What do you think of Dave Barry?

In My Humble Opinion
21

I think he’s been losing his touch. I’d read his stuff five or six years ago, and OMG he was so funny, and his older stuff still is. But it’s like anything he’s written in the last two years just isn’t as good. I think he began losing his humor when he got divorced.

–Tim

22

I LOVE Dave Barry! He is extremely funny, and I also loved the TV show.

I think you have to have a dry sense of humor to really appreciate him.

Scotti

23

I’ve always thought P.J. O’Rourke was funny as hell, but I had to agree with him when he said of Dave Barry, “He’d be a great guy if he weren’t a hundred times funnier than me.”

Dave Barry’s formulaic and juvenile, and he’s the funniest writer there is. Nobody’s in his league.

24

Gosh, maybe it’s just me.
I find his writing to be tedious, sophomoric stabs at humor that don’t work on even the most juvenile level.

Not that I could do any better.

But after working through the Washington Post Sunday Magazine Crossword, I flip back to his column and think, does he really think this stuff is “funny”?

25

As a Terry Prachett fan, I’ve got to disagree. But I do love Dave anyway. I will say he’s hands down the best at what he does. P.J.'s funnier when it comes to political stuff (if only because he doesn’t call every other candidate a ‘goober’.)

26

I catch Mr. Barry’s columns every now and again, and generally I have to make sure that I don’t read them on hall quiet hours in the dorm because I bust out laughing so hard. But there are days where his writing just strikes me as, “Okay, Dave. Ok-AY, Dave. Put down the pen. Please.” And I can’t stand reading the collections. That’s too much of the Barry-ssentials collected in one place. ahem ducking

27

Okay, I was the guy who made the “irritating running joke” comment in the Band Names column.

I still read Barry every Saturday in the NY DAILY NEWS (I read BLONDIE in the funny pages too, so you see where I’m coming from), and occasionally enjoy him, but more often than not end up thinking “Man, the guy used to be really entertaining, and now he’s a mere shadow of his former self.”

I own his first book, DAVE BARRY’S GREATEST HITS, which is chockful of prime material, and which I’ll dig out every now and again. “Dave Barry Goes to a Wine-Tasting” is one of the funniest columns ever written*.

He really SHOULD drop “This would make a greant name for a band” and “I swear I’m not making this up” and the other catchphrases.

  • Paraphrased sample line: “My attitude toward wine is the same as my attitude toward beer, which is pretty much drink it and then look around for more.”
28

One word for you:

Bill Watterson, baby!

FTR, even though I’m a little burned out on his stock jokes, I’m a big fan of Dave Barry. He’s not perfect, but he’s still funny.

29

Just read today’s column. "Rock band with funny name " joke in the first damn SENTENCE.

But the crack about undershorts stains was pretty darn funny.

30

Four words, people: DAVE BARRY FOR PRESIDENT.

31

I love his 100% fact free journalism.( I also have all his books!)

32

I also have been told that I have a similar writing style but not as corny. I have enjoyed all of his books with the exception of his recent attempt at fiction, “Big Trouble”. I have waded through 3, maybe 4 chapters and I can’t stop yawning.