Renewed Sad 10 - Comedians Gone Too Soon

Life is cruel. Sometimes it can be more cruel than you expected. And in this case, Comedy and Tragedy go hand in hand in a much more sumber way.

Whether it be poor health, natural causes, an unfortunate accident, drug usage, or depression...... some comedians are like watching a wonderful, beautiful sunset... at Noon(stole that line from ERB... but it fits.)

Here are some of my favorite funny peoples that didn't see their potential reached because Tragedy struck.

Top 10 Comedians That Were Gone Too Soon

Here we go.

Special Mention: Robin Williams: So... Robin Williams deserves a Special Mention. Why only that? Yes... it is a Tragedy. And yes, he shouldn't have left us. But to say he had a full career is an understatement. And this list is dedicated to those that I feel... didn't get that opportunity. So... don't get this wrong. I love and miss Robin. He was my hero after all. I acknowledge he had more he COULD'VE done, but he gave us so much.

Honorable Mention 1: The Amazing Jonathon: The Amazing Jonathon took the idea of Carrot Top/Gallagher's prop comedy and mixed it with a bit of Penn & Teller's magic. And we got... a crazy comedy magician with a loud assistant/partner. One comedy hour special with Comedy Central, and it is Legendary. We lost him this year due to his long battle with Heart Disease.

Honorable Mention 2: Richard Jeni: So... you've seen Richard Jeni. I know you have. Where? He was Stanley's putz friend/co-worker in The Mask. Yeah, that Mask. He had a WONDERFUL stand up special. And his delivery was on Point. He took his own life in 2007. 

Honorable Mention 3: Andy Kaufman: Andy was weird... Andy was annoying... Andy was a genius. Such untapped potential, and thankfully Jim Carrey helped us relive some of that magic with the movie Man On The Moon. Lung Cancer took Andy Kaufman at age 35. I wonder how HUGE of a sitcom star he could've been.

Bonus! 11. Greg Giraldo: One of the SMARTEST stand up comics I got the chance to see/hear. Must have been the fact he passed THE BAR and had a Law Degree. Most famous for his participation in the Comedy Central roasts. And mainly went first or near the beginning. Which sucked for EVERYONE that had to follow him. Sadly, we lost Greg to accidental overdose... after years of battling and BEATING alcoholism.

10. John Pinette: John Pinette... the eaters comic. Sad to say it that way, but he was. Joking about being big... and trying to get into shape... food... and his disdain for waiting in line. Pulmonary Embolism took John from us. But... if you have a copy of Thomas Jane's The Punisher, Bumpo lives on.

9. Sam Kinison: The Man Who Gave Us Rage Comedy. Yelling his punchlines... yelling just to yell. But it made him stand out, even since then, no one has matched that rage comedy at that level. If you know, you know. We lost Sam at the PEAK of his career in 1992 to a 17 year old drunk driver. Poetic... because that would be a Sam Kinison way to go out.

8. Gilda Radner: One of the original 7 "Not Ready For Prime Time Players" thar started Saturday Night Live. Roseanne Roseannadanna, Baba Wawa, and parodies of Lucille Ball and Patti Smith earned her an Emmy in 1978. One of the greatest performers in SNL history. We lost her to Ovarian Cancer in 1989... but her impact is still felt on SNL today.

7. John Ritter: So, in my special mention, I noted that I didn't put Robin on the list due to him having given us so much. A similar thing can be said about John Ritter. Stand out star if the Sitcom Three's Company... Dad in the Problem Child franchise... Adult Ben in the origina IT miniseries. So... why does John make the list and Robin doesn't? 8 Simple Rules For Dating My Teenage Daughter. It was a SECOND prime for John. Losing John Ritter to that heart attack WHILE 8 Simple Rules was still killing it(sorry)... would've been like Robin dying before his stand up Resurgence.

6. John Candy: A member of the Toronto branch of The Second City Troupe and member of the SCTV cast, John Candy went on to have a SUCCESSFUL movie career. Uncle Buck, Cool Runnings, improv cameo in Home Alone, The Great Outdoors, Spaceballs, and the only TRUE Thanksgiving movie ever made... Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. Dying of a Heart Attack at Age 43... you wonder just how much bigger his career would've gotten.

5. Phil Hartman: One of the greatest voices in comedy. SNL legend. Simpsons legend. You may also know him as the voice of Henry Mitchell and Mr. Wilson in the 90s Dennis the Menace Cartoon. We lost him when he was shot by his wife at age 49.

