Parody Books

This is a delightful parody of several of The Bard's more famous plays including Hamlet and MacBeth. Written in the "High Style" and foleyed in Firesign Theatre's usual excellence, you will actually believe that you have been transported to Castle Phlegm.

Anythinge You Want To (Shakespeare's Lost Comdie) has unavilable for years so make sure you add this to your collection before it's toad away.

Well, I'm glad to see that the other reviewers (so far, anyway) have liked this album. It is my favorite Firesign album but the online Firehead community in general rate it in the middle of the pack. The work is presented to the listener as a play and, perhaps because it was meant to be performed live, is one of the most linear and accessible of the Firesign albums. The feature-length play is the only thing on the album. This gives the guys a lot of room to work in and they make full and glorius use of all of it!

I first heard this play in much shorter form on the "Not Insane" album. It was fleshed out considerably for the original release of "Shakespeare's Lost Comedie" which benefited from several new acts and characters. This latest version has been enlarged even further to resemble a BBC presentation of a stage play. A narrator who sounds vaguely like Principal Poop with an English accent opens and closes the play and provides awkwardly humorous color commentary during the intermissions.

It is the juxtapostion between the Olde Englyshe phrasing and the modern references I find so appealing. These are the multiple entrendes that Shakespear might have written in if he had Nuclear power and Hollywood to make fun of. In one speech, an alchemist wonders aloud "am I then doom't to lyve oot my lyfe on zis island but 3 myles wide und watch ambitions melted down to smoking slag?" In a later segment of almost 5 minutes, while all the nobles are assembled discussing war, the dialog works seamlessly as though it were taking place on either the battlefield, the boardroom of some corporation or on a movie lot. Pure genius and every act in the play has _at least_ two subtexts going on so you can listen to it over and over finding something new each time.

This album has been in print in various formats but never for too long at any given time. If you are a Firehead, just curious or perhaps a fan of "The Reduced Shakespear Company" and never even heard of Firesign Theatre you really owe it to yourself to get this album. If you don't like it you can always wait til it goes out of print again and auction it off here on Amazon!

(Note - I use album here in it's original sense: a collection of something in one format. Whether we speak of LP, CD, Tape, MP3, it is still an "album" in this sense.)

Someone was very smart to get this back in print. I heard this at my public library years ago and was rolling on the floor in laughter. It's a parody of various scenes from Shakespeare's plays, all rolled into one new, very strange, and very funny, play. I just can't begin to describe how well it's done and how funny it is. I don't know what I'd have thought of it if I hadn't been a Shakespeare fan, and I'm not sure if very high-minded Shakespeare fans might be offended by what Firesign has wrought... But I can say I personally rank this album among the very funniest comedy records I've ever heard (and I've heard a lot.)

picture two characters who inhabit the newsroom of a daily newspaper only in the night hours in the 1920s and 30s. a cat who believes and acts as if she s the reincarnation of cleopatra and a cockroach who writes his boss - that s in quotes - who s a reporter on the paper. but writing comes so hard that it is, well n-o-t what is written in the - booklist - review in amazon s internet review. i quote from the review - the cockroach, archy, couldn t hold down shift and hit another key. - wronggggg.,.,., i quote from don marquis s description - he did not see us, and we watched him. he would climb painfully upon the framework of the machine and cast himself with all his force upon a key, head downward, and his weight and the impact of the blow were just sufficient to operate the machine, one slow letter after another. he could not operate the capital letters... - can t you just cry with pain as you picture archy, or rathe! ! r, don marquis, writing his material, any and all material , for us. and suggesting that many writers must suffer as did archy to give us their thoughts, their beliefs, their observations, their opinions, their joys, their sufferings.... b-u-y- t-h-e b-o-o-k .,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,., - imagine caps, or parentheses - i can't do it, you see....

These are some of the most wonderful humorous writings ever. I first encountered them back in the '40s (1940 that is). Even copied them on an old manual typewriter (like Archy used). Have had the copies for over fifty years. It's great to get them in a book (my pages had become yellowed and crinkley). I hope to get the other books to go with these. For fun and entertainment and a good chuckle, you can't go wrong with "archy and mehitalbe"

Of course there's a value in teaching Emily Dickinson to our children. And no one would debate that every college student should immerse themselves in the likes of T.S., Joyce and Williams. But why are teachers missing out on such a classic collection of incredible poesy? wotthehell? Give it a read and see if you don't immediately take a copy to your next PTA meeting.

