Us vs. Them-The Genius of Harold Ramis

   When discussing the films of Harold Ramis, one of the things you hear over and over is the phrase "the slobs vs. the snobs" or some similar variation. That's not an accurate description. I would describe them as "the smart guys vs. the world." From "National Lampoon's Animal House" to "Ghostbusters" we see stories of smart people going up against the status quo, social conventions, and authority figures and winning because they're smarter than everyone else and because they give not a shit about what the rest of the world thinks of them. In the case of "Ghostbusters," the fact that they save that world only makes them more noble and heroic.
   Ramis was a triple threat in the comedy world. He wrote, he acted, he directed. Of the films he directed, acted in, or wrote, I would have to name "Ghostbusters" as my favorite. No, wait..."Groundhog Day." Scratch that. "Caddyshack" is definitely my favorite. Shit...I forgot about "National Lampoon's Vacation." "National Lampoon's Animal House" is right there as well. I can't forget "Stripes" either. Okay...I loved them all, dammit. Each and every one of them. Love, love, love. Those movies were part of my comedic education and if you can't laugh at those films and see the genius on display, then you simply do not understand comedy and should probably keep your opinions to yourself, lest you sound like a complete and utter douche nozzle.
   The age old theme of the underdog coming out on top runs through a lot of Ramis' films. His underdogs are unique, though, in that the reason they're underdogs is that they refuse to play by society's rules and usually take great pleasure destroying that society, not for financial gain or for political power, but because...well, because it's there and we're smart and we can do it. "I think that this situation absolutely requires a really stupid and futile gesture be done on somebody's part," says Otter in "Animal House." Remember the chant in "Meatballs?" "It just doesn't matter!" At the end of "Animal House" the Deltas destroy the town. In "Caddyshack", the country club's golf course is blown to shit. "Stripes" ends with Ramis and Bill Murray blowing up Russia. Why? A really stupid and futile gesture is sometimes the only response to a stupid and futile world.
   His movies aren't all anarchy, however. I will defend "Groundhog Day" as one of the best love stories ever made. "Multiplicity" is underrated and is probably the one movie that allowed Michael Keaton to put all of his "Keatoness" on display. "Analyze This" is a mob comedy about a mobster going to psychotherapy. There is no way that movie didn't plant the seed for "The Sopranos" in David Chase's head.
  "There’s a personal story of my own that I will write at some point, and it’s a film that I will happily make," Ramis said not too long ago. Death has robbed us of that film. His films are our's forever, though. I've watched them many times when I needed a laugh, or felt down, or needed inspiration. His movies stand up to repeated viewings like no one else's.  He was one of the greats. I put him on the same list as Chaplin, Groucho Marx, and Mel Brooks. I'll be watching all of his movies very soon, because in the words of Stork from "Animal House," "What the hell are we 'sposed to do you moron?"

The Chin That Wouldn't Die

   Last night, Jay Leno said goodbye ( for reals this time ) after a 22 year run as host of "The Tonight Show." The best thing I can say about it is this: It was nice. Just like everything Jay ever did on that show. Nice. When people describe Jay, you will hear the word "nice" a lot. As a person, I have no problem with this. The world sure as hell could use more nice people. As a comedian, though, I don't want "nice." If the best thing you can say about a comedian is, "He/she was nice," then they aren't really doing their job as a comedian. Groucho Marx or Richard Pryor were never described as "nice."
   Talk show hosts are a different story. Jay has proven that being a "nice" talk show host will reap you millions and all the classic cars you could ever want to tinker with. I know I'm in the minority here, but I was never a huge Leno fan. I'm a Letterman guy to the death. Dave is the antithesis of "nice." The thing that always impressed me most about Jay was how he could sit next to vapid celebrities night after night and appear enthusiastic about it. If you can sit next to Snooki more than once and actually look interested in what she has to say, then you have a rare talent, my friend. David Letterman has never tried to hide his disdain for all things "celebrity."
   The Letterman show's number one priority was always comedy. The Leno show's priority was always the guests. Therein lies the difference. An example: When Hugh Grant was caught with a hooker, he went on Jay's show to do penance, because, God forbid, that guy in those romantic movies should turn out to be human. Jay's first question: "What were you thinking?" America laughs. We can all relax now. Over on Dave's show, he had America's Sweetheart Julia Roberts on after she had been through a public break-up. Dave told her that bandleader Paul Shaffer had a question for her. Paul asks, "So Julia...you getting any?" It's rude, obnoxious, and, most importantly, funny as shit. That in a nutshell is why I love Dave.
   Here's a weird fact about me: Whenever I think about the Leno show, the first thing that pops into my head are those damn "Dancing Itos" that Jay always had as a bit during the OJ Simpson trial. Judge Ito was presiding over the trial and every night, Jay would trot out these guys dressed in judge's robes to dance a little jig. I'm a comedian and you could hold a gun to my head and I couldn't tell you why people thought that was funny. Be honest...neither could you. Dave did, and does, a lot of absurd bits. Monkey-cam, Stupid Pet Tricks, Is This Anything?, Will It Float?, dropping stuff off a building. That is some absurd shit. There's a difference between absurd and pointless, however.
   Look, I'm not trying to bash Jay. He is beloved by millions. He always won the ratings battle over Dave. ( It needs to be noted, however, that Jay became known, primarily, because of his frequent appearances on Dave's "Late Night" show when it followed Johnny Carson. ) It's just a my opinion. I think Dave going to door to door with Siskel and Ebert and asking people if they need any yard work done is funnier than "Jaywalking."  Jay's final show was as uneventful and inoffensive as all of his shows were. That was his secret: send America to bed without ruffling any feathers and remember that the show is the most important thing. Dave thinks the whole concept of a "talk show" is a joke and treats it as such. Dave doesn't care if you go to bed comfortable.
   I didn't feel any emotion as I watched Jay's last hurrah. As a matter of fact, there have been only two times I've gotten emotional watching a talk show. First was watching Johnny Carson tear up as Bette Midler sang on his final night on "The Tonight Show." ( THAT was a historic moment. ) Second, I was watching Dave one night and he began doing monologue jokes concerning events that had happened a year or two years before. I thought at first that it was a rerun, even though it was supposed to be a new show. After doing these jokes, Dave let it be known that all of those jokes had been written by Johnny Carson, who had been writing jokes for Dave and sending them to him for years after he had retired. Johnny had just passed away. It was one of the most moving things I've ever seen on television. And proof that Johnny thought Dave was funnier, too.