4. Chris Farley: Chris Farley had this energy. On SNL. In his movies. He just had something. He was able to make being a fat white ninja work... he was able to lift up David Spade(and vice versa). And the Lunch Lady song skit is one of the greatest SNL skits off all time...... and so was the Chippendales skit with Patrick Swayze... and Living in a "Van Down By The River". He was on a different level. He was his generation's John Belushi. Sadly... that other level was Cocaine. Which he died of an overdose of(and morphine) at the age of 33. A Speedball.

3. John Belushi: Speaking of John Belushi, another of the original SNL cast, one of the Seven "Not Ready For Prime Time Players". Samurai Futaba, Henry Kissinger, Beethoven, James T. Kirk, Joe Cocker... and of course, one half of the Blues Brothers. Bluto in Animal House... and then... we lost him. He was fired from his drug usage... and then overdose of cocaine and heroin, Speedball. At the time of his death, he had SEVERAL film projects he was in the talks for. Sadly... he never got to.

2. Patrice O'Neal: Patrice O'Neal had been doing stand up since 1992, but didn't get his one hour on Comedy Central until 2010. Sometimes, it is difficult to get your big break. But Patrice had finally got it(along with an HBO half hour in 2005). Elephant in the Room was an amazing special. He had this gentle-giant appeal to him. And his comedy was smart. His only Comedy Central roast appearance... Charlie Sheen roast in 2011. Patrice went on last. And... they HAD to. No one could've followed that. And 2 months after it aired, he passed due to Stroke. One Comedy Hour special... yet... it is one of the best.

(Here is where the celebratory lead in for number 1 would go.)

1. Mitch Hedberg: Mitch Hedberg was special. And... we knew it. Always looked down during his sets, like he was timid/shy. But his observational humor showed just how smart he was. "An escalator cannot break. It can only become stairs." Which is... right. But his delivery made it sound like it was the greatest joke ever. George Carlin's comedy was based around words...... and if you ever sat down and listened to the "Bits" section, the one liners(or read them in his books)... it is almost like they combined to manifest Mitch Hedberg. And yeah... coming from me... that is HIGH praise. And... for the 3rd time in the top 4 entries... we have another death from a Speedball.

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Is there anyone I missed? I admit... this one mad me pretty sad typing these out. Almost cried typing Gilda Radner's out. And that was pretty early in the post.

What did you think? Could I have done these amazing comedians any more justice?

Comment and share.

Until next time...

Don't forget...

Or at least try to after this tearjerker.

Renewed Top 10 - Comedians As Talk Show Hosts

Talk Shows. A staple of Talk Shows is the funny host that comes out and delivers that monologue, and offers levity in the interviews.

I'm going to preface this with... I don't know how many of these Talk Show Hosts have had separate Stand-Up Careers... at least before I started researching these hosts. So... this list is FULLY based on how I like these Comedians as Hosts.

So... let's get into it.

Top 10 Comedians As Talk Show Hosts

Here we go...

Special Mention: Johnny Carson: Johnny Carson is THE legend. But honestly, I didn't get much exposure to him until much later with reruns, and commericals of his run on the Tonight Show. I know he is legendary. I just didn't live in that era.

Honorable Mention 1: Jay Leno: The Squeaky Voiced Jay Leno. I admit... I have issues with how he got the Tonight Show over Letterman... and with how he screw Conan out of the Tonight Show. But... Headlines was one of my favorite bits. Glad... only on Monday.

Honorable Mention 2: Jimmy Kimmel: So... Jimmy Kimmel has always been... "funny". Co-Host of the Man Show, he was the better of the 2(the other being Adam Carolla). And then co-hosting Win Ben Stein's Money... I didn't know how Kimmel would work out on his own. And he has proven that he CAN do it. Too bad he has 2 BETTER shows to contend with in that time slot.

10. Jimmy Fallon: Speaking of Time Slot. Jimmy Fallon. A stand out from SNL, he got the job AFTER Conan/Jay. And eventually got the Tonight Show. And... while I loved him for so long, his show has gotten... bland. The games are still great, but the interviews are not. The monologue is lacking. But... status quo is still pretty good.

9. Craig Ferguson: Over 2000 Episodes of the Late Late Show... and he got away with plenty of innuendo. If there was ever a Late Night host that could command a crowd without effort. And... that Scottish accent just made everything else funny.

8. Dennis Miller: SNL Alum that has Weekend Update. What if he turned that into a show? That is what HBO did for him in the 90s, and dammit, if it wasn't good. I don't always agree with his politics, but you could tell he was smart with his opening monologue. Dammit... he was so good.

