Not So Funny

Stories

18 Stories

October 2008
- Bernhard Gets the Boot After Gang Rape Joke About Palin
  
  Boston Herald | Oct 2, 08 7:59 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Comedian Sandra Bernhard lost her gig at a fundraiser for a Boston homeless women's shelter after making a gang-rape joke about Sarah Palin, reports the Boston Herald. Bernhard joked last month that Palin would be "gang-raped by my big black brothers" if she came to Manhattan; the women's shelter heard about it and pulled the plug yesterday. “We were horrified so we decided that we wouldn’t have her at our event,” the director said. More »
August 2008
- Study: Tell Bad Jokes at Your Own Risk
  
  Associated Press | Aug 22, 08 4:02 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - What did the researcher say to the reporter? Bad jokes are a good way to lose friends. A Washington State University linguist found lame humor tends to trigger serious hostility, the AP reports. The researcher had her students slip a bad joke into 207 conversations with friends, and 44% of the responses were considered, ahem, “impolite.” More »
July 2008
- Kimmel, Silverman Split Up
  
  Vanity Fair | Jul 14, 08 5:15 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - After 5 years together, Jimmy Kimmel and Sarah Silverman have broken up, reps for the newly minted ex-couple confirmed to Vanity Fair today. "Jimmy and Sarah have and will have no further comment," said a joint statement. Confessions of involvement with Matt Damon and Ben Affleck apparently didn't lead to the split of the talk-show host and actress. More »
June 2008
- Murray's Divorce Settled in a Flash
  
  TMZ | Jun 26, 08 11:56 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Gossip hounds hoping for acrimonious divorce proceedings for Bill Murray aren't getting their wish, TMZ reports. The actor's divorce has already been settled, with papers signed June 13. Wife Jennifer Butler Murray, 42, gets custody of the four kids; Bill, 57, will have to pay child support. Jennifer, who also gets homes in California and South Carolina, had alleged that Murray was a sex-crazed, abusive drug addict. More »
- Broken Glass Lands Cheeky Mooner in Hospital
  
  Associated Press | Jun 4, 08 1:39 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - A Dutchman is recovering in a hospital after a mooning backfired, the AP reports. The 21-year-old prankster and two friends were running around the streets of Utrecht with their pants pulled down at the back, police said. The cheeky ringleader pushed his butt up against the glass of a restaurant window, which then broke, resulting in "deep wounds to his derriere," authorities revealed. More »
April 2008
- SNL Alum's Dad Murdered in Nashville
  
  TMZ | Apr 29, 08 11:39 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - A hit-making Nashville songwriter was charged yesterday in the pocketknife murder of his producing partner, who—in a headline-grabbing twist out of an old country ballad—is the father of former Saturday Night Live comedienne Cheri Oteri, TMZ reports. Nashville police said Oteri’s father had a "significant laceration” to his wrist, the AP reports. More »
March 2008
- Robin Williams, Wife Divorcing
  
  San Francisco Chronicle | Mar 27, 08 7:19 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Funnyman Robin Williams and his wife are splitting up after 19 years of marriage, reports the San Francisco Chronicle . The divorce petition, filed by Marsha Williams in San Francisco, cited irreconcilable differences. The pair met when Marsha worked as a nanny for Williams' son from a previous marriage. She later became his personal assistant and produced hits like Mrs. Doubtfire . More »
- Shandling Says Private Eye Smeared Him
  
  Los Angeles Times | Mar 14, 08 10:41 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Comedian Garry Shandling took the stand yesterday and accused Los Angeles private eye Anthony Pellicano of using underhanded tactics to "smear" him. Shandling’s former manager hired Pellicano after promising to “make my life miserable,” Shandling said. The FBI soon told Shandling that the detective had rifled through confidential police files, looking for dirt on him and his friends, and planted negative stories in the media. More »
- Crystal Not So Mahvelous at Baseball
  
  Associated Press | Mar 13, 08 9:17 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - He’s starred in dozens of movies, hosted the Oscars, and now Billy Crystal can add ‘played for the NY Yankees’ to his resume. The longtime fan enjoyed an early birthday present today as he started for the Bronx Bombers in a spring training game, going 0-1 with a strikeout in his first – and last – Major League at-bat. It wasn’t your typical Hollywood ending, but Crystal had no complaints. More »
February 2008
- Rosie's View on Booze: I Quit
  