Who would think that Elvira, Mistress of the Dark would write a children's book that you'd want to have in your home? Not me! But this book is awesome! That's right - Cassandra Peterson, one of the co-authors, is better known as Elvira.

Co-author John Paragon has a pet Dalmatian named Andy, who was no doubt the driving force of inspiration for this hilarious book of few words, but non-stop laughs.

Cathy Pavia's illustrations are to die for! Andy's expressions are priceless and if you've ever had a dog be naughty, you will understand everything that is going on.

Andy's owner is going out to the grocery store and tells Andy to watch the house - but there is a naughty glint in Andy's eye. After the door shuts, Andy runs to the window to make sure the coast is clear, leaving a big nose smear on the glass.

Andy has a brief "Risky Business" moment as he rifles through his master's dresser and dons his briefs and shades and slides into the livingroom. Andy gets into the garbage, smokes a cigar, pukes on the rug, has a female poodle come over to play and generally wreaks havok in the house.

When he hears his daddy coming home, he has to clean up - and quick. If only real dogs cleaned the house!

As Andy tears up his home - we can see photos of dogs, especially one of Andy on Santa's lap. We see statues of dogs, an Andy Warhol print on the wall (one would guess Andy is named after the artist - his hair is the same color, anyway!) and other clear homage to life with dogs.

Life with dogs can be so rewarding and life with a Dalmatian is not for the faint of heart - but not without its own set of rewards. The authors clearly appreciate the fun spirit of dogs more than they disdain their naughty antics. A hoot for children and adults.

Cathy Pavia's inspired illustrations keep us coming back and finding more of Andy's bad deeds! When is she coming out with her next book? Is she in line for a Caldecott?

Have all the "Carl" books and HAD to buy "Bad Dog Andy" to round out the collection.

You will love this book! I wanted to send away for the Unwelcome Mat!

You'll appreciate these bad ideas best in short bursts so be sure you place the book where you'll most likely have "a few moments" to read. I found many of these bad ideas to be hilarious and I am convinced that the authors probably tried to invent a few of them for real, before someone sane stopped them. My favorite is the cat-odometer.

Here's an idea for the next catalog - a light switch that can stop in the middle so you don't have to work so hard balancing it to get your light to be half-on, half-off.

FUN BOOK

I laughed till I cried! Chris and Dave have done it again!!!

This is the greatest, most enjoyable story ever! It's so right on point. I wish it would be republished. Get ready to laugh, smile, perhaps shed a tear but a 'good' tear, and nod your head as you begin to feel better about whatever......Right on!!!!!

I have enjoyed this book every time I have read it, and it is many times. I have given this book to most of my dog loving friends, and many will get it this year for Christmas! What a great look into how dogs think and behave. Thank you buck!

An enjoyable read for pet owners or others, "Barking at Prozac" is a hilarious first-"paw" narrative of Buck the beagle. McNichol succeeds at funny and descriptive accounts of everyday life from the four-legged perspective. Readers (or their pets) needn't be on puppy uppers to appreciate the humor of "Barking." It will tickle their funny bone.

I first purchased "The Bedside Mad" at a garage sale as an 11-year-old kid in the 1970s. I read it, re-read it, and then read it some more.

As a fan of Mad magazine way back when, "The Bedside Mad" was very different from what I was used to. It didn't take me long, however, to start rolling on the floor laughing. I'd seen some of the artists' work before, notably that of Jack Davis, in the magazine; however, I'd never seen anything by Wally Wood or Bill Elder. Elder, in particular, captured my imagination: "Outer Sanctum" and "Restaurant" have *so many* puns, jokes, and funny details in the background of the drawings that it makes me chuckle now just thinking about it. Over the years I purchased more of the old Mad paperbacks, and Elder's work was always "it" for me.

Many years later, I still have my old copy of "The Bedside Mad", and have now corrupted my own two kids' minds with it! They love it as much as I did.

In addition to what's been said, this book seems to illustrate well the transition of Mad Magazine from the "Tales Calculated To Drive You Mad" mock-horror genre to the general satire that would come later. The Scenes We'd Like To See segment, the Cane Mutiny send-up, and others are typical of the Mad of the 1960s, but the "Outer Sanctum" segment seems to hark back to the earlier era.

The original edition of "The Bedside MAD" was published in April 1959 by Signet Books. Originally Ballantine Books had started printing "MAD" paperbacks and published the first five, but Signet offered a better deal and Bill Gaines changed publishers. So this is the sixth book in the series of anniversary reprints of the early "MAD" paperbacks and explains the giant "ANNIVERSARY EDITION" banner running along the right border of the cover.