7. John Oliver: One of "Stewart's Kids". The Brit who is now a US Citizen. And he went from being a part of the Daily Show to hosting his own show on HBO called "Last Week Tonight". Instead of a nightly show, he covers the previous week on Sunday. And... of all the talk shows HBO has ever come up with, this is the best. John Oliver has an even brighter future ahead of him.

6. George Lopez: TBS featured this Latin sensation on his own Talk Show. And... airing after Midnight... he was able to break so many late night TV tropes. Everything I said about Craig Ferguson applies here, except for the Scottish Accent. Lopez is a phenomenal stand up... and it showed through.

5. Conan O'Brien: Conan. So funny... funny enough to graduate from Late Night to the Tonight Show. Funny enough to make Jay Leno jealous. Funny enough for TBS. And he caught fire a SECOND time. Team CoCo!!!

4. Graham Norton: Graham Norton had a decently successful Talk Show in the states, but back home, on the BBC, changed the game. Instead of what feels like interviews, all the guests sit on the same couch, and it feels like a conversation. And... it is pretty damn cool. Must be a Brit thing, because James Corden brough that over when it took over the Late Late Show.

3. Stephen Colbert: Another of "Stewart's Kids". Originally a member of the Second City Troupe, he had bits every now and then on SNL(did you know Colbert and Carell voiced Ace & Gary in the Ambiguously Gay Duo cartoons?). He joined the Daily Show as a correspondent... eventually getting his own show called "The Colbert Report", where he played satirical fake Conservative doing the news. And... it was SO GOOD enough that when David Letterman retired, Colbert got the job. And... he deserved it. And he changed the tired game/format. For so long... 1 main guest, 1 secondary guest, 1 famous music act. Colbert... sometimes he will only have 1 guest and then music. Sometimes, 2 guests and no music. Sometimes, only music. And... it doesn't have to be mainstream music. The night he had the Legend of Zelda Orchestra as the music guests, I knew we had something different brewing. And... Fallon might have a Grammy winning band... but Colbert has a Oscar winning band leader. Take that, Fallon!

2. David Letterman: Speaking of David Letterman, here is the reason that I only watched Leno on Monday. David Letterman was my Late Night host growing up. Solid monologue, the Top Ten Lists(meta here), and not afraid of messing with his guests, not afraid of tackling them head on. The Crispin Freeman incident, Lawyer slapping Kaufman, Drew Barrymore flashing Dave on TV, the infamous Joaquin Phoenix interview, and making the post prison Paris Hilton about Prison when she apparently she was told it wouldn't be that way. Funnier than Leno. Presentation better than Leno. And... a Native Hoosier!

And the Number 1 Talk Show Host Comedian is...

1. Jon Stewart: I mentioned "Stewart's Kids" a couple of times. Well, here is why. Jon Stewart and The Daily Show was the closest to news I ever wanted to get to. And... Jon Stewart was the ever present professional. Yes, it was a comedy show. But when he needed to be funny, he was. When he needed to be serious, he was. When he needed to be sincere, he was. And even though, I know he is liberal, he didn't hold back against either side. He burned both sides when it deserved. Now... what about Stewart's Kids? Steven Colbert, Steve Carell, Samantha Bee, John Oliver, Wyatt Cenac, Rob Riggle, Ed Helms, Rob Corddry, Al Madrigal, Mo Rocca, Jason Jones, even current Daily Show host Trevor Noah. All... students of Jon Stewart. No matter what they did before The Daily Show, I fully believe their time with Jon Stewart made them better. Some went on to host their own shows, Ed Helms became a big movie star. Steve Carell... well... you know who Steve Carell. Mo Rocca is even the host of CBS Sunday Morning. Jon Stewart wasn't just an era's "Funny News Guy"... he fostered an era of humor.

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What do you think? Anyone I missed? What do you think of Talk Shows hosted by comedians?

Did I miss any?

Comment below. Share this thing.

Until next time...

Don't forget...

The New Review - Chip n Dale's Rescue Rangers

Logo trademarked by Disney

Chip n Dale's Rescue Rangers

Directed by Akiva Schaffer

Starring John Mulaney and Andy Samberg

Concept: Cartoon characters are really actors playing parts in shows and movies. Chip n Dale are a pair of Disney Chipmunks that had a great cartoon in the 90s. And this... is the aftermath of the fallout between the Titular characters.

Execution:

Here we go...

