As I write this, it’s April Fools’ Day.
Not my favorite day of the year.
Why?
I don’t like being played the fool, that’s why. (Especially by furry rodents as per last week’s blog and my ongoing backyard battle)
Spraying shaving cream into my hand after nodding off..then tickling my nose with a feather, is not funny,(You must let sleeping Dougs lie) nor is placing a fake snake in my underwear drawer even remotely amusing.
Putting dollops of Miracle Whip instead of whipped cream atop Jell-O desserts was and probably still is a favorite trick of Lutheran Church ladies at banquets and funerals but it’s not the least bit humorous: at least not to me.
It IS, however, fall down funny when it happens to somebody else. Which leads me to my TV pick of the week.
“Just for Laughs Gags.”
It’s a half hour show on My UTV; a sister station of Keloland TV, which airs weeknights at 6pm Central time.
It has become must-see watching for Linda and me as we gather around the tube for 30 minutes of non-stop hilarity.
The show is patterned after the old Candid Camera program in which unsuspecting folks were taken in by one of Allen Funt’s pranks allowing viewers to snicker at the embarrassment of their experience.
“Just for Laughs Gags” is much more rapid fire and much funnier. The show is produced and shot in Canada where people are so doggone nice and adorably gullible. Even though gag victims are often taken-in by cast members impersonating police officers or security guards, they wouldn’t dream of getting angry or suing over being put in an embarrassing situation. Most just laugh along with everybody else when the prank is revealed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-tVH0-UOCM
There’s something sweet about watching people who can still laugh at themselves: a characteristic we Americans could stand to have more of these days.
If the truth be known, I would eventually laugh at the fake snake, the rude awakening or Glad wrap stretched across toilet seat. At least I think I would.
Here’s to the joy of Springtime and a year-round good sense of humor.
Oh, by the way, I probably shouldn’t be promoting a TV show that runs at the same time as Keloland News at Six. But the GOOD news is, the 6 O’clock news is replayed right after “Just for Laughs” on MyUTV at 6:30.
Best of both worlds.
