What's so funny?

W

hat is the first thing you think about when someone says, "April."

Well, you may think, "April showers bring May flowers," but nine times out of ten you will probably think, "April Fool's Day. "

That's right! The very first day of April sets the tone for the month of April. It's a day when whether friend or foe approaches you, you must take care, watch out, after all it is April Fool's Day. Some call them gags, others cry tomfoolery or trickery but whatever named, these tricks we play on each other on the first day of April are just for fun.

Here are a few things about April that you may or may not know. Of course, I have to start with the first day of April.

Have you been fooled by the 8-bit version of Google maps, the Electronic Hungry Hippos iPod Game, or perhaps the Honda Anti-Theft Negotiator?

Do you remember who said, "The first of April is the day we remember what we are the other 364 days of the year"?

Photo Credit: Public Domain

W

ere you one of the ones fooled by the announcement by BBC saying that their camera crew filmed a natural history series in the Antarctic winter, recording penguins flying thousands of miles to the South American rainforest where they could be warm. Here is one video of the penguins flying and the second video shows us how this film was made.

The follow-up video explained how the BBC created the special effects of the flying penguins.

Comedian

A

very Schreiber born April 9, 1935, as Avery Lawrence Schreiber, was a famous Jewish comic who lived and plied his trade in the United States.

He acted on many TV programs and became very well known for his entertainment of children on The Muppet Show. Much to Kermit's disgust, even Miss Piggy loved him. (I watched this show with my daughter and we loved him too and were so sad when he died.)

Many mourned his death in Los Angeles, January 7, 2002.

Photo Image Google Image - Creative Commons

Read more about Avery Schreiber

Comedian

J

erry Seinfeld, was born April 29, 1954 as Jerome Allen Seinfeld. He has enjoyed a very successful career as a stand-up comedian playing a very likeable, skrewaball character. On the Seinfeld sitcom. Seinfeld also became a best-selling author and producer by co-writing and co-producing the film Bee Movie.

I have enjoyed his comedy as an advertising pitchman and have included one of these funny commercials here.

Read more about Jerry Seinfeld

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Comedian

E

ddie Murphy was born April 3, 1961 as Edward Regan Murphy.

Murphy has enjoyed a very successful career as a stand-up comedian usually playing an obnoxious, crazy, hothead. He is also a accomplished actor, musician, singer, writer and director.

The list of his accomplishments are diverse and many some of these are:

Golden Globe Award nominations for his performance in:

~ 48 hours

~ Beverly Hills cop series

~Trading Places

~The Nutty Professor

2007 Awards:

~Golden Globe Award- Best Supporting Actor for portrayal of James Early in Dreamgirls

~Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for portrayal of James Early in Dreamgirls

Read more about Eddie Murphy

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Comedienne & Actress

D

ebra Wilson was born April 26, 1970 and she is a famous comedienne and actress from the United States.

Debra was a stand-up comedienne for one year and then became very well known for her performances in MADtv. She became one of the performers who had acted there the longest.

I remember her fondly for her appearances on the series The Uptown Comedy Club and as co-host with Joan Rivers on Can We Shop? She was indeed funny!

Read more about Debra Wilson

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Comedian

D

avid Cross - Born on April 4, 1964, in Atlanta, Georgia loved to make people laugh and he was very good at it.

Cross was 17 when he began performing stand-up comedy. After completing high school he went to Boston and found a job as a writer on The Ben Stiller Show at FOX in 1992. He also was Co-writer of the very successful sketch-comedy show named Mr. Show at HBO.

Following this success, he was an actor in the movie, Ghost World (2001) and on the situation-comedy. I remember seeing him for the first time on Just Shoot Me.

I also watched during 2003, when David Cross appeared in the series "Arrested Development." The show ran for three seasons and he won a number of Emmy nominations. I was happy when David Cross released his second album, It's Not Funny in 2004.

Read more about David Cross

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Comedian

A

ries Spears - born on April 03, 1975 in Chicago, started as a stand-up comic at the age of 14 and is now a very famous comic.

Spears' most recent work is a new special called Aries Spears: Hollywood, Look I'm Smiling.

Aries appeared in 198 episodes of MADtv and this is where I remember seeing him for the first time. He would be very, very funny if he cut the foul language. (imho)

Read More about Aries Spears

Looking over all six of the comedians past and present performances, it seems to me that certain trends seem to be emerging. Less is said about smoking, drinking, and war than ten years ago. Remarks about Lenin and Trotsky have acquired an ironic patina. Words of wisdom and words to live by seem to be in decline, offset by a rise in remarks about marriage, stupidity and politics. Are these paradigm shifts or merely blips? I don't know.

I hope that this lens has tickled your fancy. Please take time to leave a comment. Thank you!