Cast: John Mulaney and Andy Samberg are the PERFECT voices for new Chip n Dale. Voices from Will Arnett, Seth Rogen, J.K. Simmons. The only casting choice that threw me off was for Zipper. And... while it was awesome, it also felt weird. More of a "sticker shock" type thing. But it grows on you. Score: 18/20

Presentation: They tried to blend live action, CG, and cartoon animation. And... while it works for the most part, it is a bit jarring in some scenes. To do this sort of thing gives off vibes like Who Framed Roger Rabbit... which is great, but still jarring in some scenes. You might not notice, even with this forewarning. But... I did. Score: 17/20

Chronicle: The plot in this movie is... paper thin(a few papers maybe). But, that is the beauty of it. It feels like a plot from the old Rescue Rangers cartoon series. It... fits. It works. And it is simple. But it is also layered. Some real commentary about animation styles, reboots, bootlegging, and even BODY IMAGE. Score: 25/30

Impact/Legacy: Rescue Rangers is this generation's Roger Rabbit. Yeah... I brought it up again. But that is an important thing to bring it. Roger Rabbit changed how to merge animation with reality. And this movie does that with CG as well. Filled with so many references... weird cameos... and it took what Roger Rabbit did with Meta... and MADE it even more Meta. This category is split with Legacy because it is a spiritual reboot/revival. And as I mentioned in Chronicle, this movie is a fitting to be a revival of the Rescue Rangers formula, while still being something unique to it. Score: 20/20

Extra Oomph: Rescue Rangers is a love letter to anyone who grew up watching cartoon in the 80s and 90s. And you can see why in just a moment... I'm going to give you a small-ish list of references and cameos:

-Roger Rabbit himself

-Woody Woodpecker

-Mrs. Doubtfire

-Batman v Superman mixed with E.T.

-The Flintstones

-Pink Panther

-Ugly Sonic

-Top Cat

-Snoopy

-Randy Marsh from South Park

-Bigfoot from Goofy Movie

-Mrs. Flynn-Fletcher from Phineas and Ferb

-Little Mermaid

-Shredder from TMNT

-Wreck It Ralph

-Transformers

-Voltron

-Indiana Jones(in a Double Meta moment)

-Rick and Morty

-The Simpsons

-Bonkers!!

Let's... stop there. There are MANY MANY more. And it is wonderful. The attention to detail in these references, some subtle. It is wonderful. And I had as much fun spotting references as I did watching the movie. Score: 13/10

Final Score: 93/100

Final Grade: A-

Conclusion: As a movie, it is pretty decent. And I did enjoy it. But as a love letter to 80s/90s kids, I LOVED it. Some more references like how they were presented in Ready Player One would've been cool, but this is truly the modern era Who Framed Roger Rabbit? and... it is glorious.

It's all a matter of opinion: I cannot stress enough that THIS is MY opinion, you can either agree with me or not. I don't have to justify my opinion, because *clears throat* that's what this blog is about. Whether I like it or not doesn't mean you have to or not...... I'ts just my justification behind MY recommendation... Which leads me to my FINAL JUDGMENT...

FINAL JUDGMENT: If you have a Disney+ Subscription, then you have ZERO excuse not to watch it. And if you don't... for less then a movie ticket, you can get a subscription... get to see this movie... and much more. Yes... I'm saying Sub to Disney+. But I'm also saying that if you are one of those 80s/90s kids, you NEED to see it. And... if you are one of those with kids now, this would be a good way to introduce them to The Rescue Rangers!!!

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Well there you go! Chip n Dale's Rescue Rangers has gotten a 93!!!

Have you seen it yet? What did you think? If not... did this sway you?

Comment and share...

Until next time...

Don't forget...

Renewed Top 10 - May Blockbuster Month

It is that time. Time for the May Blockbuster list!!! 

I neglected this list because I'm doing others... and I had a vacation. But... when I went to make the pool of titles for this list, I nearly had a stroke. So many movies. But... this is my list... and it is time to piss some people off.

So... let's start with the top domestic grossing movies of May.

1. Marvel's Avengers 623m

2. Star Wars: The Phantom Menace 474m

3. Star Wars: A New Hope 460m

4. Avengers: Age of Ultron 459m

5. Shrek 2 441m

2 MCU. 2 Star Wars. Shrek 2!!!

Wow! Shrek 2!

Now how about THE list?

Top 10 Movies Released in May

Here we go.

Special Mention: There are ALOT of MCU movies in May, and... I've done that list. So no representation here. And... there are plenty of Star Wars movies in May, and I'm not a dedicated fan. So... they aren't on my lists either. Sorry. Was never a Trekkie or a Star Wars fanatic. I appreciate them... but not my thing.

