When I was a kid, I remember spending HOURS listening to my parents' albums of comedy ... Bill Cosby, Allan Sherman, The Smothers Brothers, Tom Lehrer, Bob Newhart. To this day I can probably recite most of any of ten records to you.
As my children were watching a DVD of the old FAT ALBERT AND THE COSBY KIDS television show, I got to think about how much I enjoyed Cosby's albums, so I went to my local library and requested a CD of "The Best of Bill Cosby." My children have had a blast listening to some of Cos' sketches!
Now, way back when, I expect that even Cosby was a little on the risque side. On the CD we have been listening to, we hear him, as "Tonto," telling the Lone Ranger to "go to hell." It's funny, it's part of the joke, but it's a little 'heavy' for my kids. Still, I listened to it when I was about 8, so why not let my kids.
And it got me to thinking about today's comedians. Is there anyone out there that might be comparable to those I mentioned above ... and who's clean? Is there any comedian out there who is funny and who isn't using the "F" word?
I'd love to let my kids listen to something other than what I had 35 years ago, but I'm just not sure what's funny AND clean.
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3 comments:
Jim Gaffigan has decided to cut all swearing out of his act. I'm not opposed to some cussing etc. but i also think that's kind of cool. I remember seeing bits of his stuff, but don't remember much other than that I liked it pretty well. You can read an interview with him as www.avclub.com
Wow, Stix, you've become such a Dad.
K -- thanks for the tip. The interview was very interesting. I, too, am not oppossed to some cussing. I grew up with the Cosby, Sherman, Lehrer, Newhart stuff, and I was probably introduced to a few choice comments through them. Today, one of my preset channels on internet radio Live365.com is the Comedy Channel. Some funny stuff, but usually not appropriate for kids.
I totally agree, Mo, about the idea of a clean comedian appealing to a larger audience, and that brings me to something that perhaps I'll touch on in another blog ... the idea that some things become too focused on one group of supporters, which ultimately leads to demise.
Kootch -- indeed I have. I may never have a best seller or a Broadway hit play, but I do have my kids.
And before someone else mentions it, I am a little hypocritical here. While I don't want my kids listening to humor full of "f*" this and "sh*" that, I know they've heard these words, and perhaps even from me in times of anger. Still, I don't think it needs to be treated as being "okay" and in use even in everyday humor.
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