Archive for the ‘Public Figures’ Category
Monday, January 3rd, 2011
This question will probably make me sound ageist and grumpy. In my preemptive defense, let me say:
1) I’ve been tossing AARP’s annoying magazine for years; and
2) I am grumpy.
So here’s my question: Have you ever noticed that Andy Rooney isn’t funny anymore?
I used to be a fan and would never turn 60 Minutes off until Rooney’s monologue was over. I even owned one of his humor collections. But I can’t remember the last time Andy Rooney made me laugh … or even giggle. These days his commentaries make me cringe.
Now to those who may argue that I’m not funny either, I say:
CBS doesn’t pay me a gazillion bucks a year to not be funny!
And no, this limerick isn’t funny either:
Have You Ever Noticed…
By Madeleine Begun Kane
At the risk of incurring some ire:
Andy Rooney should really retire.
It’s not that he’s old,
And I don’t mean to scold,
But he’s funny no more, and it’s dire.
Tags: 60 Minutes, AARP, Andy Rooney, CBS, Celebrities, Humorists, TV Humor
Posted in Celebrity Humor, Entertainment Humor, Limericks, Media Humor, Public Figures, Television (TV) Humor | 5 Comments »
Monday, November 15th, 2010
I am not a cruise person. I hate the sun and I avoid boats and water whenever possible. Plus I’m pretty sure I’m allergic to buffets.
But when hubby Mark and I heard about the Lewis Black Comedy Cruise, featuring comedy greats like Kathleen Madigan, John Pinette, Ted Alexandro, Larry Wilmore, Vic Henley, Dom Irrera, and John Bowman, we couldn’t resist.
Wise decision!
Now even with that superb lineup, I was a little leery. In fact, I wrote this limerick before setting unsteady foot on that ship:
I’ve never attempted a cruise,
So I’m nervous — will need lots of booze.
But I could not resist
Such a great comic list.
I need laughs to get over the news.
But I needn’t have worried. Lewis Black was his usual hilarious self, as were all the other comics. Plus we had a great time with the comedians, who mingled after-hours with the riffraff … I mean, fans.
Here’s my two-verse limerick ode to Lewis Black (I wrote it mid-cruise when Internet connection rates were roughly a gazillion bucks a minute.)
The angry old comic Lew Black
Has a mind that is quite out of whack.
So he offered a cruise
Packed with laughter and booze,
Fulfilling a deep-seated lack.
Yes, Lew had a very strong yen
For more contact with women and men:
Lots of fun-loving folks
Who’d laugh at his jokes
And then trail him till heaven knows when.
And finally, my post-return limerick:
We’re home from a comic sensation:
Lew’s Cruise, filled with laughs and elation.
There’s another next year.
(The thought makes me tear.)
Thank you, Lew. You deserve each ovation.
Oh … and just so you know, Lewis Black isn’t just a comic genius — he’s also a mensch.
Tags: Comedy Cruise, Cruise Humor, Dom Irrera, John Bowman, John Pinette, Kathleen Madigan, Larry Wilmore, Lewis Black, Ted Alexandro, Travel Limerick, Vacation Limerick, Vic Henley
Posted in Comedy Club Reviews, Entertainment Humor, Leisure Time Humor, Limericks, Night On The Town, Public Figures, Recreation & Fun Humor, Standup Comics, Travel Humor, Vacation Humor | 10 Comments »
Monday, October 4th, 2010
Movie audiences sure seem to love Aaron Sorkin’s The Social Network, even if Facebook’s main founder Mark Zuckerberg doesn’t.
Hubby Mark and I saw it Saturday night and we certainly enjoyed it. And that brings me to my limerick review of this delightful film about Facebook’s founding and the lawsuits it inspired:
The Social Network (Limerick Review)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Social Network’s a wonderful flick —
Snappy dialogue — listen, it’s quick.
Depositions are used
Rather well — I’m amused.
As for Oscars this year, it’s my pick.
