 |
| Reviewed in 1942 |
Abbott and Costello are funnier than you think they are. Their humor - which almost always stems from puns or malaprops - essentially make them a lower-class version of Fibber McGee and Molly.
I've heard the Who's on First routine a good 50 times in my lifetime and when I hear them do it (and yes, better yet, see them do it - below) it's still funny.
They, on occasion, will rush their routines and when this happens, they sound over- rehearsed and not-as-humorous.
Lou Costello, the short, dumpy one of the team - is more like a cartoon character than a real person while Bud Abbott (tall and thin) is never funny and is most ways, invisible when the almost-always wound-up Lou is around.
There are several famous routines aside from Who's on First. But even their lesser known routines draw something of a smile from someone who has heard it all.
It's all about words and misunderstanding them - and that little fat guy going bananas.
Granted, the show is geared for the teenage intellect (they even did a kid's show for a while after this series) and the show is far from fascinating; however, it's worth passing the time with, even if it's just once or twice a month.
Oh, I have to disagree. I find Abbott and Costello a high point in OTR comedy. I understand your comment about being geared for a teen-age intellect (and it does fit right in) but I think it is also a bit more than that. And while you hit it on the head about much of their comedy being about misunderstanding words, I think there is a lot of intellingence hidden in some of their bits that goes unrecognized. For example the 40 year old man in love with a 10 year old bit. And yes, Abbott is almost never funny but he isn't there to be funny, he's the straight man who sets up the funny man, Costello. And it is not an easy job, the way Costello goes wild sometimes. In some recordings of Who's On First if you pay attention you can hear how it is Abbott who is controlling the bit, leading Costello back on track and pointing him toward the punchlines.
ReplyDeleteBut hey, I'm biased. I love the boys.
Well it may not have read that way but I like Abbott and Costello as well.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I have a feeling if they were around today, we might be calling them "Beavis and Butthead."