#TeamBlaria!!! Happy Friday, y’all! As you may know because I have implanted it into your brains over the past month, my Carolines show is this Sunday. Whoo! So excited and I hope to see a lot of you NYC peeps there. Anyway, today’s post isn’t about that. Today, I wanted to take some time to give you a little insight into the mind of lil ole Blaria by sharing with you what amuses and/or inspires me. With this list, you’ll see some of the things that make me laugh the hardest and also things that keep me motivated when the going gets tuff:
Ok, my life has never been that tough, but enough about that. Without further adieu, here are the things, in no particular order, that really melt my butter:
#1) Best Herp Derp of All-Time. For those not in the know, Urban Dictionary (which should be re-titled “What I Had Heard Someone Say That One Time”) defines herp derp as “An expression used when a person, or yourself, has done somthing (see why I suggested a re-titling? How are you going to be a dictionary and misspell basic words?) extremely stupid and dopey.” We’ve all herp derp’d. You barge into a public bathroom while someone else is in it, herp derp. You accidentally lock yourself out of your apartment, herp derp. When you’re home with the family for the holidays and you decide y’all should watch the movie Due Date, which includes, unbeknownst to you, a thirty second Zach Galifinakis’ masturbation scene. Guess what, ya herp derp’d. And I’ll never again suggest watching a movie together as a family unless it’s rated PG. Anyway, this following clip of a news reporter failing horribly as she’s supposed to be reporting from Michael Jackson’s BAD tour rehearsal is probably the original herp derp and therefore, it holds a special place in my heart:
Not only is this is one of my go-to YouTube clips when I need a pick me up, but I use her herp derp style in real life all the time. When I forget my monthly subway card has expired and I still try to use it and get an “insufficient funds” message, I pull a freshly combed Jackée Harry-esque wig out my purse, put it on my head and yell, “HUH?!” while looking around at all the subway patrons who are able to swipe through successfully. Or if I show up tardy at my job, the following interaction happens:
My boss: “Phoebe, why were you late for work?”
Me: “HUH…The noise!”
END SCENE
Bottom line, this news reporter’s herp derp is the gift that keeps on giving and I’m obsessed.
#2) Jason Good’s website/blog @ JasonGood.net
A little backstory: I first encountered Jason via TV. I saw him on Live at Gotham, a now-defunct Comedy Central show for burgeoning comics. I really liked his stand up and started seeing him in person at shows and he always made me laugh. Every. Single. Set. So, blah, blah, blah, we became Facebook friends and would talk occasionally.
Cut to my my first New York Times op-ed being published. He reached out to me, said some kinds words, and asked what other writing stuff I’m working on. I never really considered writing anything else and just thought the op-ed was a one-off. But after speaking to him and at this point being a big fan of his blog Jason Good – 365 , his blog he started in 2011 where he wrote a blog post every single day for a year on varying subject matter such as being a father, comedy, marriage, etc., I considered writing something on a regular basis. I definitely count him as one of the people who inspired me to start Blaria. Here’s an excerpt from one his posts entitled I Can’t Believe I’m Doing This:
Welcome to the club, new parents. Here’s a short list containing just a few of the amazing and ridiculous things you’ll get to do over the next five years…
13. Blame a fart on a child. 14. Blame a child’s fart on your spouse…17. Cut up a grape. 18. Almost agree to cut up a raisin…23. Let someone watch you crap while they stare blankly eating a popsicle. 24. Have someone think you’re amazing at frisbee.
His writing is tight, funny, and honest. Not really one to use flowery language and overly long sentences, he’s all about economy of words directness. With close to 5,500 Facebook fans, tons of projects in the works, and a gig as a blogger for HuffPo, Jason Good’s writing is some of my favorite to read on the internet. So check him out at JasonGood.net.
#3) The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl web series
I saw a stand up buddy of mine, who now lives in LA, in NYC a few weeks ago. She mentioned that people are buzzing about The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girland when she first heard about it, she would tell people, “Oh, that must be Phoebe Robinson’s web series.” Ha. I love that she assumed that anything having to do with awkward and Blackness would star me and although I wish I could be offended, let’s be honest, I can be awk. Anyway, the point is that this web series, which was created by and stars Issa Rae, has blown the fuck up. New York Times, CNN, Webby-award winning, Rae speaking on countless panels, over a million views on YouTube, etc. And now Pharrell and her have teamed up so ABG is now on his YouTube I Am Other channel. The web series is so funny with Issa being, for a lack of better words, the Black Tina Fey. I’m constantly inspired by her hard work, endless promotion, and dedication to her vision. I mean, she has turned down working with a couple of TV networks, because they wanted to change the show to much. She believes that much in herself to hold out for a network that completely understands her comedic POV: a Black woman getting into awkward situations at work and in her love life.
Not that she needs my help, but check out her web series. Here’s on of my favorite episodes from Season One entitled The Date as J (Rae) goes out on her first date with potential love interest White Jay:
To check out more episodes, go to http://www.awkwardblackgirl.com/
#4) McKayla is Not Impressed Tumblr
We all know by now that USA’s gymnast McKayla Maroney’s stank face when she won the silver medal for the vault. Well, there is now a silly and fun tumblr that’s devoted to that stank face expression called McKayla is Not Impressed. It’s pretty simple. Here she is when she’s encountered by the alien from Alien:
Or in this 50 Cent gif:
Simply put, this is a fun time waster, so please check it out at http://mckaylaisnotimpressed.tumblr.com/
#5) Damien Lemon – stand up comic/writer and one of the stars of MTV 2′s Guy Code
Simply put, if I was not a performer in comedy, I would want to be his manager. Whether he’s on Guy Code, VH-1′s Morning Buzz, Comedy Central, the latest Spiderman movie or opening for Hannibal Buress, Damien has been killing it and is truly becoming one of the up and coming stars in the comedy scene. Check out a few clips of bits:
UCB’s Whiplash – 6/14/2011
Giggles – 8/2/2011
NY Underground Comedy Festival – August, 17, 2010
Wanna see him live? Go to http://damienlemon.com/
As my buddy Damien puts it, “World Star is a buffet of ignorance” because it essentially took over the shenanigans where the Jerry Springer Show left off. So White people, I’m trusting that in sharing this website with you, you will not then go around thinking that all Black people act like this, ‘kay? ‘Kay. WSHH is the place I go to if I want to see people act a damn fool in the comment section, videos of horrible wannabe rappers, and people getting cussed out for no reason. People on the site purposefully try to be over the top and ridiculous and the result is pure laughs. Start with the clip “Steve Harvey In Tears After Giving Speech At His Last Stand-Up Comedy Show!” and read the ridiculousness that goes on the comment section because he’s a grown ass man and is crying.
Alrighty! That’s it for the things /people that I’m obsessed with. Please check them out and I hope to see you this Sunday at Carolines. Showtime is 10pm. Peace.
Thanks Pheebs!
Break a leg tonight! Unless comedians don’t tell each other to break a leg, in which case don’t.
Break a leg is perfect!! Thanks!
Thanks for new things that are making me laugh a lot (especially Jason Good and ABG)! Wish I were in the states so I could come see you live and in person.
Awesome! So glad you like those guys! They’re awesome. Where do you live?