Tags: Aaron Sorkin, Computer Verse, Entertainment Limerick, Facebook Limerick, Films, Flick Limerick, Legal Limerick, Mark Zuckerberg, Movie Reviews, Movies, Oscars, Social Network Review, Technology Verse
Posted in Business Humor, Computer Humor, Entertainment Humor, Facebook Humor, Legal & Lawyer Humor, Limericks, Movie & Play Humor, Public Figures, Technology Humor | 2 Comments »
Saturday, June 5th, 2010
My husband Mark and I had a wonderful time celebrating our 32nd wedding anniversary on Friday, June 4th in Manhattan. We saw a Broadway play — Ken Ludwig’s hilarious Lend Me A Tenor, which was directed by Stanley Tucci. (There’s more about the play in my two-verse limerick.) We also dined at Nocello and enjoyed attempting to dance the rumba at the Marriott Marquis’ Broadway Lounge.
And now, my limerick:
The Tenor Of Our Anniversary
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Hubby Mark and I partied last night.
(It’s been thirty-two years of delight.)
Saw a great Broadway play.
What a heavenly way
To celebrate marriage just right!
Shaloub and LaPaglia star.
(Both are Tony’s — you know who they are.)
Justin Bartha stars too.
We kept laughing on cue
At Lend Me A Tenor. Har, har!
Tags: Broadway Comedy, Holiday Poetry, Husband Wife Humor, June Holidays, Justin Bartha, Ken Ludwig, Lend Me A Tenor, New York City Verse, Stanley Tucci, Theater Review, Tony LaPaglia, Tony Shaloub, Wedding Anniversary Limerick
Posted in Celebrations Poetry, Celebrity Humor, Entertaining New Yorkers, Holiday Humor, Leisure Time Humor, Limericks, Marriage Humor, New York Limericks & Haiku, Night On The Town, Personal, Public Figures, Theater Reviews | 4 Comments »
Tuesday, May 18th, 2010
Saturday night hubby Mark and I went to see Kathleen Madigan perform in New York City’s Gramercy Theatre. It was actually one of two performances that were taped for Madigan’s upcoming DVD.
Kathleen Madigan’s act was hilarious, and her special guest, Lewis Black, was his usual angry/funny self.
Limerick Ode To Kathleen Madigan
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Here’s a gal with the comedy gene:
Surname Madigan, first name Kathleen.
I laughed the full hour.
Not once did I glower.
My fav’rite? Her Oprah routine.
Tags: Comedians, Comedy Limerick, Entertainment Limerick, Kathleen Madigan, Lewis Black, New York City Verse, Reviews
Posted in Celebrity Humor, Entertainment Humor, Leisure Time Humor, Limericks, New York Limericks & Haiku, Night On The Town, Public Figures, Standup Comics, Theater Reviews | Comments Off on Limerick Ode To Kathleen Madigan
Tuesday, May 18th, 2010
As I’ve mentioned before, my husband and I recently vacationed in Las Vegas. I’ve already reviewed Cher’s show and Cirque du Soleil’s LOVE via limerick. Well, now it’s time for a far less positive review:
An Unmagical Night of Magic (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
David Copperfield’s show on the Strip—
Neither clever, nor witty, nor hip.
He acted quite bored,
Which is rather untoward.
When in Vegas, avoid him’s my tip.
Tags: Celebrities, David Copperfield, Entertainment Limerick, Las Vegas, Magician, Reviews, Travel Humor, Vacation Verse
Posted in Celebrity Humor, Entertainment Humor, Leisure Time Humor, Limericks, Public Figures, Theater Reviews, Travel Humor, Vacation Humor | Comments Off on An Unmagical Night of Magic (Limerick)
Sunday, May 9th, 2010
Limerick Ode To Betty White
By Madeleine Begun Kane
The comedy legend named White
Hosted SNL Saturday night.
She managed to sell
Ev’ry line oh so well,
Even those that lacked humor and bite.
Betty’s sassy and charming — a pro.
How she does what she does, I don’t know.
Her timing is great.
She’s a young eighty-eight,
Who’d enhance any movie or show.
Tags: Actresses, Betty White, Comedy Limerick, Entertainers, Funny Performers, NBC, Saturday Night Live, SNL, Television Humor
Posted in Aging Humor & Verse, Celebrity Humor, Entertainment Humor, Media Humor, Public Figures, Television (TV) Humor | 4 Comments »
Wednesday, May 5th, 2010
When I posted my Cher limerick last weekend, I promised more limerick reviews of Las Vegas shows. So here’s my love limerick to the Beatles-inspired Cirque du Soleil show LOVE.
