Jews are funny, right? We're like, pioneers of comedy and stuff. Why, just yesterday I received a copy of the new "Big Book of Jewish Humor," a reissue and update of a book that was prominently placed in the family library when I was growing up. (Review hopefully to come as soon as I'm done reading it.)
We love to laugh at and around ourselves, until it goes too far, whatever that means. For some people, it's Jewtopia, for others it's the Hebrew Hammer, or Borat...everyone draws his or her line in a different place.
But just a little while ago I found this article about a Second City improv show called "Jewsical! The Musical"--it's premiering in (say it with me now) South Florida at a high school theater and then moves back to Chicago:
Stringing together classic Second City sketches and songs, along with new material, the comedy review delivers an irreverent and funny look at Jewish life and culture for audiences young and old. Scenes include a peek at the first Kosher Thai fusion restaurant; a tribute to Jewish mothers and an ode to JDate, the online Jewish dating service. "The great thing about Jewish culture is it embraces comedy," said Kelly Leonard, the president of Second City Theatricals who came up with the idea for the Jewish musical. "The Jewish comedy tradition is tremendous, Mort Sahl, Lenny Bruce..."
Tremendous indeed. And I'd venture to say if she tried she probably could have come up with one more funny Jew. But I think she was appealing to the South Florida demo. In any case, I'd venture to say that never has so much been contained in a single ellipsis.
Anyone who steals my idea for "Avenue Jew," a Jewish puppet musical about the Upper West Side,
is so dead. Consider that sucker trademarked.
Thank G-d we still laugh at ourselves. By the way I wont Steal Avenue Jew if you promise not to steal my TV show about the men form circle U CSI: Cohen's Salami Investigators
Posted by: Sammy Benoit | October 20, 2006 at 10:19 AM