Category: humour

Nicest Man in Stand-Up ➙ Nate Bargatze

On By Rick McIn humour, TVLeave a comment

Though I didn’t recall his name, I howled at Bargatze’s bit on Saturday Night Live.

Click PLAY or watch him as George Washington on YouTube.

Bargatze’s stand-up special Hello World, filmed at the Celebrity Theater in Phoenix, Arizona, was released in 2023 on Amazon Prime Video.

Hilarious.

He has been called a clean comedian, generally avoiding profanity, sexual humor, and potentially controversial or politically incorrect material. His success among adult audiences has been noted as a departure from the provocative and surreal styles of humor that dominated the 2010s. 

What does he joke about?

… Mostly about his wife Laura Blair. 😀

The two met in their early 20s while working together at an Applebee’s restaurant in Tennessee.

“We got married on Friday the 13th. Got a pretty sweet deal on that,” he quipped. “They were wide open. We were like, ‘What times are available?’ They go, ‘Every one of ‘em. All 24. You can call us that day if you want.’ ”

After a while his shtick does start to seem repetitive. Still … worth watching.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

HIT MAN (2023)

On By Rick McIn humour, moviesLeave a comment

A surprisingly entertaining movie.

… Hit Man follows an undercover New Orleans police contractor who poses as a reliable hitman as he tries to save a woman in need.

The basic premise was based on the true story of a college professor who worked for the Houston police in the late 1980s and 1990s as a fake hitman …

Adria Arjona as Madison Figueroa Masters is gorgeous and most charismatic.

The HIT MAN is Glen Powell as Gary Johnson, college professor and tech guy turned undercover mole. … Or it might be Justin Hartley as the HIT MAN. Those two are probably the same actor. 😀

On Rotten Tomatoes, 95% of 295 critics’ reviews are positive.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.



Cunk on Life 😀

On By Rick McIn humour, TVLeave a comment

I loved the British mockumentary series Cunk on Earth.

So was keen to watch the Jan. 2025 Netflix special Cunk on Life.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

The comic actor returns as the worst-informed person on TV for a one-off that tackles the big issues – and quite possibly causes permanent damage to the baffled academics she interviews …

As ever, she interviews a variety of experts “to ask some of the most significant questions you can ask with a mouth”.  …

Guardian – Philomena Cunk on Life review – Diane Morgan is absolutely peerless

Abbott Elementary – season 3

On By Rick McIn education, government, humour, TVLeave a comment

I was charmed by season 1.

Enjoyed season 2.

But started to fade by the end of season 3.

Like most sitcoms, every episode is the same.

Abbott Elementary stars 4 ft 11 inch (149.9 cm)​​ Quinta Brunson as Janine Teagues, a perpetually optimistic second-grade teacher at the underfunded Abbott Elementary, a predominantly Black school in Philadelphia. 

William Stanford Davis as Mr. Johnson, the school’s eccentric, overqualified and talented, custodian is my favourite character.  Still.

It’s an insight into the American public school system. ReTrumplicans insist on reducing funding for public education, while subsidizing rich kids in private schools.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Fisk – seasons 1 & 2

On By Rick McIn humour, TVLeave a comment

Season 3 is not available (legally) in Canada, as I post.

Ron and Kate recommended a terrific Aussie sitcom called Fisk.

The entire cast is hilarious — but my slight favourite is Aaron Chen as George. Webmaster. 😀

The series revolves around the life of lawyer Helen Tudor-Fisk …

… finds work at a small solicitors that specialises in probate law and wills.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

My Golf HOLE IN ONE ?? 😀

On By Rick McIn health & fitness, humour, sport - amateurLeave a comment

8th hole at Gleneagles in Vancouver, hosted by Rockin’ Ronnie.

I can neither confirm nor deny whether this is video editing trickery.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Gumption by Nick Offerman

On By Rick McIn books, ethics, government, human rights, humour, music, philosophyLeave a comment

Nick Offerman has released four semi-autobiographical publications:

  • Paddle Your Own Canoe: One Man’s Fundamentals for Delicious Living (2013)
  • Gumption: Relighting the Torch of Freedom with America’s Gutsiest Troublemakers (2015)
  • Good Clean Fun: Misadventures in Sawdust at Offerman Woodshop (2016)
  • Where the Deer and the Antelope Play: The Pastoral Observations of One Ignorant American Who Loves to Walk Outside (2021).

Gumption is a humorous, philosophical look at some of the people who have inspired Nick over his lifetime. For example, as a young man he was a huge fan of the film Billy Jack (1971) — and its creator / star Tom Laughlin. He attended Tom’s funeral in 2013 and spent time with the family.

While focused on personal heroes, Nick finds time to expound upon many of his favorite topics such as religion, politics, woodworking, agriculture, creativity, philosophy, fashion, and, of course, meat.

21 profiles of America’s gutsiest troublemakers

  1. George Washington
  2. Benjamin Franklin
  3. James Madison
  4. Frederick Douglass
  1. Theodore Roosevelt
  2. Frederick Law Olmsted
  3. Eleanor Roosevelt
  4. Tom Laughlin
  5. Wendell Berry
  6. Barney Frank
  7. Yoko Ono
  8. Michael Pollan
  1. Thomas Lie-Nielsen
  2. Nat Benjamin
  3. George Nakashima
  4. Carol Burnett
  5. Jeff Tweedy
  6. George Saunders
  7. Laurie Anderson
  8. Willie Nelson
  9. Conan O’Brien

Paddle Your Own Canoe by Nick Offerman

On By Rick McIn books, humour1 Comment

Hilarious street philosophy.

Nick Offerman has released four semi-autobiographical publications:

  • Paddle Your Own Canoe: One Man’s Fundamentals for Delicious Living (2013)
  • Gumption: Relighting the Torch of Freedom with America’s Gutsiest Troublemakers (2015)
  • Good Clean Fun: Misadventures in Sawdust at Offerman Woodshop (2016)
  • Where the Deer and the Antelope Play: The Pastoral Observations of One Ignorant American Who Loves to Walk Outside (2021).

He has also narrated all four as audiobooks.

Like most people, I love Nick Offerman as an actor, especially as Ron Swanson in the NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation (2009–2015).

His writing is just as funny.

When Nick wrote this 2013 book, he wasn’t nearly as famous as he is today.

In 2003, he married Will & Grace actress Megan Mullally. She’s MUCH more famous and financially successful.

Everyone knew Nick Offerman after his fantastic performance in episode 3, The Last of Us – season 1. An Emmy winning turn.

I do recommend this book. And plan on reading all four.