Mad About LOVE
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Once again, I must say hip-hooray
To the wonderful Cirque du Soleil.
It’s spectacle LOVE
Is a few cuts above.
Like the Beatles? Then see it today.
While I’m on the subject of Cirque Du Soleil, hubby Mark and I saw “O,” Mystere, and Zumanity on previous trips. “O” and Mystere were great, but we both disliked Zumanity.
Tags: Beatles, Celebrities, Cher, Cirque Du Soleil, Entertainment Limerick, Las Vegas, Music Humor & Verse, Reviews, Singers, Travel
Posted in Celebrity Humor, Entertainment Humor, Leisure Time Humor, Limericks, Music Humor & Verse, Public Figures, Theater Reviews, Travel Humor, Vacation Humor | 1 Comment »
Sunday, May 2nd, 2010
Sorry to have been so quiet lately. I’ve been traveling — family stuff in Dallas, followed by a wonderful vacation in Las Vegas.
Here’s the first in a short series of limerick show reviews:
Limerick Ode To Cher
By Madeleine Begun Kane
The singer and actress named Cher
Looks amazingly good nearly bare.
Her singing is great.
Her show is first rate.
And costumes? Elton John should beware.
Tags: Actresses, Celebrities, Cher, Elton John, Entertainment Limerick, Fashion Verse, Las Vegas, Music Humor & Verse, Reviews, Singers, Travel
Posted in Celebrity Humor, Entertainment Humor, Fashion Humor, Leisure Time Humor, Music Humor & Verse, Public Figures, Theater Reviews, Travel Humor, Vacation Humor | 4 Comments »
Friday, April 2nd, 2010
I don’t know about you, but I’m not buying Jesse James’ (or Tiger Woods’) rehab ploy:
Rehab For Serial Wife-Cheating? Bullox! (Double Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
A bike-loving fellow named James
Had affairs with some numerous dames.
Though wife Sandra’s a winner,
He’s trying to spin her:
Addiction’s the problem, he claims.
Now he’s paying a whole lot of loot
For therapy — Tiger Woods’ route.
But rehab won’t fix
Those wife-cheating pricks.
My advice — just give both guys the boot.
Tags: Addiction Humor, Celebrities, Celebrity Marriages, Elin Nordegren, Feminism Humor, Jesse James, Motorcycles, Rehab, Sandra Bullock, Serial Cheaters, Tiger Woods
Posted in Addiction Humor, Battle of the Sexes, Behavior & Personality, Celebrity Humor, Feminist Satire, Limericks, Marriage Humor, Public Figures | 7 Comments »
Thursday, March 25th, 2010
I just realized that today, March 25th, is the birthday of one of my favorite singer/song-writers, the great Sir Elton Hercules John.
I still have vivid, wonderful memories of the day so many years ago when hubby Mark and I saw Elton John perform in New York’s Central Park, outrageous duck costume and all.
Birthday Limerick For Elton John
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Happy birthday, dear Elton H. John.
Love your tunes and your duck suit. Sing on!
You can never go wrong
With a Taupin-teamed song.
Yes, your music’s a sine qua non.
Tags: Bernie Taupin, Celebrity Birthdays, Central Park, Elton John, March Holidays, Popular Music
Posted in Celebrity Humor, Limericks, Music Humor & Verse, Public Figures | 1 Comment »
Monday, February 22nd, 2010
As I’ve mentioned before, figure skating is the only sport I enjoy watching on television.
And as much as I was rooting for American skater Evan Lysacek to win the men’s figuring skating gold, I do admire Russia’s Evgeni Plushenko. In fact, I was looking forward to seeing if he could land himself a second gold medal.
But I join many of Plushenko’s fans in being disappointed by his ungracious post-long-program remarks.
After U.S. skater Evan Lysacek took the 2010 men’s figure skating Olympic gold and Plushenko was relegated to silver, Plushenko seemingly put Evan and the other contenders down, saying:
Overall my basic position and attitude is that movement needs to go forward and never stop, never go back. I think people need to do lots of quads.”
