# Was Albert Brooks Ever Funny? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 25, 2004, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-albert-brooks-ever-funny/261452 "2004-08-25T15:30:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2004, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-albert-brooks-ever-funny/261452/21 "2004-08-25T18:34:53Z")
I first caught him on “The Great American Dream Machine” show on PBS back in the early 70s. Really great segments. I do agree that he is oftentimes stuck in a rut though, doing the same thing over and over. But it really helps to understand his humor to understand the direction he’s coming from. He’s does certain things in order to highlight various absurdities of human nature. Since I started watching him so long ago, I see his point of view and thus enjoy so much of his work. So: We really was extremely funny. He still is, but not as original as he used to. ---
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2004, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-albert-brooks-ever-funny/261452/22 "2004-08-25T18:40:40Z")
> [@Scarlett67](#): > > Mr. S and I both think he’s hilarious. And neither of us is ;j . Neither am I. Defending Your Life is an amazing film, as is Mother. ---
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2004, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-albert-brooks-ever-funny/261452/23 "2004-08-25T18:46:29Z")
> [@bnorton](#): > > Which Simpsons characters has he done? Episode 1.7 - Cowboy Bob Episode 1.9 - Jacques, the bowling instuctor Marge almost cheats with Episode 5.7 - Brad Goodman Episode 8.2 - Hank Scorpio ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2004, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-albert-brooks-ever-funny/261452/24 "2004-08-25T18:53:26Z")
> [@CandidGamera](#): > > The film : Lost in America. The writer/star : Albert Brooks. The humor : Almost nil. > > I mean, I’ve enjoyed his guest-shots on the Simpsons - but did he ever, otherwise, show any comedic talent at all? > > I mean, Woody Allen called, and he wants his schtick back. _Lost in America_ is a brilliant film. Albert Brooks is not for everyone, but I’m really glad he’s for me. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2004, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-albert-brooks-ever-funny/261452/25 "2004-08-25T18:57:59Z")
For the record IANA ;j (ridiculous assertion BTW) I like Albert Brooks alot. I find about 90% of his work funny but of course some are better than others. I hated the horrible remake of _The Inlaws_. Ruined a great original movie. I also like the fact that his birth name is Albert Einstein. ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2004, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-albert-brooks-ever-funny/261452/26 "2004-08-25T19:01:17Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > _Lost in America_ is a brilliant film. Albert Brooks is not for everyone, but I’m really glad he’s for me. Not debating the film’s intelligence. 🙂 Just asserting my opinion that it wasn’t funny. Cut a few lines here and there and change the ending, and it’s a drama, for crying out loud. ---
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2004, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-albert-brooks-ever-funny/261452/27 "2004-08-25T19:19:17Z")
> [@CandidGamera](#): > > Not debating the film’s intelligence. 🙂 > > Just asserting my opinion that it wasn’t funny. > > Cut a few lines here and there and change the ending, and it’s a drama, for crying out loud. It’s okay, Gamera. We forgive you for being wrong. 😛😉😃 ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2004, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-albert-brooks-ever-funny/261452/28 "2004-08-25T19:25:54Z")
> [@Mockingbird](#): > > It’s okay, Gamera. We forgive you for being wrong. Aw, well, if you can find it in your hearts to be that generous, maybe someday I’ll forgive Albert Brooks for making Lost in America. Hope springs eternal. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2004, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-albert-brooks-ever-funny/261452/29 "2004-08-25T19:28:58Z")
> [@CandidGamera](#): > > Aw, well, if you can find it in your hearts to be that generous, maybe someday I’ll forgive Albert Brooks for making Lost in America. Hope springs eternal. 😃 Now you’re getting four days in the stocks for being a heathen. REPENT! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2004, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-albert-brooks-ever-funny/261452/30 "2004-08-25T19:41:33Z")
Never saw _Lost In America_ so my abiliy to comment intelligibly on it is limited to this: the morning jocks I listen to frequenly have Garry Marshall on their show, and they like to once in a while play the audio of the scene where Albert Brooks’s character is trying to persuade Garry Marshall’s character to give him his money back. I find it quite funny. Never saw the remake of _The Inlaws_, and my comments on that one are limited to these: When I saw the billboard announcing the advent of the flick, I felt that it was a movie that didn’t need to be remade. Also, when I saw the billboard, I thought that Michael Douglas _and_ Albert Brookos looked impossibly creepy. I thoroughly enjoyed Albert Brooks’s performances in _Defending Your Life_, _Broadcast News_, _Finding Nemo_, _Mother_, and _The Muse_. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2004, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-albert-brooks-ever-funny/261452/31 "2004-08-25T21:07:45Z")
