Minstrlmummr's Parade

Before the stupid Scientology controversy (and the immortal line  "Tom Cruise won't come out of the closet!!"), there were bizarre South Park scenes and songs like this one:


Ten years ago, my improv partner Ed made his best Halloween costume ever by simply donning a red shirt, hat and apron.    We didn't make the Village Halloween parade, but he had the time of his life just roaming the streets    8)   

Just one of  many  cool things Isaac Hayes made possible.

Last night I hosted two fellow buskers (and fellow Coxcomb alums) from Philly who came to Brooklyn for a photo shoot.     It's always lovely when we get together because we all get "transported" to Pennsic   "chust a little bit".      

"Dottie" and "Lorraine" perform together as "Bag Lady / Wandering Gypsy Theatre"   (example at    http://www.sidetracked.biz/Site/Watch.html    )   in and around Philadelphia, in addition to group and solo acting gigs.      They have mostly quit their day jobs    8)        They've also booked me in Phoenixville a time or two or three...    They stayed overnight, which was a good thing since the shoot ran kind of late and meshed nicely with my getting off work late.    I saw them rehearse a work in progress, a story about cats.    Just before they started, Jamie came and sat down in front of them as if to say  "TEL STORREE PLZ?" -- it was adorable.        This morning after breakfast (out -- coffee shop has coffee, I don't)   we all went to the Central Park  entrance at Columbus Circle  early   (10 am IS early to a theater person) and busked until they had to meet their Megabus at Penn Station.    They were both really jazzed to be working in NYC.   I know exactly how they feel--I've never lost the thrill of driving/walking on this or that street for some routine activity and catching sight of the Empire State Building /  WTC / Statue of Liberty, or doing a show in Grand Central Station, the place where they shot that dancing scene from "The Fisher King"  (although if I were stupid enough to actually set up IN the hall where the ceiling mural is I'd be trampled by rampaging commuters  8).   

They did okay tip-wise, for working just over an hour.      I got a lot of smiles but not much money, which is how my above-ground experiences in NYC have gone in the past.      Both of them definitely want to come back and do this again, for a longer shift.    We talked about the one other busker-friendly site I know of, Washington Square Park of the maddening performer crowds.     After we said goodbye I relocated my (more passive) act into a subway station nearby for a while, then came home to treat a pounding headache.     (I might have worked longer had I remembered to bring food and take a bathroom break.    sigh.     I do really know better, honest   8)

After a nap and some dinner, I learned about the unexpected death of "Meet The Press" host Tim Russert.     My memory of him is mostly surprise that someone could have such a sincerely enthusiastic smile, so often, for the potentially soul-numbing experience of immersing oneself in politics and politicians.      Nice guy.     Too soon. 

My mom got me hooked on this show, once I was old enough to stay up late on Saturday nights   8)
Since most of the memories I've read about Korman talked fondly about his straight-man-desperately-trying-not-to-crack-up scenes with Tim Conway, this looked like the best example to use. 

I found out this morning that one of my favorite comics, Richard Jeni,  is dead.      Possible / likely suicide.

If you have never heard of this dude or his act, do yourself a favor and look up some video on comedycentral.com or youtube.    (some bits R-rated / Not Work Safe.) 

On Red Lobster:    "Why is it only a lobster that has to put up with this (being selected from a tank just before dinner)?    You go to a steakhouse, there's no COW tank!"     (followed up by a tearful cow sobbing:   "WHY DON'T YOU HAVE THE LOBSTER???"  Lobster:   "SHUT UP!!!")

On pr0n:   "Every dirty movie should be called what it is:  Stuff That Never Happens To You--EVAR!!"
(singing) "Somewhere, over the rainbow
                  People get sex in the middle of the day for no apparent reason; 
                  If a fat ugly guy can get three women in a hot tub
                  Why, oh why can't I?"

On bilingual airplane announcements:
"OMIGOD, WE'RE CRASHING!!!!"
"Por favor, kiss your ass buenos noches!    Please kiss your ass buenos noches at this time!   We're about to hit a giant Montano!"

Written down, the words don't fully convey the funny.     He deprived us all of the delivery system that was his act.      I hope he is in a less painful, funnier place.

Go check out some video.