As McClatchy’s Gil LeBreton observes:
Because the Russian skater was the only one in the room who does quads, his remarks Thursday night came across as self-serving — sour grapes, unbecoming of a guy who thought he could take three years off from the sport and then dance in and steal the gold medal.
Plushenko, quadruple jump and all, received the silver medal in Thursday night’s men’s figure skating finals. U.S. skater Evan Lysacek, who attempted no quads in his dramatic, near-flawless performance, was rewarded with the gold.
This brings me to my latest limerick:
Thin-Skinned Plushenko Skating On Thin Ice?
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Dear Plushenko, your program was fine,
But did not deserve gold, so don’t whine.
Stop implying your quad
Should have earned you the nod.
Evan beat you. His skate was divine.
Tags: Evan Lysacek, Evgeni Plushenko, Olympic Gold, Olympics Figure Skating, Poor Sportsmanship, Quad Jump, Vancouver Olympics, Winter Olympics 2010
Posted in Behavior & Personality, Canada, Entertainment Humor, Family & Relatives Humor, Figure Skating Humor, Leisure Time Humor, Limericks, Public Figures, Recreation & Fun Humor, Sports Humor, Television (TV) Humor | Comments Off on Thin-Skinned Plushenko Skating On Thin Ice?
Sunday, February 21st, 2010
I’ve been a Valerie Harper fan dating way back to her years as Mary’s best friend Rhoda in the Mary Tyler Moore Show. And now I’m even a bigger fan, after hubby Mark and I saw her on Broadway this weekend starring as Tallulah Bankhead in Looped.
All I can say is, “Wow!”
Okay, I can say a bit more and have even written Harper a limerick. But first some info: Looped, by Matthew Lombardo, is a very funny comedy about celebrity bad girl Tallulah Bankhead, an out-of-control actress trying to complete her final screen role (Die, Die My Darling).
The play, directed by Rob Ruggiero, takes place in a Los Angeles recording studio and also features Brian Hutchison and Michael Mulheren. These poor fellows are desperately trying to extract one good take from Tallulah, so they can re-record (or “loop”) a single line of dialogue.
Looped is in previews right now at the Lyceum Theatre and opens March 14, 2010.
And now, my limerick:
Limerick Ode To Valerie Harper
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Give Valerie Harper a hand.
She’s in Looped on Broadway and she’s grand.
As Tallulah she’s naughty,
Outrageous, and baudy.
At the end you will cheer as you stand.
Seeing Looped capped off a full and fun day in Manhattan. What else did we do? We walked up Fifth Avenue and wandered around the eclectic Japanese department store, Takashimaya, deciding to save its charming Tea Box restaurant and tea room for another day. Then we moved on to the Central Park Zoo, had drinks at The Oak Bar at the Plaza Hotel, and ate a scrumptious Northern Italian meal at Nocello. (We’d planned to go dancing after the play, but my knee was misbehaving, so we called it an early-for-us night and went home.)
By the way, I highly recommend the Central Park Zoo. People tend to overlook it because it’s so tiny. But it’s very charming, and we especially enjoyed watching one of the polar bears frolic, using a large square of Styrofoam as his floating toy.
The snow leopards, snow monkeys, penguins, and the Rainforest were fun too, as was watching harbor seals being fed and taught tricks.
Tags: Brian Hutchison, Broadway Play, Central Park Zoo, Looped, Lyceum Theatre, Mary Tyler Moore, Matthew Lombardo, Michael Mulheren, Nocello, Oak Bar, Plaza Hotel, Rob Ruggiero, Takashimaya, Tallulah Bankhead, Theater Review, Valerie Harper
Posted in Authors & Playwrights, Entertaining New Yorkers, Entertainment Humor, Leisure Time Humor, Movie & Play Humor, New York Limericks & Haiku, Night On The Town, Public Figures, Restaurant Reviews & Humor, Theater Reviews | 4 Comments »
Sunday, February 14th, 2010
As I’ve mentioned previously, Comix is one of my favorite New York City comedy clubs. And it sure didn’t disappoint Friday night when we saw the hilarious Ted Alexandro and “Friends” Pete Dominick, Joe Derosa, and Morgan Murphy.
