BITE MIND YOUR MANNERS
If Julia Roberts' character in Pretty Woman can learn to use the correct eating utensils, so can you. The general rule is to start from the outside and work your way in. If dessert is a part of your meal (as it should be), the dessert fork and spoon will almost always be provided with the treat. If not, you will find them at the top of your plate, parallel to the table edge. Never fear five forks again.
Source: www.epicurious.com
Melissa Byrd
2006 KU Jewish Film Series
All films are FREE and begin at 7 p.m. in Alderson Auditorium, Kansas Union
March 14-ZELIG
Woody Allen stars in a "mockumentary" about a man who becomes famous by blending into his surroundings, which happen to be famous as well. Prof. Henry Blal will speak on the topic of the assimilation of Jews into modern culture. Co-sponsored by the Department of Theatre & Film.
April - #17 IS ANONYMOUS
A documentary about a terrorist attack on a bus that claims seventeen lives. Sixteen of the victims are identified, one is not. The filmmaker seeks to identify #17. Co-sponsored by the Hebrew Department.
April 25 - IMAGINARY WITNESS:
HOLLYWOOD & THE HOLOCAUST
An examination of Hollywood's depiction of the Holocaust, both during and after World War II. Narrated by Gene Hackman. Prof. MJ McLendon will speak after the film.
Nominated for the 2001 Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival, Trembling Before G-D explores the relationship between homosexuality, spirituality and Orthodox Judaism. Rabbi Dan Breslauer will speak after the film. Co-sponsored by KU Queers & Allies.
May 2 - TREMBLING BEFORE G-D
Sponsored by the Earl. J. and Leona K. Tranin Special Fund of the Jewish Community Foundation
With Jim Gaffigan
omedian, actor and writer Jim Gaffigan has been entertaining audiences for several years with his trademark quiet observations about everyday life. In addition to doing shows on Comedy Central, he's had
appearances on Late Night with Conan O'Brien and The Late Show with David Letterman. He'll be bringing his arsenal of material about food, religion and life to the Uptown Theater in Kansas City on March 11.
Q. You got married recently. How has being
have a mentality like how has being married changed your stand-up routines?
A. My wife and I are kind of like writing partners. She's an influence. Plus, now we have two kids. I've tried to resist writing jokes about being married and having kids. When I was 19, I'd see comedians do jokes about having kids, and those types of jokes are hard to relate to. But it's definitely affected me, because I'm more exhausted. I have less time to write.
Q. Has it affected the amount of touring you'd like to do?
A. it hasn't affected it too much.It's made doing these theater dates more appealing to me.I'd rather go to any city for one night,then another city and then be home,rather than be in one city for five days,which is what you do when you do clubs.
Q. Your popularity has been growing in the last couple of years. What's it like going from clubs to theaters?
A. Small clubs are great, but big theaters are really great. It's a bigger level of excitement. Theater shows aren't distracted by a wait staff or anything like that. Plus, for the audience it makes a better date. You don't have to worry about variables such as the person next to you being drunk.
Q. Do you miss the clubs and the intimate feel?
A. Yeah, definitely. Clubs and theaters are kind of like comparing water skiing to snow skiing; they're both great. It really depends on the situation. It's just where the opportunity lies. Theaters are something special. It's like seeing a movie in a big movie theater compared to a small one.
Q. What do you think made you realize you could do this as a career?
A. The last time I did Conan, I could hear him laughing in the background. I thought I'm pretty good at this'. Even doing the cartoon series Dr.Katz: Professional Therapist 10 years ago was a big deal for me. To get on shows I like or to get opportunities to do an hour-long special on Comedy Central just feels cool.
Q. How much preparation do you do before performing a new show?
A. I'm always writing. So, it's not like I'm starting from scratch. I'm much more of an observational person compared to Lewis Black, who will look at a newspaper and say, "Wow Dick Cheney shot someone in the face, that's funny," and will do that stuff. Like, I think revolving doors are weird.
so I did things about that. I want my stuff to be something people know.
Q. Do you practice in front of friends or your wife?
A. I write ideas with my wife. It's an important partnership. We'll come up with ideas and bounce them around together.
Q. What does 2006 hold for you?
A. I don't really know. I'm just trying to enjoy it now. I don't have anything planned out, I just did a pilot for TBS that might get picked up. I've done a million pilots, though, so I don't know what will happen with that one. I'm just trying to enjoy the ride.
Q. Do you get tired of doing stand-up?
A. You can get burned out. The exhausting thing is the traveling. Sometimes you do like three shows in one night. That's insane. By the end I don't even want to hear my own voice.
Q. If you could use one word to describe your shows, what would you use?
A. That's hard.I got this one review where this guy was like,'The CD is really funny,but there is no cursing on it.' Like that is the only reason you'd buy a comedy CD. It's great to be clean, but there's this negative stink around it. You say an f-bomb,and it definitely makes it easier for people to laugh at it. But I've tried not to fall back on that crutch.
I guess maybe I'd use the word, "weird". I am weird.
06> JAYPLAY 03.09.2006
Chris Brower