Let’s face it, there are few comedies that stand the test of time, and that can be funny even after watching it for the fifth time. Looking to bite into some comedy that can keep you busy for weeks, not just one hour, forty three minutes, and eight seconds?
Dave Barry
Destined to be the top of any list I ever make having anything whatsoever to do with comedy, Dave Barry is a former humor columnist for the Miami Herald, although his articles have been circulated in hundreds of newspaper, including mine all the way in Ontario, Canada.
It's essentially a circular question; “Who's Dave Barry?” “A humor columnist.” “What's a humor columnist?” “Dave Barry is.” The man's articles (which can be purchased in book collections, probably in your local bookstore/mega-mart,) will probably even have those of you with scarcely a sense of humor, and if you're the kind of person who likes Just For Laughs, then you'll probably be rolling on the floor the next time you read it. Not only is it funny, however, but it almost represents a tapestry of American history and events; he'll comment on things happening both within and beyond the United States' borders, mailed to him by alert readers.
Some of his subjects include the smuggling of Canadian toilets into the U.S., snakes getting loose in the sewer system (Toilet Snakes, anyone?)
Stuart McLean
A Canadian humorist who narrates on his own radio production, the Vinyl Café, for CBC, his style is different from Barry's; the former is a bit like a consistently funny article with a few points that are very funny. McLean's work is unfunny, but interesting storytelling leading up to some comedic climaxes that will have your sides aching and your eyes filling with tears as you frantically wave for the person next to you to pound your back. Of course, that other person wouldn't be able to help you, because they'd be on the floor.
If you can't get CBC on your radio, you could always search for song downloads, purchase his audio tapes, or even the books with his radio shows converted to written word. I, personally, would recommend hearing rather than reading; something about his dry, sophisticated, usually humorless tone just makes the stories he tells all the more enjoyable.
His subjects include a protagonist losing his wedding ring in a duck's digestive tract, competing with a squirrel for a piece of squished cake, and how an attempt to move a wall socket results in three of the kitchen walls vanishing, a broken window, chipped sink, and overheated power lines.
The Arrogant Worms
A satirical, Canadian band, the Arrogant Worms definitely lean more towards the "absurd" forms of humor, with a wide range of music styles to emphasize their hilarious lyrics, from hip-hop to country to rap to polka (yes, you heard that correctly,) to rock, to… well, everything else. Those of you with "highbrow" humor probably won't like it, but whomever enjoys Weird Al will probably like this as well.
You could probably find their music the same way you would find the music of any other band; even those of you in the United States could probably gain access to their tracks, with enough determination.
Their subjects include a love obsession over Celine Dion, big, fat road managers, Shakespeare's reincarnation in a kitty cat, and the War of 1812.
Weird Al Yankovic
The true gem, in my opinion, isn't so much Weird Al's music (which is still nice, don't get me wrong,) but rather the music VIDEOS. Try going to YouTube and watching Michael Jackson's video "I"m Bad.' Then watch Weird Al's video "I"m Fat.' If you're not laughing, then you're probably medically deceased.
YouTube is an excellent source of Yankovic's videos, be they live action or animated. Some of my personal suggestions are "Albuquerque: The Movie," "I"m Fat,' and "Everything You Know Is Wrong." Just to get you started.
8-Bit Theatre
Yes, it is a webcomic. Yes, it is actually a SPRITE webcomic. Nonetheless, it is still, to this day, one of my favorite sources of comedy; with nearly 1000 page installments, and additional ones still being made, this is a massive story arc which parodies the early Final Fantasy genre.
In it, four "Light Warriors" are chosen to save the world from Chaos. Problem is, these Light Warriors consist of a psychotic, murdering Black Mage who's solution to every problem is to go in a stabbing spree, a Fighter for whom the word "idiot" would be an understatement, a Thief who has stolen more wealth than actually EXISTS, and a Red Mage whom is the embodiment of the Dungeons and Dragons twink, endlessly trying to maximize his stats, and usually trying to cheat. Check it out here.
Start at the beginning of the comic; it takes awhile for it to pick up and reach the peak of its humor, but if you're patient, you won't be able to stop clicking on the next page to continue their misadventures.