Headliner Alexandro, a former elementary school music teacher, was the highlight of the evening. I love his comic sensibility, his pacing and his fearless use of silence. But hubby Mark and I also enjoyed the other comedians, especially Morgan Murphy, who somehow manages to sound both depressed and funny at the same time.
Getting back to Alexandro, in one segment of his routine Alexandro waxes funny about teaching little kids the recorder (presumably the children’s version, known as a flutophone.)
This comedy bit inspired me (an oboe performance major who once taught the oboe) to write a limerick in honor of Alexandro’s transition from music teacher to standup comic:
Limerick Ode To Ted Alexandro
By Madeleine Begun Kane
A funny young fellow named Ted,
Who majored in musical ed,
Taught kiddies recorduh.
An instrument? Sorta.
But now he’s a comic, instead.
UPDATE: Ted Alexandro inspired me to write him another limerick when he joined the Wall Street protests.
Tags: Comedy Limerick, Comix, Elementary School Music, Flutophone, Joe Derosa, Morgan Murphy, Musical Verse, New York City, Oboe Humor, Pete Dominick, Recorder, Ted Alexandro
Posted in Comedy Club Reviews, Entertaining New Yorkers, Entertainment Humor, Limericks, Music Humor & Verse, New York Limericks & Haiku, Night On The Town, Public Figures, Standup Comics | Comments Off on Limerick Ode To Ted Alexandro
Thursday, November 12th, 2009
I can’t imagine that too many guests have stormed off a Larry King interview. But “author,” sex tape star, and former Miss California Carrie Prejean tried to … and failed.
Donald Trump must be so proud! (You can find my Carrie Prejean limerick and a link to the Larry King video here.)
Tags: Beauty Pageants, Carrie Prejean, Interview Humor, Larry King Live, Miss America
Posted in Authors & Playwrights, Celebrity Humor, Donald Trump, Entertainment Humor, Feminist Satire, Interviews, Media Humor, Public Figures, Television (TV) Humor | 3 Comments »
Tuesday, September 15th, 2009
What’s with prominent celebrities and pols whose last names begin with “W”? Joe Wilson, Kanye West, and Serena Williams have all made unspeakably rude public asses of themselves during the last few days. And so the worlds of politics, entertainment and sports have all come together in a sad celebration of awful behavior followed by inadequate apologies.
Here’s my limerick tribute to their unseemly public tirades:
Ode To Incivility
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Must pols and celebs be so rude?
And display a despicable ‘tude?
Misters Wilson and West
And Ms. Williams, it’s best
To attempt not to act so unglued.
Tags: Bad Behavior, Beyonce Knowles, Insincere Apologies, Joe Wilson, Kanye West, Kim Clijsters, Moonman, MTV VMA's, Rudeness, Serena Williams, Singers, Sportsmanship, Taylor Swift, U.S. Open
Posted in Apology Humor, Behavior & Personality, Celebrity Humor, Entertainment Humor, Limericks, Music Humor & Verse, Public Figures, Sports Humor | 4 Comments »
Saturday, January 17th, 2009
I was very saddened to read that Rumpole creator John Mortimer died. Not only am I a fan of his books, but I had the pleasure of meeting, interviewing, and profiling John Mortimer for British Heritage Magazine back in 1996 … not to mention sharing champagne with him while we chatted.
Needless to say, I sipped very slowly.
We spoke about everything from feminism and God to computers and murderers. Here are some excerpts from my Mortimer profile:
Judges, according to Mortimer, “take themselves too seriously,” while prisons are a “university of crime.” Mortimer speaks from experience; he earned considerable acclaim as a barrister, especially for his successful defenses in censorship cases. He also represented many divorce clients and accused murderers during his barrister years. According to Mortimer, he much preferred the murderers.
…
I asked Mortimer which was more difficult to write, comedy or tragedy. “Comedy,” he answered without hesitation. “It is very easy to make people cry, be sad, be miserable. Farce is an incredibly difficult genre. Comedy requires enormous imagination. There are quite a lot of great tragedies, and there aren’t many great comedies.”
