From the Heart
This column will, pretty much, tell you my age. I remember when comedians were funny.
I write my opinions. Sometimes you may agree with me and sometimes you may not … and that’s ok.
So my first memories of watching funny people were on Saturday mornings. Harlow Hickenlooper (Hal Fryar) was a well-known slapstick comedian on Channel 6 in Indianapolis. He featured the Three Stooges: Moe, Larry and Curly. Hal passed away just last year. He entertained many a kid, as well as their parents. How could any of us ever forget his straw hat and coat of many colors and the many pies to his face. Silliness on a grand scale.
On Tuesday nights, as my recollection tells me, my mother and I sat in front of our black and white, and later color, console television set and laughed out loud at the antics of Red Skelton. (Dad worked second shift at Firestone.) Red (Richard) Skelton was also a native Hoosier, born in Vincennes. He had several personas. Clem Kadiddlehopper was my favorite. As much as he could tickle your funny bone, he could also touch your heart. If you have never heard his delivery of the Pledge of Allegiance you must check it out on YouTube.
I would say that my favorite comedian of all time is Carol Burnett. I can watch the reruns of her shows over and over and still belly laugh. Her sense of humor could cheer the grumpiest of grumps and the saddest of sad people. Sometimes the funniest skits would have her and Tim Conway, Vicki Lawrence and Harvey Korman, all cracking up. It was just simply, yet magically, funny. I miss that magic.
I know my sense of humor is dated. I don’t believe belittling or putting someone down is funny. I see many comedians of today as bullies. Sorry if you disagree, but this is just my opinion.
Don’t get me started on the vulgarities. The only F bomb that I heard from comedians when I was growing up was “fiddlesticks” and its cousin, “phooey.” I know, I know, I am an old fuddyduddy. I am what I am.
Lucille Ball, Don Knotts, Jerry Lewis, Steve Martin and Martin Short, they were and are brilliantly funny. Visual and vocal comedy at the finest of hilarities.
Gilda Radner made Saturday Night Live something to look forward to on many a Saturday Night. She left a lot of laughs yet to be laughed when she died. Who could ever forget her character Roseanne Roseannadanna. There were others that could bring laughter just at the sight of them on SNL. Nowadays, not so much.
Humor is very personal. What makes me laugh is not what might make other people laugh. I don’t think personal attacks are ever funny. No way, no how. To make someone feel less than is never funny … in my opinion, which may or may not be humble.
I guess I just don’t understand the comedians of today who attack the character, beliefs or physical features of others. Some audiences seem to just accept it as the way it is. I don’t accept that as an excuse to bully or hurt.
To laugh at the expense of someone is not funny to me. It’s like aiding and abetting a bully (IMO).
I’ll get off my podium now. My sense of humor may be a bit funny turned and old fashioned, but it’s mine.
I’ll leave you with this thought … laughter may be the best medicine but it should never be harmful to anyone.