Honorable Mention 1: Spider-Man(5/3/2002): The start of Sam Raimi's trilogy. Tobey Maguire brought Spider-Man to life... and gave us one of the best comic book movie villains.

Honorable Mention 2: Deadpool 2(5/18/2018): Sequel to one of the most successful R-Rated movies of all time. Cable is one of my favorite X-Men characters, and Josh Brolin killed it. But I still think the first movie was better overall.

Honorable Mention 3: Short Circuit(5/9/1986): A Kids/Family movie about a sentient military robot with feelings! I loved that movie... the sequel was pretty good too. Johnny 5 is Alive!!!

10. Smokey and the Bandit(5/27/1977): Legitimately a car chase movie, but Burt Reynolds and Jackie Gleason made this movie legendary.

9. John Wick 3 - Parabellum(5/17/2019): The 3rd Movie in the series that made Keanu Reeves an action star again. Such a damn good series.

8. Up(5/29/2009): The SADDEST intro in Disney history. Even more so than Bambi. Leading to a story that warmed the heart of an old man who lost everything. Sad... but endearing.

7. Conan the Barbarian(5/14/1982): Arnold Schwarzenegger's giant sword wielding movie of might and magic. This role along with Terminator made Arnold a household name.

6. The Craft(5/3/1996): Catholic School witches. Come on... but really, the story was pretty damn good, and absolutely helped shaped my taste in Goth Girls... Fairuza Balk. Damn.

5. Ernest Goes To Camp(5/3/1987): I grew up loving Ernest. And most of his movies were great, but this one is still my favorite. The run away lawn mower is a wonderful gag. We miss you Jim Varney.

4. X2 X-Men United(5/2/2003): Proof that sequels don't have to suck. It is one of the best sequels ever made, and maybe the best of the X-Men movies. Good and bad working together against a great bad. It just... worked.

3. The Fifth Element(5/9/1997): One of my favorite Sci-Fi movies of all time. Which I highlighted on my Bruce Willis list. Favorite trivia about the movie... the main protagonist and the main antagonist NEVER meet face to face through the entire movie.

2. Pokémon Detective Pikachu(5/10/2019): One of the Best Video Game movies off all time, and probably because Ryan Reynolds voiced the little yellow mouse. But it showed that it can be done. Since then, we have had 2 excellent Sonic the Hedgehog movies. All it took was one Pokémon movie to break the mold.

And the Number 1 Movie Released In May is...

1. The Crow(5/13/1994): A staple of my movie watching every year. A tradition on Oct 30th. Brandon Lee is a legend, and sadly this movie is what killed me. But his spirit lives on with this Gothic adaptation. Great soundtrack. Great visuals. And... Ernie Hudson. With a Remake starring Bill Skarsgård on the horizon, I hope it lives up to expectations. And even if not, I will continue to watch this one. Why? Because it can't rain all the time.

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Did I miss any good ones? Should the MCU get more love on the list? Does it skew the list?

Personally... no.

Comment and share!!!

Until next time...

Don't forget...

Renewed Top 10 - Stand Up Comedians With Sitcoms

There is this tradition of "Hey, your stand up is great, want a sitcom based on it?" And most of the time, it is a terrible idea. But every now and then, you get gold.

And that is what this list is going to touch on. Sitcoms that stem from a Stand Up Comedian's set, or just starring them in some way.

So... let's get into it.

Top 10 Sitcoms For Stand Up Comedians

Here we go...

Honorable Mention 1: The Bob Newhart Show: I didn't see much of Bob Newhart's stand up. But I know anything that I have ever seen him in as been nothing short of comedy genius. Just something about his delivery. And this show was legendary.

Honorable Mention 2: It's Garry Shandling's Show/The Larry Sanders Show: Here we have two shows starring Gary Shandling. Why both of them? They have very similar premises. Garry Shandling Show was... well... him. But Larry Sanders was Garry playing a character in a late night show. But the feel of both shows was the same. 

Honorable Mention 3: Louie: Louis C.K. has been the center of controversy that he has now gotten past. And... he is one of the most successful stand up comedians in the modern era, winning MULTIPLE Grammys in the process. Makes sense to give him a show where he basically plays himself.

10. Mork & Mindy: Robin Williams cameos in Happy Days as alien Mork from Ork. Popular enough to give him his own spinoff... and... to say that Mork & Mindy was a very "Robin Williams" show is explanation enough.

9. The Steve Harvey Show: Did you know Steve Harvey had his own sitcom? I did... but after he got his talk show and the hosting gig for the Family Feud, I torally forgot. And it's sad because it was a great family sitcom.

