"Make 'Em Laugh" premieres Jan. 14 on PBS

[AndyHohner]

This will probably interest a few of you, so set your DVRs. Plus it's narrated by Amy Sedaris. Here is the description from the website:

Did you hear the one about PBS airing a comedy series? It’s no joke, but it is funny. In January 2009, PBS will present the series MAKE ’EM LAUGH: The Funny Business of America, a six-hour comedy epic showcasing the most hilarious men, women, and moments in American entertainment and why they made us laugh. Hosted by America’s favorite funnyman, Billy Crystal, the documentary explores the currents of American comedy throughout a century of social and political change, illuminating how comedy has tackled and poked fun at our political system, race relations, gender issues, and the prevailing American standards and taboos in everyday life.

Co-produced by Thirteen/WNET and Ghost Light Films, the series premieres nationally on January 14, 21, 28 at 8 p.m. and will repeat at 10 p.m. (ET) on PBS (check local listings).

Melding performance, biography and history, MAKE ’EM LAUGH features interviews with over 90 comedians, writers, producers, and historians including Judd Apatow, Roseanne Barr, Anne Beatts, the Smothers Brothers, Carol Burnett, Sid Caesar, George Carlin, Larry David, Will Ferrell, Leonard Maltin, Cheech Marin, Steve Martin, Chris Rock, Mort Sahl, Dick Van Dyke, and many, many more.

Each one-hour episode focuses on a distinct genre of American comedy – from the most ingenious physical schtick, to those fast-talking wiseguys, to the most incisive satire and parody – re-acquainting viewers with some of their favorite classics. Billy Crystal will introduce each episode and Amy Sedaris will narrate throughout.

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/makeemlaugh/

[the groinery]

YES! Thanks for the heads up.

America's favorite funnyman is Billy Crystal?

[CaptainBreakfast]

What about Neil Hamburger?

[AndyHohner]

i assume they mean America's favorite comic from 1989.

[billynord]

Make 'em Laugh: Teh Internets

[pg13]

Got the big tie-in book just after Christmas.

The DVD is on pre-order.

Based on the book, this is a VERY mainstream look at the art form--well done for what it is, but unlikely to match the tastes of most ASTers...

Still, it never hurts to learn from the past...
pg

[louisck]

Leonard Maltin.

[billynord]

That's what I was thinking

[louisck]

Make 'em Laugh: Teh Internets

what the fuck?

[Jono11]

The first minute of that video is like if the first half-hour of a mushroom trip was re-enacted by a cable access show.

Jim Lehrer, what did they do to your PBS?

[Dogwelder]

That segment was odd. The title of it (Teh Internets? Really?) and certain sections of it really did feel like PBS producers trying too hard to be hip with the young internet culture. At the same time, I got to watch Amy Sedaris being funny, and that is something I enjoy.

[the groinery]

This looks pretty rough. I had big hopes.

[pg13]

I had big hopes.

Why?

[Jono11]

This looks pretty rough. I had big hopes.

I know! The history of comedy, Leonard Maltin, and the Public Broadcasting Corporation? HOW COULD THEY HAVE SCREWED THIS UP?

[louisck]

I love Amy Sedaris. But. She mentioned a horse, and they put in a horse sound-effect. That means the sound effects guy put a horse in and, instead of saying "Take that out." and watching him get kind of red in the face as he removed it, the producers heard it and said "John, that is fucking hilarious." and slapped him on the back.

[Dogwelder]

I just can't wait to hear how many of the segments Billy Crystal describes as "mahvelous."

[sharilyn]

I'm cautiously looking forward to this. I remember getting excited about A&E's "What's So Funny: Inside American Comedy" in 2003, and it turned out to be just okay. This looks like a multi-part version of the same thing. It'll be watchable, but don't expect anything groundbreaking.

With the exception of the guys who made Comedian, all the good documentaries about comedy (When Standup Stood Out, Aristocrats, Next Big Thing, etc) are made by those who go into it with an intimate knowledge of the business. If you aren't passionate about the subject, you aren't going to bother fighting any battles to protect its integrity in the finished product.

[pg13]

I hadn't watched the video clip until just now.

It reminds me of why I don't watch Al Gore's cable channel "current".

It also reminds me of that episode of "The Young Ones" when Rik gets all excited about a tv show produced "by the kids, for the kids" only to be disillusioned by how crap it turned out to be.

It's bad enough that I wonder if THAT'S the point of this particular segment? The over-editing, the amateurish production values...is that making a stylistic point of the lameness of internet based humor?

If this is the style the ENTIRE series takes, this is going to be an absolute nightmare.

pg--The book seems better, so far. By far.--seattle

[scamboogah]

It also reminds me of that episode of "The Young Ones" when Rik gets all excited about a tv show produced "by the kids, for the kids" only to be disillusioned by how crap it turned out to be.

That is a completely PERFECT pull. Exactly what I thought when I saw it.

"I'm standing up here on this scaffolding, because that's what this show is all about, Shock!!..."

[pollymaepry]

oh plz drama queens.

It wasn't painful and Amy Sedaris got to be hilarious. No one loses.