edited by Moisés Chiullan

The Third Man (Criterion Blu-ray)
This title in particular has been the subject of a good deal of controversy on Elsewhere (among other sites), message boards, and email lists across the web. No one seems to talk about much aside from the "Grain Issue." Since the grain (or overabundance thereof) is the obvious elephant in the room, I'm going to address it before getting on to the additional content on display here, of which there is much to see and thoroughly enjoy. (continued)

Upcoming

December 31

Defiance

Good

January 2

Cargo 200

January 7

Silent Light

January 9

After Dark Horrorfest 2009

Bride Wars

How About You

Not Easily Broken

The Unborn

Yonkers Joe

January 16

Chandni Chwok to China

Cherry Blossoms

Hotel for Dogs

My Bloody Valentine 3-D

Notorious

Paul Blart: Mall Cop

January 21

Of Time and the City

Remembering O'Donoghue

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"[Simply] making people laugh is the lowest form of humor." -- the late humorist Michael O'Donoghue.

Ressner reporting for Politico<< previous | next >>Damianos

Posted by Jeffrey Wells on October 31, 2007 at 8:25 PM

comment #1

The Hoyk says ...

A lesson too long forgotten from a truly twisted genius.

I can only fathom the irreverent revelry he and Terry Southern are engaged in wherever that spiritual plain may be.

Posted by The Hoyk at October 31, 2007 8:30 PM

comment #2

Matthew Lucas says ...

No...fart jokes are the lowest form of humor. Just below crotch hits.

But yes, I get your point.

Posted by Matthew Lucas at October 31, 2007 8:32 PM

comment #3

R. Hunt says ...

O'Donoghue was a genius, and one who I suspect is largely unknown to anyone under the age of 40. Check out the "Mr.Mike" biography. And remember his other great quote that tv was just a lava lamp with slightly better sound quality.

Posted by R. Hunt at October 31, 2007 9:39 PM

comment #4

Sax says ...

Does anyone else remember his little treatise in National Lampoon, "Michael O'Donoghue's How To Write Good"? His all purpose ending: "Suddenly, everyone was run over by a truck" (English aspiring authors can substitute,'lorry'). The best part was the cheesy little cartoon, advertising the lessons. In the first few panels, hapless writer Dave suffers rejection after rejection. Even his wife thinks he should give up Then he reads Michael O'Donoghue's "How To Write Good". He submits a story and then ... two weeks later, he makes his first sale! ... There's a classic panel where the beaming editor is saying "Great story, Dave! I especially liked the part where everyone got run over by a truck!"
Mr. Mike lives up to his own credo here. It's silly and it makes me laugh just typing it out, but he also makes his point about mail order con-jobs and the whole culture of American smarmy salesmen from P.T.Barnum to Cialis ads on TV ... not to mention the delusional pathos of most would-be writers. Mean spirited? Yes. That's what makes it so funny.

Posted by Sax at November 1, 2007 3:36 AM

comment #5

carla kolchak says ...

I pause to mourn SNL's long and sad decline: from the sublime "Least-Loved Bedtime Stories" to the ridiculous "Dick in a Box".
*sigh*

Posted by carla kolchak at November 1, 2007 6:14 AM

comment #6

George Prager says ...

Dick in a Box was hilarious. When did humorless nuns start posting on HE?

This is funny SNL:

Fly High Duluth

http://youtube.com/watch?v=4_QMCrqi4ds

Posted by George Prager at November 1, 2007 6:30 AM

comment #7

carla kolchak says ...

So if you don't find "Dick in a Box" funny you are automatically a nun? Guess that's better than being a dick. In a box or otherwise.

Posted by carla kolchak at November 1, 2007 6:55 AM

comment #8

christian says ...

I love "How To Write Good." I reference it all the time to unknowing friends.

But suddenly, I am run over by a truck.

Posted by christian at November 1, 2007 9:48 AM

comment #9

George Prager says ...

I wanted to know what kind of person doesn't think "Dick in a Box is funny, so I looked at sister carla's charmless, unsexy blog. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
I'd rather be a dick .

Posted by George Prager at November 1, 2007 10:19 AM

comment #10