sake, Ferrel isn’t mocking the troops. He’s mocking Bush and his God-really-talks-to-me-Christianity.”
When did the ex-President ever say that?
Hmmm?
” The problem is, Bush’s presidency has become no laughing matter…”
Except for that who;e “victory in Iraq” thing.
Hmmmm?
Well, we have plenty to laugh at now.
Plastic Jesus has burned every bit of his credibility two weeks in.
His numbers are cratering, did you notice?
His numbers are cratering, did you notice?
Cratering I tells yah!
http://www.gallup.com/poll/114184/Public-Support-Stimulus-Package-Unchanged.aspx
I think SBP has slipped into JHo-class economic nuttiness.
It.is.spreading!
Ferrel is either really funny, or not so much…In this case, it’s the latter…
He’s really jumped the shark as far as political humor. It has that same mean-spitited nature that is easily discernable right below the surface…
“He’s mocking Bush and his God-really-talks-to-me-Christianity.”
Yeah, sure KC. That Bush said that is just about as truthful as attributing the “I see Russia from my front yard” to Palin. Both were said by comics impersonating them; Tina Fey and Will Ferrel…
So I suggest you give up a hackneyed attempt at political commentary based on your cartoon reality, and get back to the “Sunshine Band”…
“That’s the way, uh-huh, uh-huh,
I mock myself, uh-huh, uh-huh,
It really proves, uh-huh, uh-huh,
I’m an asshat, uh-huh, uh-huh“
Don’t blame me, I voted for Palin.
(I am going to have so much fun saying that for the next four years.)
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/business/economic_stimulus_package/support_for_stimulus_package_falls_to_37
Yay, Gallup! Giddyup, snippy!
Still can’t understand why anybody’d waste an eyeball or eardrum on that shit.
Fifty-one percent of those questioned in a CBS News poll released Thursday evening approved of the stimulus package.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/06/stimulus.polls/index.html
Go go CBS!
CBS has been corrupt ever since I left. Don’t you realize that root-veggie?
As always we’ve skewed the sample heavily:
25%-Republican
38%-Democrats
37%-Indepensant
http://www.cbsnews.com/htdocs/pdf/poll_020509.pdf
Read it and weep
Hey, walter!
Great call on the Vietnam War, btw!
Great call on the Vietnam War
The ones the Democrats lost.
That’s worth stealing and using.
Agreed, Geoff B,McGehee the wingman on the ticket, was basically ballast, which she had to drag across the finish line.
The ones the Democrats lost.
Funny, I thought Richard Nixon, second least popular president after little Bush, was commander in chief of America’s armed forces for the last 5 years of the Vietnam war.
Guess partisanship plays havoc with the memory.
Who is this pale almost carrot like root anyway?
I like parsnips, in mashed potatoes (most excellent with Yukon Gold, fuck those expensive French Fingerlings, although German butter potatoes are damn good). But other than that they are a flavorless root.
“Comment by parsnip on 2/8 @ 11:41 pm #
The ones the Democrats lost.
Guess partisanship plays havoc with the memory.”
But insanity like your’s plays havoc with reality.
Defeat in Viet Nam is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Democratic party.
Live it, bathe in it, revel in it, love it.
Ouch. The intentionalism! It BURNS!
“But other than that they are a flavorless root.”
Not true! They are very good roasted and in soups, as well. Parsnips have a nice flavor all by themselves.
Let’s not confuse the actual root vegetable with our resident trollboy of the same name.
I don’t think that word means what you think it means, meya.
You really should sign up for my course. Which I haven’t put together. Because I don’t know how to use the software. And because I’m not going to do a ton of work without 8 students (max — I like to keep the courses small) per quarter guaranteed.
But if I did all that, you really should.
#79 Irongrampa:
There are plenty of people who want to bask in their warm cocoon of anti-Bush just a wee bit longer. Sort of like hitting the snooze – you know you have to get up, but the bed is so comfy – a few minutes more please…mmm, snuggling down in my Chimpy McHalliBusHitler…
“Funny, I thought Richard Nixon, second least popular president after little Bush, was commander in chief of America’s armed forces for the last 5 years of the Vietnam war.”
Nixon came in determined to manage a defeat that had already been declared by the chattering classes. He still managed to do better in the 3-4 years (1969-1973, and most combat troops were out in ’72) he had than Johnson in his 5-6 (depending on whether you date the true beginning of our involvement with Tonkin or not; it’s a grey area).
I look forward to you ignoring these points in your next post.
Our involvement clearly predates that. Heinlein’s Glory Road was published in 1963 and the main character was a Vietnam veteran.
“Our involvement clearly predates that. Heinlein’s Glory Road was published in 1963 and the main character was a Vietnam veteran.”
The pentagon papers date our involvement earlier, i think. I’m not so treasonous as to actually read something secret like that.