Cramer wrongfully victimized by Stewart

Tim Bearden
Editor-in-chief

Alright, so Jim Cramer of CNBC’s “Mad Money” wasn’t wrongfully victimized, but that headline got your attention and that’s my point.

As Jon Stewart of Comedy Central’s “Daily Show” said in his interview with Cramer, this is the same exploitation of possibly inaccurate information and advice given by the commentators and reporters of CNBC.

Stewart has been lampooning CNBC this past week after reporter Rick Santelli was seen on the floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange shouting about bailout money going to home-owners. Much to his dismay, I’m sure, Cramer decided it would be a good idea to become, as Stewart put it, the face of CNBC.

But that’s also not the point of this column. The point of this column is we have found true journalism in comedy and that’s both ironic and funny, but not necessarily “funny ha-ha” more like “funny uh-oh” as Yakko Warner would put it. (But misdirection keeps you reading)

Comics tend to turn to the news makers for material. The idea of current events comedy is what started “The Daily Show.” You recap the events of the day, week, month or year and put your own spin to it.

Stewart has taken this a step farther, whether he wanted to or not, and is becoming the watcher of the watchdogs.

Perhaps the best clip of the past week’s war with the financial station was when a reporter, asked one executive accused of Ponzi schemes “What’s it like to be a billionaire?”

Hard hitting, isn’t it? That’s point Stewart was making and he’s absolutely right. It’s sad and stupid that we have to get this information from the same guy who was in Half Baked asking “Have you ever seen the back of a $20 dollar bill…on weed!”

Why can’t more journalists call out other journalists? Because the newspapers or shows they work for are part of the same company. Let’s take the Chicago Tribune, for example.

Tribune Media Co. is owned by Sam Zell. His media group has not only the Trib, but also WGN-TV, WGN Radio and CLTV. Now, let’s make believe CLTV had mostly commentators instead of reporters, like a lot of the national media.

Would that group honestly call out CLTV the same way CNBC was called out by Comedy Central? No, absolutely not, even though they probably know more of what goes on than other media outlets. If they screwed up, it would be news in competing papers, but it would most likely die. Journalists have other things to worry about a lot of the time, such as it not happening to them.

Then again the Trib doesn’t really need to worry about any kind of controversy, considering gossip is such a big deal for Colonel Tribune, the newspapers resident tweeter. Bristol Palin and her boyfriend breaking up was big enough news for him to hop on Twitter.com and get excited about, which was first reported by the Associated Press. And I’m pretty sure these people have more things to worry about than the daughter of a failing Alaskan Gov.’s social life.

Anyway, back on message. From a business stand-point, chastising your own affiliate would cut into your profit margins and, much like what the rest of the market has been doing, your stock would tank. As Chuck Klosterman said in his book Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs, journalism is a business owned by “massive conservative corporations” and they “own everything.” And all those CEO’s know are profit margins.

Editors know that, so they try to keep bad news about their business--(drumroll) out of the news.

CNBC failed and Cramer became the spokesman. The hard-hitting financial network reported on more fluff and crap than the comedy news show. In turn failed to see the bigger picture of what was not just happening, but what they were perpetuating too.

Stewart noticed this, Stewart called them out and it’s ridiculous the journalists missed it.

We’re supposed to be the watchdogs of society, but we were too busy knawing on the bones of G.W. to notice a huge mistake in our own backyard.

Watchmen induces mixed feelings

Tim Bearden
Editor-in-chief

I really wanted to like the Watchmen, but the movie was more two-dimensional than the comic.

That’s not to say the movie was horrible, because it wasn’t. It’s also not to say the effort wasn’t somewhat of a cinematic achievement, because it was. But director Zach Snyder got stuck in the same pitfall that made 300 less than appealing, the story and characters were flat.

Snyder is most revered for his visual directing style and rightfully so, which is why a 600-word review cannot begin to capture the complexity of the film, much like three hours wasn’t enough to capture the complexity of the book. Or was it?

Peter Jackson accurately portrayed each 500 plus page Lord of the Rings book with a movie that was both enjoyable to fans and beginners alike. Each of the theatrical releases was about three hours in length. He was able to give the characters depth, make the viewer believe this alternate world existed and stay true to the story line while remaining visually compelling.

The “Watchmen” graphic novel was about 100 pages less, but it was arguably more complex than “Lord of the Rings.” Within the graphic novel there are many competing story lines woven into one larger story. Snyder, while staying true to the art of the book, just couldn’t bring a majority of these characters to life or lift the story from the page.

One major problem with his adaptation was the emphasis he put on the superheroes. I can respect he did this for the viewers who had not read “Watchmen,” but at the same time I have to chastise him for it. Superheroes were merely a plot device of the book, not the central focus. The central focus was the contempt mankind had for itself and each other.

