Comedy and Everything Else

[bridgetosolace]

hey bridget how did you like the 15 minute torture discussion?

I thought it was a great episode

[JimmyJimmy]

so how did bridget like it?

[aenemaTron]

Through some bizarre coincidence, last Thursday night Jon Stewart pronounced the president's name "Barrack Ewbima" just like Jimmy and those Kiwis. Or is he a listener?

[Americas Team]

Here are some videos I thought were interesting and tie into this show.

Ron Paul debates Stephen Baldwin on Legalizing Marijuana on CNN Larry King



Should I Smoke Dope? 1/6

[MAACP]

New episode with Patton Oswalt is up on iTunes now!

2 Never Not Funnys, and now two CE&Es with amazing guests all around. What a week for my favorite podcasts.

[ProfessorShutYoMouth]

Through some bizarre coincidence, last Thursday night Jon Stewart pronounced the president's name "Barrack Ewbima" just like Jimmy and those Kiwis. Or is he a listener?

I noticed that also...methinks he is a listener.

[CaptainBreakfast]

I really enjoyed this last episode. Kudos to patton for being patton.

[st.raw]

this is one for the archives.

[scamboogah]

Best episode ever (or at least as good as the Garafolo 2-parter).

Listened to it at work yesterday, and then again during a drive to Santa Cruz.

[pissedpissedofferson]

Ron Paul debates Stephen Baldwin on Legalizing Marijuana on CNN Larry King

We elected the wrong Baldwin.

[chester drawers]

that podcast is great

[Cameron]

I just want to say that this episode was amazing. Some of the things said really reaffirmed how much I love stand up comedy and that I want to be doing it the rest of my life.

[studiode]

Awesome episode. Lots of great discussion. Here's some things I took away from the episode (Mind you, these are all paraphrased.):

Patton: "Did you really think that was all you had in you? Are you kidding? You clearly have a funny view on life. Did life stop coming at you after you wrote 45 minutes? I never have understood that at all."

"There's a million ways to make it. If you're a comedian and you dont make it, It's kind of your fault. 'I pitched it to the 3 major networks then I stopped.' What?! You fucked up!"

"The guy that does it 5 years and just is open to everything, and enjoys every second, and is just innovative? They are gonna move along quicker." (I particularly enjoyed this one.)

Todd: "Wherever you're at in your career, that's exactly where you belong."

Jimmy: "You have to think of yourself as Steve Martin. You have to think of yourself as Steven Wright. You have to hink of yourself as Jerry Seinfeld, or whoever. You have to know that some kid is walking into this comedy show, and you have to deliver. You are that good. You are as good as Steve Martin. You are as good as Steven Wright."

[scamboogah]

Here's what I took away from it;

"BING BANG BOOM!! ZINGY ZINGY ZINGY BONG BONG!! BING BANG BING BANG!!! WHOAA-OOHHH!!

[Adult Ed]

I think what I took away from it is that progressives will not make much progress until they start arguing against the real points that conservatives are making instead of straw men.

[Dr. Feelgood]

Am I imagining things, or have you guys been dropping hints about charging for the show? (Sorry if I missed something on the board or the show)

[Hated Milk Machine]

I think what I took away from it is that progressives will not make much progress until they start arguing against the real points that conservatives are making instead of straw men.

Whats this in reference to?

[CaptainBreakfast]

I love this one the most from patton:

"You haven't been doing comedy for 19 years. You did comedy for one year, and then repeated that year 19 times."

p.s. what the hell happened to the font on this thread?

[Adult Ed]

Whats this in reference to?

Specifically, health care policy. I'm not quoting exactly, but the point made by either Jimmy or Patton was "Why is Gingrich complaining that people will choose the government plan over a private plan when the fact of their choice is evidence that the private plan sucks. This proves that Gingrich is an insurance industry stooge who is knowingly deceiving people." This is a poor summary of the Gingrich argument and because it misunderstands Gingrich, opposing it does nothing to advance the liberal case for a public health care system.

Most people don't "choose" their insurer. They receive their insurance through their employers or unions or other large institutional affiliation. The problem isn't people ditching their expensive, restrictive, shitty personal plans. It is employers, having decided that they no longer need to offer health insurance to compete for employees ceasing to offer health coverage. That presents a problem that wasn't addressed or, to my ears, even understood by the crew on C&EE.

I am not saying this is an insurmountable problem or even that it is necessarily a problem - there are good reasons for wanting to decouple health insurance from employment - but it is a hell of a lot more complicated than as it was presented. I know that it is mostly a comedy show but if you are going to debate without the opposition participating in the discussion, you really need to show an understanding of what the opposition is arguing.

Also, the Chevy Nova thing is an urban legend.

[Berliner]

Since we're "going there," I disagree with Jimmy's statements on teacher's unions. Jimmy said something to the effect that teachers who don't believe in teacher's unions should go work in private schools. There are many good, dedicated public school teachers who want the best for their students, but have their efforts stymied by teacher's unions.

A teacher's union is created to protect the interests of teachers. The interest of a school system is (hopefully) to educate students to the best of its ability. There are going to be conflicts of interests. Where those conflicts occur, the interest of the student should take priority over the teacher if we want America to have a well educated citizenry and competitive workforce.

Washington DC has one of the most dysfunctional school systems in the nation. Reformers are trying to improve these conditions by introducing merit based pay, school vouchers, less rigid firing policies for teacher misconduct, etc. Teacher's unions see these reforms as threats to the job security of teachers and oppose any changes. Democrats receive campaign contributions from the teacher's unions and depend on them for endorsements and campaign drives.

This is the result.

(The program has since been shut down due to lack of Democratic support)

In closing: Won't somebody please think of the children!?

Edit: Here's an expose on teacher's unions.