He works for me. “Not… the _nest egg_? Tell me you didn’t touch the _nest egg_!” ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2004, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-albert-brooks-ever-funny/261452/32 "2004-08-25T21:37:46Z")
So . . . a director is not allowed to make a comedy with a dramatic center? Better let Charlie Chaplin, and Woody Allen, and Billy Wilder, and Lily Tomlin, and many other great artists know. ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2004, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-albert-brooks-ever-funny/261452/33 "2004-08-25T21:40:32Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > So . . . a director is not allowed to make a comedy with a dramatic center? Better let Charlie Chaplin, and Woody Allen, and Billy Wilder, and Lily Tomlin, and many other great artists know. Paging Mr. Strawman … could we get Mr. Strawman on set , please? ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2004, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-albert-brooks-ever-funny/261452/34 "2004-08-26T00:14:36Z")
Subtle comedy is a very specific, difficult (impossible really) thing to try and explain. In Lost in America for example- While talking over the phone to Hans the car dealer (whom Brookes also voiced): “That includes all the options?” “Yes, everything, except leather” “Oh, that doesn’t include leather?” “Well, it includes something we call Mercedes leather” "Oh. What is that? “Well, its like a very thick vinyl” Some people will watch that scene (or read the above words) and not for one second consider it comedy. They won’t even notice that it was written as such. They’ll just think its meaningless background dialog. Others (like me) will think its hilarious. ---
**Author:** ![C3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/c3/32/3108_2.png) [@C3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C3)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2004, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-albert-brooks-ever-funny/261452/35 "2004-08-26T00:49:41Z")
Was I the only person who read this entire thread wondering why no one mentioned History of the World Part II…that movie was _hilarious_! 😉 :smack: ---
**Author:** ![h.sapiens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2004, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-albert-brooks-ever-funny/261452/36 "2004-08-26T01:02:11Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > I remember growing up in St Louis in the mid-late '70’s, there was a guy that had a Saturday morning comedy show on the radio. One of the bits I remember him playing quite often was one from Albert Brooks where he was holding auditions for people with suggestions for a new national anthem. It was a hoot. (To the tune of “Star-Spangled Banner”) – “As we stand here wai-ting, for the ball game to start…” “Next!” There was also an album called “Sold Out” or “Sells Out” which had tracks aimed at every popular radio format of the time, ostensibly to get as much airtime as possible. The call-in talk show bit was hilarious. Unfortunately, I don’t think any of his albums has been released on CD. Can you tell I’m a fan? ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2004, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-albert-brooks-ever-funny/261452/37 "2004-08-26T01:03:53Z")
I’m a huge fan of both Albert Brooks and Terry Gilliam, but I recognize that both are polarizing artists. You either love em or hate em. The fact that those who hate them have no taste is really immaterial. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2004, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-albert-brooks-ever-funny/261452/38 "2004-08-26T03:09:50Z")
I’ve watched a lot of Albert Brooks’ stuff because I like the guy and WANT to like his stuff but he’s just … not … funny. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2004, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-albert-brooks-ever-funny/261452/39 "2004-08-26T04:10:19Z")
Albert Brooks is one of those comedians … it’s a situation where people have to assure me that he actually is very funny, because I watch him and feel nothing. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2004, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-albert-brooks-ever-funny/261452/40 "2004-08-26T04:23:27Z")
One of the reason why Brookes is so talented is that he is completely aware that a lot of people feel that he isn’t. At all. Way back in the mid-seventies in one of his short SNL films about some kind of ‘Comedy Institute’ he did a bit where he was trying to convince someone that he **was** funny. It was just him and a big, blue-coller-ish guy arguing in one of those one-way mirror observation rooms: the guy - “You’re not funny!” Brookes - “No, no, I am funny!” the guy - “NO! You’re NOT FUNNY!!” After going to something else and then cutting back to find that the guy is on the verge of beating him up, Brookes is saying, “Okay, okay you’re right I’m not funny. I’m not funny at all. Guys, let me out of here!” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-albert-brooks-ever-funny/261452.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-albert-brooks-ever-funny/261452.md?page=3)