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Posts tagged as lenny bruce

Comedy Docs

Finding Lenny Bruce's Imprint on the Comedy World in Two Documentaries

by | October 2nd, 2012

It’s no secret that sometimes comedy is taken a bit too seriously. Comedy obsessives love not just the jokes, but the mechanics and emotions of the comedy world. There are a raft of comedy documentaries exploring comedy and comedians, but do they really have anything significant to add to the discussion? This series looks at comedy documentaries and whether they’re interesting, insightful, and possibly even…funny?

Lenny Bruce’s legacy is undeniable. He was a ground-breaker, a pioneer in truth-telling comedy, the first to break away from charming family entertainment to address the real social issues off the day, including race, sex, and drugs. Comedy would not be what it is [...]

History

Lenny Bruce Didn't Have the Best Relationship with His Dad

by | August 13th, 2012

Eesh. Here's a letter that Lenny Bruce wrote to his father upon facing jail time for a drug conviction in 1964. It's…dark. Dear Father,

This is the story of a boy and his father who spoiled him. He would want a bike, and his father would bring him one home: and if it wasn't to the boy's liking, he would throw it down on the ground and say, "I don't want that cheap old bike." And he would kick its spokes and jump on it: and the poor father would say, "Alright, my son, I'll work 24 hours a day and get you a nicer one." The [...]

From the Archives

Unearthing Steve Allen and Lenny Bruce's Unaired Discussion on Free Speech

by | July 27th, 2012

The Paley Center for Media, which has locations in both New York and LA, dedicates itself to the preservation of television and radio history. Inside their vast archives of more than 120,000 television shows, commercials, and radio programs, there are thousands of important and funny programs waiting to be rediscovered by comedy nerds like you and me. Each week, this column will highlight a new gem waiting for you at the Paley Library to quietly laugh at. (Seriously, it's a library, so keep it down.)

Not too long ago, a fella by the name of Daniel Tosh stirred up a debate on the Internet about what is okay [...]

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