  Extra | Feb 8, 08 3:15 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - The wagon just got a little more crowded. Rosie O'Donnell is off the sauce, in her case beer, Extra reports. The comedian/talk show host/blogger squashed rumors of alcoholism and denied that partner Kelli Carpenter asked her to quit, instead tying the move to an attempt to lose weight. "It's not easy, but I feel better" blogged O'Donnell. More »
January 2008
- Lohan, Murphy Top Razzie Noms
  
  Associated Press | Jan 21, 08 3:39 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - Playing multiple characters in a single flick earned Lindsay Lohan and Eddie Murphy multiple Razzie nods this year, the AP reports. Lohan nabbed a worst actress nomination for each of the characters she portrays in split-personality thriller I Know Who Killed Me , and their (lack of) onscreen synergy resulted in another nom for worst screen couple. More »
- Author Sues Seinfelds Over 'Copycat' Cookbook
  
  The Smoking Gun | Jan 8, 08 1:05 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - The author who blasted Jessica Seinfeld for allegedly stealing her cookbook ideas slapped Seinfeld and her funnyman hubby with a lawsuit today, simultaneously accusing Jerry Seinfeld of defaming her character, the Smoking Gun reports. After Missy Chase Lapine accused his wife of plagiarizing her book, The Sneaky Chef, Jerry Seinfeld called her "hysterical" on David Letterman's show, comparing her to "wackos," stalkers, and assassins. More »
December 2007
- No (Funny) Bones About Franken's Run
  
  New York Times | Dec 5, 07 5:56 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - Comedian Al Franken's campaign for a Minnesota Senate seat is unconventional, the New York Times reports—and it's serious. Best known for his stint on Saturday Night Live and stingingly partisan attacks on the right, Franken is busy proving he can look senatorial. “Minnesotans know what’s a joke and what isn’t,” an unworried Franken said. Others aren’t so sure. More »
October 2007
- Last Rat Packer Joey Bishop Dies
  
  CNN | Oct 18, 07 5:27 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - A comedian, actor, talk show host, and last living member of the Rat Pack, Joey Bishop died last night of multiple causes at age 89, CNN reports. Though many critics minimized Bishop's role, Sinatra termed him "the Hub of the Big Wheel." Bishop hosted Johnny Carson's "Tonight Show," acted in Pack originals Ocean's Eleven and Sargeants 3, and even emceed John F. Kennedy's presidential inauguration. More »
- Ellen Breaks Down Over Botched Dog Adoption
  
  People | Oct 17, 07 3:17 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Talk show host Ellen DeGeneres broke down in tears on her program yesterday as she described a doggie adoption flub. She and her partner adopted a pup named Iggy from an agency, but when the dog didn't get along with the couple's cats, Ellen gave it to her hairdresser. That violated her adoption agreement, and the agency repo'ed Iggy from the home. More »
September 2007
- Jerry Lewis Apologizes for Gay Slur
  
  CNN | Sep 5, 07 6:00 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Comedian and advocate Jerry Lewis, 81, expressed regret at his unscripted use of the word "fag" in his Labor Day Telethon for Muscular Dystrophy. In the marathon's 18th hour, Lewis addressed a camera, pretending to introduce it to other members of its family: "Oh, your family has come to see you," he said into the camera, beckoning to another. "You remember Bart, your older son," and, motioning toward a third, "Jesse, the illiterate fag." More »
July 2007
- Chappelle Treated for Exhaustion
  
  Associated Press | Jul 18, 07 6:07 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Dave Chappelle, the sketch comedian who's famous for finding success stressful, was hospitalized for exhaustion over the weekend. His publicist suggested the comedian’s travel schedule was the reason for an emergency room visit Saturday. In May 2005, Chappelle caused a media uproar when he abruptly walked away from his highly rated Comedy Central show, despite a $50-million contract. More »
March 2007
- Karl Rove Finds His Inner Eminem
  
  Politico | Mar 29, 07 12:57 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - White House codger-in-residence Karl Rove debuted his hip-hop alter ego, "MC Rove," at last night's correspondents dinner, the Politico reports. Bush's embattled adviser shouted "I'm MC Rove" at comedian-appointed intervals, pretending gamely to have a sense of humor (and any idea how to win the black vote) as David Gregory and Ken Strickland of NBC News served as backup dancers. More »