See Jewish Humor Central Live in Boca Raton, Florida Starting Next Thursday January 18

If you're a fan of Jewish Humor Central and happen to be in South Florida this winter, you can see Blogger-in-Chief Al Kustanowitz present a series of four 90 minute programs at Florida Atlantic University's Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) in Boca Raton, starting on January 18.

The programs, Saturday Night Live: The Funny Years, will be a walk down memory lane through the first 25 years of Saturday Night Live. 

While for 48 years SNL has had a major impact on pop culture, critics agree that the first 25 years were by far the funniest and most relevant. The combination of sketch comedy, featured performers, guest hosts, and mock commercials has been a winning formula for creating memorable characters that have become household names. 

Each lecture in this 4-week series will profile the cast members, tracing their routes to the show, watching their auditions and screen tests, and revisiting their most popular characters in action. So come prepared to laugh out loud at the genius of those comedy standouts like Gilda Radner, John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Eddie Murphy, Martin Short, and Phil Hartman, just to mention a few!

Lectures

1. 1975-1980: The Not Ready for Prime-Time Players - Chevy Chase, Gilda Radner, John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Jane Curtin, Garrett Morris, Laraine Newman, and Bill Murray.
2. 1980-1985: The Second SNL Generation Arrives - Eddie Murphy as Buckwheat and Mister Robinson, Don Novello as Father Guido Sarducci, Joe Piscopo and Robin Duke as Doug and Wendy Whiner.
3. 1985-1990: The Third SNL Generation Takes Over - Billy Crystal as Fernando, Martin Short as Nathan Thurm, Ed Grimley, Jeremy Glick, and Jon Lovitz as Hanukkah Harry.
4. 1990-2000: To the New Millennium - Phil Hartman, Kevin Nealon, Mike Myers, Julia Sweeney, Chris Farley, Adam Sandler, Will Ferrell, Rachel Dratz, Maya Rudolph, and Tina Fey.

The lectures are from 3 pm to 4:30 pm on Thursdays from January 18 through February 8 at FAU's Friedberg Auditorium in the Lifelong Learning Building. Entrance to the University is at 777 Glades Road in Boca Raton. Admission at the door is $30 for each lecture and $80 for the series. Members can purchase series tickets in advance for $60.

So bring your friends and let's meet afterwards to share some laughs at the conclusion of the program.

Here's a sample of what you'll see:

A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.

Rabbi Bob Alper Speaks and Jokes About Jewish Humor at Chautauqua Institution

Last week at the Chautauqua Institution's week devoted to the spiritual power of humor, Rabbi Bob Alper took the stage to offer his views on the benefits of putting laughter into your life. Bob feels that making people laugh is a holy calling and that laughter can change the world.

Bob’s unique background – he’s an ordained rabbi who served congregations for fourteen years and holds a doctorate from Princeton Theological Seminary – all of which has prepared him well for a twenty-eight year comedy career with wonderfully unique material presented in a way that’s intelligent, sophisticated, and 100% clean.  

Bob’s stand-up act is fast-paced, with impeccable timing and material that’s definitely sharp yet gentle and unhurtful.  In addition, he offers an informative, hilarious event called “The Spirituality of Laughter,” which is particularly appropriate for religious organizations, civic groups, school and hospital in-services.

The rabbi-comedian draws tremendous media attention, and he was recently named “Honorary Comedic Advisor to the Pope,” winning an international contest launched on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.”

Yesterday we posted Rabbi Joseph Telushkin's talk on Jewish humor at Chautauqua's week of humor, and many of you asked for more like it. So here is another rabbi (who is also a comedian) giving his take on the healing power of humor, with a special Jewish emphasis.

Enjoy!

A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.

"Jewish Humor" Author Rabbi Joseph Telushkin Analyzes and Tells Five Jewish Jokes

Rabbi Joseph Telushkin is an ethicist and best-selling author of many books including Jewish Literacy,  Biblical Literacy, and The Book of Jewish Values. He is also the author of Jewish Humor: What the Best Jewish Jokes Say About the Jews. 

Rabbi Telushkin has been delivering lectures about the evolution of Jewish humor, explaining how humor in the Jewish culture has shaped the language and other aspects of Jewish life.

Larry Gelbart, author of Mash and Tootsie said that “I don’t know if Jews are really the chosen people, but I think Joseph Telushkin’s book makes a strong argument that we’re the funniest.”

Today we're sharing a video clip from one of Rabbi Telushkin's lectures on Jewish humor, in which he delivers five classic Jewish jokes.

Enjoy!

(A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.)