8. Parks & Recreation: Amy Poehler starring series post SNL. But it isn't only HER show. Aziz Ansari & Nick Offerman are both huge parts of this show... leaning into their stand up prowess... and Chris Pratt becoming a huge actor comedy star. It bleeds Pop Culture.

7. Roseanne: A sitcom about what a real middle American lower class family would really be. Changed the sitcom forever, and the current follow up "The Conners" is still doing it right.

6. The George Lopez Show: I mean... self explanatory. George Lopez... Mexican American Family Sitcom based on Lopez's experiences. Pretty simple.

5. Seinfeld: Jerry Seinfeld is synonymous with Nothing Comedy. And that isn't a burn. It led to a Sitcom about Nothing. One of the MOST successful Sitcoms of all time. And... literally about him playing a Stand Up Comic... make a joke... and an episode of his "personal life" inspiration for the joke. Also... did you spot the Superman?

4. F Is For Family: Netflix Animated Sitcom created by Vince Vaughn starring the voice of Bill Burr. An amalgamation of King of the Hill and Married with Children. Definitely not for kids. So good. So... good.

3. The Drew Carey Show: Funny to think about Drew Carey being a Stand Up, given that he is now the host of The Price is Right. But it led to his own sitcom, and dammit... was it great. And it gave us Ryan Stiles... made Diedrich Bader even more famous... and CRAIG FERGUSON. I loved this show.

2. Home Improvement: Tim Allen's stand up was filled with self-deprecating misogyny. And weirdly enough, it made for a WONDERFUL Sitcom about a man who hosts a local Home Improvement show called "Tool Time", where Tim gets injured... constantly... due to his overconfidence and quest for "More Power". And... it gave us the very special Richard Karn, an American TV Treasure!

And the Number 1 Sitcom Vehicles for Stand Ups is...

1. Full House: Who doesn't know about Full House!?! 3 Men raising 3 young girls. And how that family grows. Of course, it was a vehicle for Bob Saget, one of the dirtiest Stand Up Comedians... ever. And ABC's bitch with America's Funniest Home Videos. But... people sometimes seem to forget... Dave Coulier was a stand up/impressionist who PLAYED Stand Up/Impressionist Joey Gladstone in the show... and had his own ABC home video show, America's Funniest People. This Sitcom defined the late 80s and early 90s. Led to many a viewers' crushes(yeah... I acknowledge John Stamos for the ladies... while also acknowledging that one of my first crushes was Jodie Sweetin... I am that age lol... I mean... have you seen her now!?!?!?!). Full House defined an era. And... even Fuller House defined how "Sitcom Sequels" should be done.

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So there is the list. Any Stand Up fed Sitcoms that I missed? Share them with me... I want to watch them.

Tell me what you think. Comment. Share.

Stay tuned for more HAHAs!!

Until next time...

Renewed Top 10 - Best Modern Stand-Up Comedians

Comedy. Some can do it. Some can't. Sometimes it feels like a lost art. But watching a new(or new-ish) comic on stage is such a beautiful thing. You know they are testing the waters to see what sinks... to see what floats... and to shape their identity.

So this list is dedicated to modern comedy. I don't have a timeline for "modern". It is more so a feeling for the era. You might so some names that have been around for a bit, but their fame might've been more recent. Or maybe they went from being meh to being a mainstay in comedy.

So... let's talk about Modern Comics!!!

Top 10 Best Modern Stand-Up Comics

Special Mention: Esther Ku: Semi-Finalist for Last Comic Standing. I will say this.....  she is cute as hell. And because of it, you wouldn't think she is an insult comic. The reason she isn't on the list or an Honorable Mention is because I haven't seen enough of her yet. But she is EXTREMELY promising. So far... I'm impressed.

Honorable Mention 1: Pete Holmes: He looks innocent. He really does. But is he really? He has this subtle/not so subtle delivery, and he is more a visual comic. And I'm not talking Prop comedy. I'm talking facial expressions. If you see him do a set... you will see what I mean.

Honorable Mention 2: Tom Segura: As innocent as Pete Holmes looks, Tom Segura does not. He looks like he should be in prison. And he leans into that either. He is a white Carlos Mencia, if Mencia was funny.

Honorable Mention 3. Josh Blue: A great comedian with Cerebral Palsy, and he leans into it. Makes the best of it. And recently was on America's Got Talent. But he was already killing it way before that.

