The problem I have with entertainment, particularly comedic entertainment, is how so many truly mediocre comedians seem to rise to the high paychecks..
Tina Fey’s SNL run was punctuated by effectively the same handful of jokes delivered over and over, and most of them weren’t funny no matter how they were delivered.
George Lopez, was never ever funny, got a sitcom that ran for years beyond my comprehension and now has a nightly show too? I understand hispanics may want some pride, but if you want to be respected you can’t just watch ANYTHING just because it has a chicano in it... Hold out for someone who’s actually funny.
Margaret Cho, never ever was remotely funny... yet got a Sit Com, that went for what a season? And she’s been milking bitching about its failure for over a decade now.
I could go on and on, but it truly amazes me.. Now I will say Fey is more talented that Cho or Lopez, but that’s really not saying much.
Yes, today’s comic talent is unbelievably bad. Probably because they come up through the comedy clubs rather than the hardscrabble days of vaudeville. I just finished reading Harpo Marx’s entertaining (and well-respected!) autobiography “Harpo Speaks” and was amazed at the 20 years the brothers played and lived in filthy theatres and filthy boardinghouses before they hit the big time.
I suggest buying the newly released dvds of “Bilko” and “Car 54 Where Are You?” to see some brilliant comic acting.