Week 39: UHF

Dear Avid Reader,

Here we are at the final stretch. It's getting harder and harder to write.

But I'm not letting you off that easy.

It's Just Like Working In A Fish Market, Except You Don't Have To Clean And Gut Fish All Day

The only way that absurdity works is if you go all the way. In UHF, when R.J. tells one of his toadies to "take that ridiculous thing off" it's funny when the toadies removes his moustache instead of his outrageous cowboy hat. But it is only transcendentally funny because the actor full commits. Rather than some sort of wink to the audience, the character looks truly crestfallen. Brilliant.

And the only way parody works is if the audience knows about the subject matter. The Town Talk bit in the movie is funny, but it is only transcendent if the viewer experienced the over-the-top talk shows of the 1980's, Geraldo Rivera's show in particular. Otherwise it's just some dude getting hit with a chair.

George, You Know I Can't Do That, You Still Owe Me Five Bucks

Both forms, parody and absurdity, rely on community. For the humor to exist, the audience must be expecting one thing, but be given another. Showing Gandhi as violent womanizer is funny because he is supposed to be non-violent and kind. When Stanley asks if he can still be janitor, it's funny because one would expect that being on television would be more appealing than cleaning a building. You get something you don't expect. Hilarious.

Knowing the viewers is key here. The comedian has to know the expectations so that he can defy them. And the best way to study a subject is to become one. Just ask Jane Goodall.

You Gotta Grab Life By The Lips And Yank As Hard As You Can

And that I think is the real appeal of UHF. It's the community that folks would love to be a part of. Friends coming together to create something. Sure it's funny, but who wouldn't want to be part of that wacky family?

Isn't that what this blog is about?

Until Next I Blog,

James