To put it historically, the book, set in alternate 1985 New York, was written around the same time Bernhard Goetz had just shot four men who were attempting to mug him in a New York subway. From the acclaim he got for being a vigilante, he became a martyr, which is the same kind of story the Watchmen seemed to convey.

It was that underlying story that made the book a New York Times Bestseller and one of Time Magazines “Top 100 Books of all Time,” not the visuals. If you were to take the comic aspect away from the novel, you would have the same amazing book with the same interesting characters and story.

In order to really criticize the other major flaws with the film, I have to briefly describe the philosophy (which could have been written by Nietzsche himself), psychology (which really captures both sociopathic behavior and the “Peter Pan” syndrome) and human condition (mankind ultimately wanting to destroy itself) without losing the integrity along the way. Much like the film had to do and failed at. See why 600-words can’t do this justice?

But, to his credit, Rorschach and Dr. Manhattan had the depth and complexity they deserved. They were major players in the comic and I like the fact Snyder stayed true to them.

Their separate story lines were just as important in the movie as they were in the novel, but I still didn’t feel as though the alternate 1985 was real, like I did when I read it.

Terry Gilliam is well-known for making an alternate universe feel real (i.e. Brazil, The Fisher King and Tideland) and Watchmen is placed in an alternate 1985. When he attempted not once, but twice to make this film and said he couldn’t do it that should speak volumes. But it didn’t. And just like Gilliam goes over budget, I’m going over word count.

Basically, Snyder, this piece was too big for you when a seasoned filmmaker openly admits defeat, but the fanboy attempt does not go unnoticed (being a fanboy myself), no matter how handicapped or half-hearted that attempt may have seemed.

Robin Williams' medical issues

Tim Bearden
Editor-in-chief

Robin Williams, who is scheduled to be in Chicago for his first performance in late March, had to postpone four stops of his "Weapons of Self-Destruction" tour due to health issues.

According to the press release, Williams is being evaluated by doctors and was suggested to take a week of rest. He was reported having "shortness of breath."

Williams probably replied "God was under twice as much stress and he only rested one day. Bite me."

Then again, the 57-year-old comic probably is at the stage of his life that he'll still listen to doctors despite being annoyed.

It comes as no surprise Williams is experiencing shortness of breath, especially with his style of comedy. His high energy, A.D.D. routines would cause even the most adept meth addict a heart attack.

The energy Williams performs with is higher than I have seen with any reputable comedian. His comedic allure has always been the off-the-wall, Tazmanian Devil approach to material.

It still makes you wonder, if this great will fall soon too. In the past year we've had two comedians die from "health complications," the late George Carlin and Bernie Mac. As everyone knows bad things happens in threes. This would be contemporary comedy's third.

Not that I'm wishing any ill-will toward Williams. In fact, quite the opposite. I hope for a speedy recovery followed by a long life of performance. I love his comedy and appreciate his passion and ability to perform with such high energy.

This is why he is one of comedy's greats. We at Comedy Corner Magazine wish him well and want Williams to know Dog is watching over him.

Robin's kind of town

After his "pop in" visit last year to Lakeshore Theater, Robin Williams left Chicago wanting more.

The wait is over as he has announced two shows at the Rosemont Theater in Rosemont, Ill. The legendary comedian will be back in the Chicago area on both March 27 (sold out) and April 18 to perform for Windy City fans.

Tickets range from $49.50 to $95. Supply and demand charts prove his show is not overpriced.

Seinfeld sells out

Tim Bearden
Editor-in-chief

Everyone knew Jerry Seinfeld would make a return to prime time.

He and his good friend Larry David left the original sitcom fairly open ended, just in case they’d want to return to it. But there’s not a TV exec, comedian or entertainment junky that could have seen this coming. Seinfeld making a reality show, one he’s not even in.

His documentary “Comedian” could act as an indicator as to why he wants to do this, reality is funnier than anything scripted. A documentary is one thing, but to sink low enough to reality television is unfathomable, especially for Seinfeld.

Reality TV has proven to be popular. Shows like American Idol, Survivor, Big Brother or any piece of white trash programming VH1 comes up with are huge money makers and rating hogs. NBC picking up Seinfeld’s The Marriage Ref comes as no surprise. Hell, they’ve allowed Last Comic Standing to continue despite the fact it basically degrades comedy and the profession, so why not.

But Seinfeld is better than that, or so people thought. The press release from NBC said the show “will feature opinionated celebrities, comedians and sports stars who will candidly comment, judge and offer different strategies for real-life couples in the midst of a classic marital dispute.”

Even Dr. Phil is changing the channel at this point.