BONUS!!! 11. Pete Davidson: I have no idea how Pete got Kim Kardashian. But he did... and if it's because of his comedy... okay. A new age Saturday Night Live cast member, goofy as hell. But his stand up is on point. Self-referential. Self-deprecating. And he has so much more potential than we have seen... proof? The movie... The King of Staten Island.

9. Hannibal Buress: The beauty of Hannibal Buress is his delivery. He ALWAYS sounds like he is about to go to sleep... or constantly high. Well, that explains it.

8. John Mulaney: Former SNL writer responsible for the Stefan skits with Bill Hader... turned a bit character into an icon. And his stand up has been near perfection. He knows who his audience is, but surprising... his audience keeps growing.

7. Bill Burr: Harsh, scathing, and funny! And a very recognizable voice. Perfect for voice acting, and he had the lead role in Netflix's F Is For Family.

6. Jimmy Carr: British dark Stand-up comic infamous for firing back at hecklers. His delivery is precise, and his laugh is annoying. Perfect for making your skin crawl. And he knows it.

5. Chris Hardwick: An active performer before he tried his hand at national level stand-up specials, he was the creator of The Nerdist and a big contributor to the original Attack of the Show. Since then, he is now an accomplished stand-up comic, had a "game show" on Comedy Central called @Midnight(I miss that show), a current game show produced by LeBron James called The Wall, and the Walking Dead post show The Talking Dead. Hardwick is the "Nerd's Comedian"

4. Kyle Kinane: The Voice Of Comedy Central! He does the voiceovers for almost all of the commercials for the programming. And his stand-up is smooth. Like a good Whiskey. He is gruff, but can lead a crowd. He doesn't sound like his comedy would be smart, but it is. He is legit Larry the Cable Guy, if Larry was smart and didn't target the redneck community. Nothing wrong with that... but Kinane's comedy is for everyone. Larry's is not.

4. Donald Glover: Combination of Wayne Brady and Chris Rock. He is funny... he can act... he can sing. And his stock can ONLY go up from here. And this stand-up... is amazing. His delivery would make Richard Pryor proud.

3. Anthony Jeselnik: One of the GREATEST dark comics I have ever seen. He has ZERO tact. Whatsoever. And it is beautiful. He will offend. He will insult. He will make you laugh by making you so uncomfortable. And even the one liners are genius. Also, follow him on Twitter. The day of a tragedy one liners are more than genius.

2. Patton Oswalt: Another "Nerd's Comedian". It stand up is situational and reactional. And it is enhanced by his nerdy voice. Branching out, you will see Patton Oswalt pop up in various shows... movies... and co-creator of the M.O.D.O.K. Marvel stop motion series... he also does the voice of the titular character.

And the Number One Modern Stand-Up Comic is...

1. Bo Burnham: Started gaining fame in 2006 on YouTube at the age of 16, he is a multi-faceted comedic talent. Using one liners, music, and intelligent delivery. He KNOWS he is good. So he branched out, and now he can add poignant director and screenwriter to the list. High energy. And his career can only go up from here.

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Any Modern Comics you like that aren't on the list? Tell me... I want to check them out.

Comment and Share!

Stay tuned for more of this series!!!

Until next time...

The New Review - Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness

Copyright by Marvel/Disney

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

Directed by Sam Raimi

Starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olsen, and Xochitl Gomez

Note: I am changing how this movie should be addressed... given the noir horror nature of this movie, it is now "The Multiverse of Madness" Doctor Strange is just starring in it. It isn't his movie. It is the Multiverse's movie.

Concept: MCU Sequel for Doctor Strange... and Spider-Man: No Way Home... and WandaVision. Strange is going to travel to the Multiverse

Execution

Here we go...

Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch should've been the only choice when they first casted for Strange, and in this film, he plays MULTIPLE distinct versions that are just him showing off how good he is. Benedict Wong was perfect... again(Wait... did I just realize that they casted a Benedict for Wong... and his last name really is Wong?!?... woah). Elizabeth Olsen shows off that creepiness we got a glimpse of in Age of Ultron, and dialed it up to 13... they leaned HARD into her being a villain. Xochitl Gomez did a wonderful job as the MCU newcomer, looking forward to seeing what more she brings to the table. And nice seeing Rachel McAdams have more involvement in this movie compared to the original. Score: 20/20

Presentation: The MCU meets Sam Raimi horror, topped with some Danny Elfman movie soundtrack magic. It is HEAVY CG, but it needed to be. Difficult to do most of that with practical effects... but to Raimi's credit, he packed some really great practical effects, that he is know for, in this movie. And for movie to be the scale of this movie, it never once feels overwhelming. Some CG moments did look a bit choppy. But... no fault to Raimi or FX crew... there would be no way to have done it more smoothly. Score: 20/20

