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King Tut’s Famous Stand (Up)
What do you get when a 33-year-old man steps on a stage in front of a large crowd of people in a three-piece white suit?
And no, this person isn’t Colonel Sanders.
Stand-up comedy is not traditionally a profession known for its formality, except for hosts of late-night television. Slightly surprising, there’s no singular formula for succeeding in stand-up comedy. Despite the limited space to perform, react (a critically important quality) and be creative, the best comedians figure out ways to distinguish themselves and rise above what we’ve heard and seen before. These gifted individuals show audiences unique bits, share insightful perspectives and connect on levels far deeper than laughter.
Steve Martin is one of these comedic geniuses.
That’s the rarely seen Double Throwback Thursday, starring Steve Martin in 1978 and Egyptian pharaoh King Tut.
They’re just two wild and crazy guys.
SoccerFestWasTheBest
Today’s edition of “Throwback Thursday” is a very special one.
As a nine year-old who was (and still is) an enthusiastic soccer fan, attending SoccerFest at the Los Angeles Convention Center was amazing. The United States went all-in for promoting the world’s game to its skeptical American sports audience. By hosting the World Cup tournament, Americans got to see and experience the beautiful game up close and personal.
Granted, SoccerFest was more than 20 years ago. But I still vividly remember walking up to the glass case with THE World Cup trophy inside, which was stop-in-your-tracks mesmerizing. I had an unforgettable time on this special birthday trip with my Dad. This included playing beach soccer, recording a video of me saving shots from the world’s best strikers on a VHS tape, taking home a beautiful poster that was signed by the artist (who was #22 for the USMNT) and getting my very own Soccer America magazine cover.
While I may be biased here, the kid dribbling the soccer ball at the :22 and :24 second mark looks really familiar…
I still think the U.S. jerseys from the 1994 World Cup were awesome. The jerseys are definitely better than anything Nike has designed (a generous term) lately. The full kits proudly (and boldly) showcased America in red, white and blue, stars and all.
And regarding SoccerFest, the star was definitely my Dad.
He Was Gunning for Them
Arsenal (“The Gunners”) have not had many reasons to celebrate in triumphant fashion in recent years, yet they’re reminded at every home game at Emirates Stadium of the eternal truth that one goal can change everything.
To celebrate this “Throwback Thursday,” let’s visually travel back to the far back yesteryear of 2002. The match was Arsenal hosting its bitter rival Tottenham Hotspur and the player was Thierry Henry. If you’re struggling to place Thierry Henry, he’s that world-class French forward who doesn’t run in strides, but glides with speed and cool precision.
I present the story of his goal and its iconic (and elaborate) celebration that literally and figuratively cemented Mr. Henry’s legacy in London.
What’s French for power and strength?
Thierry Henry.
At least France has one non-joke answer to that question.
7 Words (& More) You Can Say on TV
Our culture in 3 1/2 minutes.
Remember when George Carlin was the caliber of comedian you could see watching The Tonight Show? George was funny, brilliant and, yes, curious about the world around him. That routine above is not only impressive for its performance value, but it’s a perfect encapsulation of the type of clever writer Carlin was throughout his career.
Every word was written and said with purpose. That precision combined with his insight and eye-popping mannerisms are what elevated him to the biggest, brightest stage of stand-up comedy. He grabbed your attention, kept it and closed every show with that same energy and an exclamation point.
His stuff was awesome.
Happy Throwback Thursday!
P.S. RIP George Carlin.
Jimmy's Daily Planet 