SUNDAY FUNNIES COMEDY SPOTLIGHT: REMEMBERING RED SKELTON

 Hello Everybody! The Free Choice E-zine's Editor-in-Chief Lee Houston, Junior here because despite the fact the Fourth of July was Friday, your regular hosts Piper D. Katt and Koda Canine have the holiday weekend here in America off.

One comedy legend that is at risk of fading into history is Red Skelton, who performed in vaudeville, on stage, radio, television and the movies from 1923-1993; retiring a few years before his passing.

Red's performances are noteworthy for two reasons. The first being the wide range of characters he created, including Clem Kadiddlehopper, Freddie the Freeloader, Junior/The Mean Little Kid and a host of others.

The other aspect was the fact that he always worked clean, leaving the more risqué humor for others in the belief that comedy should be uplifting, family friendly, and genuine. "Never rely on offense or vulgarity. Humor should have a heart that prioritizes kindness, respect, and genuine joy for all."

A master of adlibbing/improving long before Robin Williams or Whose Line Is It Anyway?, a Skelton show or performance never stayed 100% completely on script, depending upon what might happen either during performing or recording.

While self taught, Red was also an accomplished painter, mostly of clowns and considered himself one instead of a comedian.

But now it's time for some classic Red Skelton jokes.

Any kid will run an errand for you, if you ask at bedtime.

Jimmy the pigeon shows up without any feathers. “I was flying low in Beverly Hills and got caught in one heck of a badminton game.”

Congress: Bingo with billions. But I don't pick on politicians. They ain't done nothing.

John Wayne once told me, 'Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway.' I told him, 'John, I get scared just looking at a saddle!'

I've unfortunately put on a lot of weight. Then again, I only weighed six and a half pounds when I was born.

Television is the device that brings characters into your living room that you would never allow in your living room.

My doctor said I look like a million dollars: green and wrinkled.

Sadly, we lost Red in 1997, but the world sure could use his style of comedy today.

If by chance some day you're not feeling well and you should remember some silly thing I've said or done and it brings back a smile to your face or a chuckle to your heart, then my purpose as your clown has been fulfilled.

Take care.

STAY SAFE!

Have a great week and one of your regular hosts will be back next weekend with more Sunday Funnies.—lh,jr.

SUNDAY FUNNIES: PROGRESS VERSUS CONGRESS

Political watchdog

Hello Everybody. Autumn the Puppy here with my first Sunday Funnies post of 2013!

While I don't get on my soap box too often, there is no denying that political humor has been in existence almost as long as there has been politicians.
And some of the most poignant, and funny, jokes have been made concerning the United States Congress.

Since their 113th session began, the Republican majority the House of Representatives have already made another failed attempt to repeal Obama Care, postponed taking action on giving more relief to victims of Hurricane Sandy and discussing women who have been victims of violence. They still have yet to even start talking about a job stimulus package, and don't even get me started about their record on gun control...
Then again, the opposite of Pro is Con, so the opposite of Progress is....?
But I'm far from the first person to ever comment on the situation. Let's look at some of the more famous quotes from history.

Author Mark Twain (Huckleberry Finn, Tom Sawyer, etc) had plenty to say on the subject.
*Suppose you were an idiot, and suppose you were a member of Congress; but I repeat myself.
*It could probably be shown through facts and figures that there is no distinctly native criminal class in this country, except Congress.

His contemporary Will Rogers wasn't silent on the issue either.
*The only difference between death and taxes is that death doesn't get worse every time Congress meets.
*With Congress, every time they make a joke it's a law, and every time they make a law it's a joke.

Other comedians have weighed in on the subject too, like:
Milton Berle said "You can lead a man to Congress, but you can't make him think.", and
Red Skelton once observed, "Congress is men playing games with money that don't belong to them."

And while Barack Obama, our current President of the United States, has extended the olive branch of bipartisanship in hopes of getting tasks accomplished that will benefit the country, other Presidents have commented on the subject.
The forty-first President, George H. W. Bush said "I've often thought that the aging process could be slowed down if it had to go through Congress."
His predecessor, President Ronald Reagan once said "I've wondered at time what the Ten Commandments would have looked like if Moses had to run them through Congress first."

But perhaps former President Abraham Lincoln said it best.
"We, the people, are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts; not to overthrow the Constitution, but to overthrow the men who pervert it."

There you go folks. Humor that also makes you think.
I'm one smart puppy, ain't I?
In any event, have a great week, and please be back here next weekend for more Sunday Funnies!-AtP.