Chronicle: So... how do you make a sequel to one of the most visual impression MCU movies? And make it a sequel to a trilogy of a different franchise? While making it a bridge to other franchises? And referencing pieces of your television franchises? AND setting up the future of the MCU? Well... with this movie. Sam Raimi weaved together SO MUCH going on in the MCU(past, present, future), but it never felt like that was all going on. It felt like... a Doctor Strange Sequel. Which is what it was supposed to be. A love story, a tragedy, and a horror film all wrapped up in a neat, magic filled package. And I need to highlight that. This did NOT feel like an MCU movie to me. It felt like a Sam Raimi horror film... but doesn't at the same time. It filled a mold... but breaks the mold... without having a mold in the first place. It is... unique. And... with this being the 28TH MCU film, that is one of the best compliments I could give one of these.

All of this praise because Sam Raimi pulled off a PG-13 MCU Horror Film. Someone finally did it. It pulled off what VENOM was supposed to, but failed to deliver on. A PG-13 Superhero Horror Film. Score: 32/30

Impact: As I just said, it is unique. A mold maker... a mold breaker. And that leads me to believe that some other directors should look at as a lesson. Cookie cutter works for a share universe project, but Unique makes you stand out. And this movie stands out. And with Sam Raimi already signed up for Dr. Strange 3, you bet we will all be watching as he does it again. Score: 20/20

Extra Oomph: Spoiler Section here. But... it has to happen. The Illuminati cameos. Woah. John Krasinski as Reed Richards better not be a one off. We got a glimpse, we need more. Hayley Atwell as Captain Carter, that was good for my health. The use of Maria Rambeau as Captain Marvel was slick. Anson Mount IN the Black Bolt suit and fully utilizing his powers was a pay off I've wanted since they screwed up the TV series(and I caught that sign language). And... having Charles Xavier coming in with the COMICS LOOK with the Green Suit, Floating Chair, AND the X-Men '97 theme!!!! Wow. I could say how it might be a wasted scene... but it did EXACTLY what it needed to do. Created a crossroads of Comic book movie past, present, future, what if, and what we never thought we would get... without it taking ANYTHING away from the story, and without it taking a large chunk of the run time. Would I have wanted more time with these characters? Sure. But... we had character introduction, slight development, a backstory, and in the moment purpose... and still a fraction of the run time. Wow. And... not even my favorite scenes in the MOVIE!?! Score: 13/10

FINAL SCORE: 105/100

FINAL GRADE: S-Tier!!!

Conclusion: I know Sam Raimi's work. I know how good he is. I also know what can happen when the studio interferes. So I had high expectations for Sam Raimi's return to superhero movies... high hopes that Disney/Marvel/Feige would just let Raimi be Raimi. And... it surpassed my expectations. Vibrant... and dark. Hopeful... and depressing. Magical... and horrifying. Just... Wow.

It's all a matter of opinion: I cannot stress enough that THIS is MY opinion, you can either agree with me or not. I don't have to justify my opinion, because *clears throat* that's what this blog is about. Whether I like it or not doesn't mean you have to or not...... I'ts just my justification behind MY recommendation... Which leads me to my FINAL JUDGMENT...

FINAL JUDGMENT: GIVE THEM YOUR MONEY!!! SAM RAIMI NEEDS THE SUPPORT!!! Go see this movie. As soon as humanly possible. You all need to see this movie. SEE THIS MOVIE!!!! Have I mentioned that you should see this movie!?! Because if not, you should totally see this movie!!!

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Well, there you have it folks... Doctor Strange in The Multiverse of Madness has gotten...... a 105!!!

An S-Tier movie... it deserves the extra credit for the extra praise.

Extra note from me. Going into 2022, my most anticipated film for the year was The Batman. And while The Batman is one of the GREATEST DC movies I've seen... it no longer has the spot for my favorite movie of the year. And I'm saying this now, Thor: Love and Thunder won't be capable. I know... we have over 6 months left, but I might need to lock this in as my "Good" for 2022.

Extra extra note from me. All of that time making Wanda out to be the strongest superhero in the MCU... looked like it was a great lead into making her one of the strongest VILLAINS instead.

Sam Raimi. Welcome back to Superhero movies!!!

Also... thank you Sam Raimi for the 2 for 1 Bruce Campbell Cameo!!!

Thank you reading...

Until next time...

Don't forget...