Mortimer was equally emphatic about the relative difficulties of his two careers. “Writing is much, much harder than being a lawyer. If you’re a lawyer you can rattle on doing things other people can do. If you’re a writer, you’ve got to do something which nobody else can do. Except writing has less disastrous results. If you write a bad book, no one goes to prison, which is rather a relief.”
…
Mortimer appears to relish making comments that would tend to provoke a rise, or at least a laugh. Indeed, he laughs easily and often, a condition I found quite contagious. When asked if it’s possible for men and women to communicate without gender getting in the way, he said, laughing, “No. Thank God for it. Vive La Difference.” He added with another chuckle, “I think women don’t want to be sex objects, but I’d love to be a sex object. My own ambition is to be loved only for my body.”
Mortimer, like Rumpole, enjoys making fun of feminists. Yet I sensed that behind his flippant love-me-for-my-body remark was a man who, again like Rumpole, measures women when it matters on merit alone. I suggested that while many women enjoy being sex objects, they don’t want gender to interfere with their careers. “Absolutely,” Mortimer responded, “and so it shouldn’t.”
You can read my entire John Mortimer interview here.
(Cross-posted on my Political Madness Blog)
Tags: Authors & Playwrights, Barristers, Brits, Death, Interviews, John Mortimer, Lawyers, Obit, Profiles, Writers
Posted in Authors & Playwrights, Books, Interviews, Legal & Lawyer Humor, Public Figures | 6 Comments »
Saturday, September 27th, 2008
I awoke today to the sad news that the great Paul Newman has died. Paul Newman has always been one of my favorite actors. So you can imagine how thrilled I was when I encountered him many years ago in a New York bar. At least, I’m pretty sure I encountered him, but you be the judge. Here’s a column I wrote about the incident way back when:
OGLING EYES
I was ogled last night by a very handsome, classy looking, much older man. Now most women (and I’m no exception) are secretly gratified by the occasional gawker … unless catcalls and droopy drawers are involved. (Okay, maybe not the sponsors of the Anti-Ogling Addendum to the ERA.)
Unfortunately, I’m such an unobservant person, that I usually have to trip over an ogler to notice him. Here’s a recent exchange with hubby Mark:
Mark: Did you see that guy leering at you?
Me: What guy?
Mark: The one you just stepped on … over there on the stretcher.
However, even I couldn’t fail to catch last night’s ogling. It lasted forty-five minutes, well beyond the flattering stage into the “keep your lascivious eyeballs to yourself, buster” stage.
But here’s the thing — I’m almost positive (although not lie detector positive) that those ogling eyes (and the rest of him) belonged to Paul Newman.
Yes, I know that sounds unlikely, if not downright absurd. What would Paul Newman be doing anywhere near me? And even if we did briefly and serendipitously share the same piece of real estate, surely he could find something better to eye. And why wasn’t he busy dodging hordes of autograph hounds pestering … and ogling … him? … (Ogling Eyes is continued here.)
Tags: Actor Humor, Celebrity Encounters, Flirting, Paul Newman Humor
Posted in Celebrity Humor, Entertainment Humor, Humor Columns & Humorous Essays, Public Figures | 3 Comments »
Saturday, April 12th, 2008
As you can probably tell, I was in a very bad mood when I wrote this limerick. (Tax filing season tends to do that to me.)
But I was determined to write something using words from three different prompts in a single poem. Why? I have absolutely no idea. But here’s the product of a bud prompt, a fearless prompt and a flight prompt. For five points, can you name the person I’m describing in this limerick?
Ode To A Despicable Person
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Hey bud, don’t pretend to be fearless.
In your cowardice, you’re nearly peerless.
You took flight from your duty.
Your record’s no beauty.
You ought to be jailed and careerless.
Update: Here’s a haiku using the same three prompts, with my thanks to hubby Mark for the first two lines:
“This Bud is on me,”
Said the fearless flight steward,
Handing her a rose.
Tags: Public Figures, Writing Prompts
Posted in Limericks, Poetry & Prompts, Public Figures | 9 Comments »