A lot of comedians have been divorced at least once and if they haven’t yet, it’s either coming soon or it’s the rare marriage that can last a lifetime. In the age of TMZ, Perez Hilton and other “e-news” reports about celebrities getting divorced and remarried and divorced again happen all the time. As for sports stars, reference Michael Jordan or Magic Johnson, no more needs to be said. So who better than to delegate a marriage than people who can barely keep one themselves?

People are denouncing this idea all over. Comments on blogs reference old Seinfeld characters like the Soup Nazi or Babu Bhatt trashing the idea. “No Soup for you!” or “Very bad Jerry. Veeeerrrry bad” is a general consensus among the audience. So, NBC, if people who love the show enough to not only have screen names from Seinfeld characters, but also quote them against a new Seinfeld created show, who’s the target audience?

If the network is looking for funny angles to really explore, then why not invite people from ABC’s The Bachelor, The Bachelorette or Fox’s Joe Millionaire to be a part of this comedy counseling. If anyone would need it, it’d be those contestants.

Picking up the idea just because he’s Seinfeld, doesn’t make it a good idea, just a cheap marketing ploy. “Must see TV,” has become nothing more than “Now missing the point.”

"Cable guy's" roast window closing soon

This week Comedy Central announced their roasters for Larry the Cable Guy.

Well funny be damned, even a hack comedian gets a roast. Jeff Foxworthy did too, so it's only fair, right? What's next, Dane Cook?

Execs at the Viacom owned network right now are probably saying, "Oooo! We never thought of him."

Among the roasters are Nick DiPaolo, Jeffrey Ross, Greg Giraldo and Lisa Lampanelli. Who hasn't seen their smiling faces enough during a CC roast? It's like the network has them on contract as professional roasters too, which can't be such a bad thing. Between the four of them, Lisa Lampanelli is the only person with a career.

But choosing her for a roast of a white redneck "from the south" is questionable too.

"How many jokes can you make about black cock," Robert Bykowski, 27-year-old Chicago resident, said.

Not too many in the Confederacy, one would imagine. If anyone can make such a stupid event funny, it would be Lampanelli. Who else could we lean against? Dan Marino, the hall of fame quarterback from the Miami Dolphins. His comedy experience doesn't reach past Ace Ventura, and that's stretching it. Next.

Toby Keith, the country music sensation. OK, he falls into the "from the south" category. His music videos are pretty humorous. But his comedy would have to be prewritten and come in the form of a song. Try again.

The only other salvation so far is Drew Carey, who must not be earning enough on "The Price is Right" to sign up for this B-List gig.

A roast is generally celebrating the achievements of one person. Denis Leary was roasted, Bob Sagat was roasted and well, that's the end of the worthy comedy roasts. It is agreed that Pamela Anderson and William Shatner were not comedy roasts, but they do have a long career of achievements, sort of.

What about Steve Martin, Eddie Murphy, Dave Barry, Bill Cosby, Robin Williams, Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock, Jim Carey (getting iffy), etc. The list goes on.

"Maybe they wouldn't agree to it," Bykowski speculated.

He also said the Blue Collar Comedy Tour has made Comedy Central a lot of money with Blue Collar TV and the tour being replayed at least twice a week.

He's right. For a network that has a monopoly on the comedy scene it's not about the quality, it's about the money.

"Git r dun" Comedy Central because it's shameless not to capitalize on gimmick comedy.

Cr-AP-py

Well, so much artistic freedom.

The Associated Press is suing Shepard Fairey, a street artist from Los Angles known for his Obama campaign poster and USA network’s “Character of the year”, for copyright infringement.

It was a double-take for anyone in the artistic community. The poster was based off an AP photo of Obama shot during the past election season. But looking at the photo, there are minor differences, which should free Fairey of any liability.

For one, the head is cocked differently. The photo had his head tilted lower than the “Hope” poster portrayed our President. Two other differences, which may not hold up in court, are different color ties and a background devoid of the American flag, placed prominently in the AP photo.

What’s this world coming to? The AP is only suing because they’re upset he’s making money off of this. Last time I checked, and it was in the original article, it was a campaign contribution with little stipend. If there is no profit, there is no problem.

The AP is making way to big of deal out of this. American’s top used news wire is acting like a petty child. Do you want your blankey too, as this all gets sorted out?

But what’s next? Will comics get sued from any major publication for basing their jokes off a story written by another author? If so, Leno, Letterman and Conan are all in for a big surprise after this suit is over.

Between the three of them, based off the amount of time they’ve been on the air and the networks profits from advertising during their programs, the national debt could be paid off and the country’s economic crisis could be over.

It’s a strike to any one who is, was or wants to be an artist. Shame on you AP.

But maybe, just maybe, Fairey will reap sweet poetic justice.