Steve Martin and and the Steep Canyon Rangers harmonize on “Atheists Don’t Have No Songs” (but we do have Sundays free)
Tag Steve Martin
A Fitting Tribute
A few years ago, Steve Martin found himself in deep doo-doo with the residents of Terre Haute, Indiana, because he called their town “the armpit of America”. Eventually he apologized and got a tour of the fertilizer plant from the mayor, where there was even an outbuilding temporarily named in his honor.
Now, as the days dwindle down to the last remaining few for the long national nightmare of the Bush Administration, some people are already thinking about his legacy. This group of erstwhile San Franciscans has formed a committee to explore memorializing the Bush Era by renaming a sewage treatment plant in honor of The Deciderer.
The august membership of the committee includes such well-known civic leaders as former mayoral candidate and general agitator Chicken John, glam-drag queen Peaches Christ, and not one, but two members of the “order” of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. Not only can I not think of a finer honor for Our Fearless Leader, I have to say that this committee is without a doubt the most prestigious collection of individuals that the legacy of George W. Bush deserves.
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Steve, How Can You Be So Fuckin’ Funny?
BoingBoing pointed out this book excerpt in Smithsonian Magazine from Steve Martin’s new memoir, "Born Standing Up". In the excerpt, he talks about how he developed his comic persona and some of his best-loved bits, transforming himself from a very unfunny newcomer into a legendary stand-up. As he remembers his early days, you might be struck, as I was, at just how long he has been performing. He talks about his first appearance on "The Steve Allen Show", which would date back to the early 1960s (or even possibly the very late 1950s) and how the talent scouts from the "Tonight Show" saw him on a kinescope (the early precursor to videotape, where a live television image was filmed). Considering that his heyday as a stand-up was in the mid-1970s, that’s a loooooong time to be working the small time.
If you’re interested in the mechanics of comedy, or are just a Steve Martin fan, you’ll appreciate this excerpt. I’m looking forward to reading the whole book.