The title "The Bedside MAD" was a take off on the various "bedside readers" that were in vogue at the time and offers the first original cover art for a "MAD" paperback, done by illustrator Kelly Freas (compare with the Norman Mingo cover for the 1973 reissue on page xii). "MAD" has switched to being a magazine in 1959, but with two exceptions the material contained here is from the comic book period when it was created, written, and edited by Harvey Kurtzman. "Outer Sanctum!" is a Kurtzman classic from "MAD" #5 that manages to do a parody of both the radio thriller "Inner Sanctum" and all of the E.C. horror comics like "Tales from the Crypt." "The Lone Stranger Rides Again!" is, as the title indicates, a second look at "The Lone Ranger" from "MAD" #8 (cf. "MAD" #3).

There are some choice examples from some of the best artists in the "MAD" gang of usual idiots. Jack Davis does "Scenes We'd....Like to See!" and "Slow Motion," as well as the classic parody of "Hah! Noon!" from "MAD" #9, and a new take on Ernest Lawrence Thayer's poem "Casey at the Bat!" ("MAD" #6). Wallace Wood does "The Cane Mutiny" from "MAD" #19 (with "Captain Kweeg"). Bill Elder chips in with art on "Medical" ("MAD" #28), "Restaurant" ("MAD" #16), and the Kurtzman written "Robinson Crusoe!" ("MAD" #13).

All of these bits predate the point in my life when I started reading and enjoying the sick humor offered by "MAD," but if your choice is going back and looking at the old stuff or trying to make your way through the new stuff, then I say turn your back on the present and look backwards, boys and girls, to when "MAD" was a comic book and not a magazine. There are so many classic bits here that when I picked up the collected E.C. library I went with the option for getting the "MAD" volumes in color. That was not a mistake.

GATES '99 is good fun. The author really captures a lot of the inside quirks of Microsoft. Plus, Bill looks great in the outfits!

This book is a riot. It's especially funny to see Bill Gates in his underwear!

Hilarious! You'll see Bill in a whole new light after being able to dress him as Janet Reno. This would fit perfectly in the holiday stocking of your favorite Microsoft drone.

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R1D1VVR3SLW80N George Takai promotes The Book of Bert!!

Jon Chattman and Rich Tarantino have written an homage to one of man's best accessories - the moustache -
Brett Underhill has illustrated this very funny little book to perfection.
These folks write about men of varied degrees of moustaches - from Charlie Chaplin to Weird Al Yankovic - they rank people in like industries as far as who has the best moustaches, and I must say, I didn't realize there were so many prominent guys (and one female artist) with distinctive moustaches -
I have always been partial to a man with a moustache, and when my all time favorites - Sam Elliott and Tom Selleck were featured, ok - I knew these guys knew their stuff -
It is a really clever look at moustaches and lists famous folks who sport them - worth a look!

This book is amazing! The information is of course wonderful, but the illustrations.... Oh, MY. What a talented son, I mean artist, that Brett Underhill is. His mother must be so proud.

It is so sad that this book is out of print!! It is hilarious - and while it was aimed towards the Yuppies of the early 90's, it is all too relevant again, in this age of Bugaboo driving, Cookie-reading parents!!

This book wakes up every sleepless parent reading Goodnight Moon for the 1,000,000th time. You will get a kick out of it, and your kids won't know the difference (they can actually relate since it is all about their yuppie existance!)

How did this one escape my notice when it was in print? Why is it out of print? One of the funniest parodies, (and not at all unkind), i've encountered. Especially perfect for those of us just coming out of endless recitations of the original Goodnight Moon (which is marvelous but does tend to leave a large dent in one's brain the eleventy-millionth time you read it aloud). Delightful read, superbly crafted parody.

These girls are hilarious. Book is laugh-out loud funny. Highly, highly reccomended. So clever, so funny, and sadly, so true! Bye the book, ya'll! Great gift!

What more can I say. It's a complete hoot!Why do I uspect it's really not a spoof?

Addicted to guilty pleasures? Admit it. You read US Magazine. And Star. Life and Style too. You love Pink Is The New Blog. You watch Best Week Ever. Well, Britney's Baby Book is for you. Buy it NOW. It's the BEST kind of guilty pleasure -- delicious candy for your brain. Yummy! And it's FREAKIN' FUNNY YA'LL!