I have always felt comedy and tragedy are roommates. If you look up comedy and tragedy, you will find a very old picture of two masks. One mask is tragedy. It looks like it's crying. The other mask is comedy. It looks like it's laughing. Nowadays, we would say, "How tasteless and insensitive. A comedy mask is laughing at a tragedy mask."
--Gilbert Gottfried
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| 1955-2022 |
I've not heard of him but he certainly has an impressive Wikipedia entry. Jokes about masturbation? Too early jokes about a tsunami? I think I like him, well would have.
ReplyDeleteAndrew, here's some onanistic humor for you:
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qTiqQz29t8
And some historically too soon jokes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeucMhaceTY
Hi, Kirk!
ReplyDeleteIt was nice of you to post a quickie to acknowledge the reaper's latest victim, Gilbert Gottfried, a comedian and comic actor with an original style. His trademark shrill voice, squinting eyes, eyebrow-raising material and fearless attitude always made me laugh. No topic was too taboo for Gilbert. I'm sure you remember or read about the following incident mentioned in his Wiki article:
(At the 43rd Primetime Emmy Awards, Gottfried made "an endless series of masturbation jokes" in reference to Paul Reubens' arrest for masturbating in an adult movie theater. Viewers on the East Coast saw the entire set live, but Fox censored the broadcast for the West Coast delay. Fox issued an apology, stating that Gottfried's jokes were "irresponsible and insulting". Gottfried said that producers stated he would not be invited back, and Rolling Stone wrote that the monologue resulted in his being "blacklisted".)
I loved the three episodes Gilbert did on Wings, and I enjoyed his appearances in other scripted shows and on Leno. Let us also remember that a very successful part of his career was voicing characters for children's animated films and TV series.
The quote you selected tells us that Gilbert was a lot deeper and more sensitive than the character he portrayed. Thanks for remembering one of the funniest men in comedy, Gilbert Gottfried, an American original who left us too soon. Enjoy the rest of your week, good buddy Kirk!
Well, Shady, it looks like you and me finally agree on someone being funny. Can Edward Everett Horton be next?
DeleteIf you go read my response to Andrew's comment, you'll see a clip on what must be the West Coast delayed version of Gottfried's Emmys monologue, since the masturbation jokes aren't particularly endless.
As for voicing children's animation, I saw this one as an ADULT:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-8CV5Q4-7U
Funnier than Robin Williams, in my opinion.
Some people expressed puzzlement that I didn't do a post on Bob Saget when he died. I didn't because a) I underestimated his popularity, and b) popular or not, I never found him particularly funny. I don't think I ever saw his night club/comedy club/HBO special act, so only had Full House and America's Funniest Home Videos to go by. Anyway, I'll make it up to all you Saget fans out there by showing you what Gilbert Gottfried had to say on the subject:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjlPXECa87o
If Gottfried thought Saget was funny, that's good enough for me.
I watched both clips you recommended to Andrew plus the voice-over animation and the reaction to Saget's death. I enjoyed all of them, especially his Seinfeld imitation during the Emmy speech that shook up Fox and the clip of "Too Soon" jokes. I wasn't very familiar with Saget and therefore was not shocked or upset me when you didn't do a tribute.
DeleteI agree that Gilbert was a very funny guy. I liked his style of humor much more than that of Robin Wms.
Have a nice weekend, good buddy Kirk!
I heard about his passing. While not a fan, I do believe that he is an iconic comedian. May he rest in peace.
ReplyDeleteJM, if in the afterlife, Gottfried meets some of the people he made fun of, his rest may not be all that peaceful.
DeleteI always enjoyed his comedy (and that voice!) and am sad to hear of his passing. Quite young too -- only 67.
ReplyDeleteLest we forget, Debra, Gottfried was also the first Aflac duck:
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8PGzYwTsqM
He eventually lost that gig:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSS-pdJgigo
A funny man... and what a voice.
ReplyDeleteMitchell, I hope I'm not shattering any illusions, but here's Gottfried's real voice:
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdbElWMnkyY
A unique and screechy comic!
ReplyDeleteKass, Gottfried's voice made Lou Costello sound like Orson Welles.
DeleteRIP Gilbert Gottfried. I would add to your comment about the tragedy and comedy masks that those traditional ones have never reminded me of sincere comedy or sincere tragedy. I always think they symbolise the fact that there is so little real difference between these and two supposedly opposite emotions.
ReplyDeletePeople do sometimes laugh until they cry, Jenny.
ReplyDelete