Stand-Up Comic Makes Science Funny 126
Hugh Pickens writes "The San Fransisco Chronicle is running a story about Brian Malow, a stand-up comedian who has showcased his science-centric stand-up humor for more than a decade in comedy clubs, at conventions and for corporate clients across the country. Fortunately, club patrons don't need a degree in quantum mechanics to appreciate one-liners like 'I used to be an astronomer, but I got stuck on the day shift,' 'I just started reading, "The Origin of Species." Don't tell me how it ends!' or that he 'attended a magnet school for bipolar students.' While his show is very rational and based on hard science, Malow cleverly infuses it with an abstract or surreal comic twist."
Hugh Pickens continues: "Like observing that whenever his mother would lose weight, his father would gain weight, and then linking the two by a fundamental law of nature. 'It was like the Conservation of Mass within our family,' says Malow, adding that 'fat can neither be created nor destroyed.' Last year Malow performed for colleagues at NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab in Pasadena. 'We found his humor delightfully nerdy, and he fitted right in,' said Kevin Grazier, who is a planetary scientist and author. 'It's one thing to make people laugh when they're sitting in a darkened club room, with a few drinks in them. It takes real talent to be funny in the afternoon, in a work environment.' Malow's interest in science and nature also extends to his passion for insects, with Web site InsectPaparazzi, and he has even discovered a species of fly. 'Of course, I found it in Golden Gate Park,' he says. 'So it may have just been a tourist.'"
Chemical reactions - they're a blast! (Score:5, Interesting)
I'd credit Bill Nye with being one of the first to make science funny. Maybe he wasn't as good as this guy, but I always appreciated the dry humor as a kid.
Science rules!
Tom Lehrer, MIT Mathemematician, Musical Comic (Score:5, Interesting)
This story reminds me of Tom Lehrer, an MIT professor of mathematics that had a penchant for song-writing and performing. And he was really quite hilarious.
e.g. the famous "chemical elements" song :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYW50F42ss8 [youtube.com]
Re:A neutron walked into a bar and asked (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:I hope the jokes get better... (Score:3, Interesting)
I don't agree, but I have to admit I might not have a good opinion as I've only seen a little of the show.
Watching Big Bang makes me cringe. It seems like the nerd/blonde stereotypes would work well for a 30 second family guy joke, but I can't stand to watch it for a whole show. And, from what I saw, it seemed like they were just throwing in scientific-sounding words. The majority of the show seemed to be based on the nerd stereotype, not jokes based on science.
But, to each his own. I've never really liked sitcoms very much anyway so I'm definitely biased.
Re:I hope the jokes get better... (Score:2, Interesting)
I am a studying a combined degree in engineering and physics, and I find big bang theory to be a most excellent show, and surprisingly not that cringe-inducing :P
The best thing I like about it is the writers gets the science right, something I have been very impressed about. Even the doodles on the blackboards are correct, in that they are formulas I am familiar with. Not to mention Sheldon has the same concerns about quantum teleportation as I do!! That is a topic that no show I have ever watched ever touched up on.
So perhaps it is a little cringe-inducing for some people, or its format doesn't appeal to you, but I would say they are not merely throwing scientific sounding words around.
Also Penny-the-blond gains more depth once you get past the first few episodes. My gf didn't like her initially due to the blond-nerd stereotype, but she has since consumed the entire first season and acknowledges Penny-the-blond as a valid character :-)
Cheers,
Steve
Re:Don't tell me how it ends! (Score:1, Interesting)