Appropriate gift
 

cute pun

Black Ambition
 

Who is the funniest person (stand up comedian or comedic actor) you've ever watched?

While I love Chappelle's stand-up and his show (that skit and the racial draft are classics, though they have yet to supercede the brilliance of last season's Da Real World or the Frontline White Supremecist), I would have to go with Chris Rock or Eddie Izzard.

Chris Rock's lines from Bigger and Blacker and Bring the Pain continue to make it into casual conversation, as do many of the lines from his show. I still "tivo" the reruns.

Eddie Izzard's lines aren't as quotable, but no one can make me laugh for an hour and a half straight. The first time I saw him on hbo, I called my brother in the middle of the night, crying into the phone I was still laughing so hard.

Appropriate gift
 

No kidding. Guys even give each other grief about "weird" sex stuff on anoymous internet discussion boards (where has MR been, anyway?) -- given that, I have no idear why E/O's guy friends would be discussing their views on being pegged. Not Smart, and Not Usual.

To bring it back to the Sopranos, remember how Uncle Junior almost lost all respect because he went down on his girlfriend? It's the same sort of principle -- the only kind of sex that guys will publicly admit to liking is the "macho" stuff, however it is defined in their particular social setting.

Black Ambition
 

Chris Rock's current tour is funnier than Izzard's, so for an act I've seen live, I'll go with Rock, but Izzard's first HBO special was the funniest stand-up act I have ever seen.

There was a very funny comedian who opened for Dave Attell and Lewis Black earlier this year. I'll have to ask Mr Man what his name was again, because he is up there for funniest I've ever seen live.

Black Ambition
 

No one can make me laugh like the late Phil Hartman. I crack(ed) up just looking at him.

hockey book
 

I just finished reading "the Game" by Ken Dryden. It's the best book about hockey that I've read.* (Also the best book I've read written by an athlete (actually written, because he's a writer himself, not ghost-written)). Would highly recommend. Sports Illustrated said it was #9 in the top 100 sports books of all time.

Not recommended if you hate the Habs.


*narrowly edged out the Hockey Sweater, which is great, but in a different category.

Why?
 

OH. MY. GOD.

OK, RP, face it. We are the same person. (Note - I am not making any statement about my feelings for Justin Timberlake -- just the black licorice thing.)

Black Ambition
 

I second that.

Is News Radio on DVD?

Black Ambition
 

I don't know. Does seeing the Simpsons live count as standup? Because I laughed so hard my face hurt quite a lot the next day. And that's never happened with anyone else.

Why?
 

This is eerie. It's also helping my self-esteem.

Have you tried the Australian black licorice they sell in a little tub at Trader Joe's and Cost Plus/World Market. Good stuff.

Black Ambition
 

No. They (Miramax or Sony) delayed the release date. It was actually scheduled to be released TODAY. Now, the date is TBD. I check www.tvshowsondvd.com every week for updates on its status.

Why?
 

Vente latte, extra shot today, dtb?

Why?
 

Speaking of which, today is my tenth day without caffeine. I gave it up because I was addicted and didn't want to be anymore. I feel extremely mellow, like I've taken a valium or something. I thought that would fade after the first few days but it hasn't. It's kind of nice.

Why?
 

Wait. One. Second.

Dtb's drink is a venti latte? Now I'm complete freaked out.

Black Ambition
 

Is that on TV or did you have to leave your house? (I ask because the only way I'll get to see it is if it's on TV...)

But to answer your question, I'd have to say Chris Rock and David Cross.

(Funniest line of David Cross's that I can think of right now: "You see, I have this thing? Called self-control? And I use it?" -- when talking about the guy who has to buy a porno mag at the airport for his flight...)