TOP 5: Of 2018
By Matthew L. Hart
Humor Writer/Comedian
Author of:
What fad do you hope comes back?
What fad do you hope comes back?
Hands down, has to be, Mixed Cassette Tapes!
There is something so cool about making a custom playlist on an actual physical cassette tape.
And, this story isn't unique, it's just how it was.
My Sister and I would call the radio station and request a song. We'd sit by the radio for, like an hour, until the DJ played it, and then we'd hit record to pirate it off the radio.
We were just kids. It's not like we could just go to the store and buy the album. We lived pretty far out of town.
But, in middle school, my sister got a Karaoke machine for Christmas.
She woke me up at three or four in the morning and we pretended to be DJs on the radio. I think we woke our parents up too, but they just let us have our fun.
We recorded the whole thing as a mixed tape. I think she still has that cassette.
It's definitely one of our childhood treasures. I think my nephew will get a kick out of it too when he gets to be our age in the tape.
That's why I think physical cassette tapes are more fun. They get passed around like old books. I used to look for Mix Tapes at garage sales.
Anything that said, "Road Trip" was usually pretty fun. You'd also see a lot of "Valentine's Day (date)" mixes.
Those were interesting because people would comment over the songs as they recorded them. Really fun stories from strangers.
Another thing about a digital playlist, is that they just don't have the same character as a physical cassette tape.
You can hear if the tape has been played a lot and is worn out. And, your personality comes through when you hand write the labels and add little designs.
If walkmans and mixed tapes came back, I think that would be fun for everyone in the current culture-sphere.
There is something so cool about making a custom playlist on an actual physical cassette tape.
My Sister and I would call the radio station and request a song. We'd sit by the radio for, like an hour, until the DJ played it, and then we'd hit record to pirate it off the radio.
We were just kids. It's not like we could just go to the store and buy the album. We lived pretty far out of town.
But, in middle school, my sister got a Karaoke machine for Christmas.
She woke me up at three or four in the morning and we pretended to be DJs on the radio. I think we woke our parents up too, but they just let us have our fun.
We recorded the whole thing as a mixed tape. I think she still has that cassette.
It's definitely one of our childhood treasures. I think my nephew will get a kick out of it too when he gets to be our age in the tape.
That's why I think physical cassette tapes are more fun. They get passed around like old books. I used to look for Mix Tapes at garage sales.
Anything that said, "Road Trip" was usually pretty fun. You'd also see a lot of "Valentine's Day (date)" mixes.
Those were interesting because people would comment over the songs as they recorded them. Really fun stories from strangers.
Another thing about a digital playlist, is that they just don't have the same character as a physical cassette tape.
You can hear if the tape has been played a lot and is worn out. And, your personality comes through when you hand write the labels and add little designs.
If walkmans and mixed tapes came back, I think that would be fun for everyone in the current culture-sphere.
Sony WM-FS222 S2 Sports Walkman Stereo Cassette Player with FM/AM/TV and Weather Radio
TOP 5: Of 2018
Standup comedy specials worth watching:
- John Mulaney - Kid Gorgeous at Radio City
- Kevin James - Never Don't Give Up
- Jim Gaffigan - Noble Ape
- Ted Alexandro - Senior Class of Earth
- Ali Wong - Hard Knock Wife
2018 is shaking things up!
We are seeing a real transition for comedy this year. Today's working Comedians seem to be struggling to figure out what the future of comedy will be.
2018 has been filled with great "traditional" acts seeming to go head-to-head with more contemporary performers.
It appears that nothing is off-limits right now. Even the art of comedy itself is on the chopping block!
But, I think that 2018 will be a pivotal year for the future of comedy.
It's a real toss-up to see which Comedians will be left standing in 2019 and where the chips will land for audiences.
Now, let's take a look at my TOP 5: Comedians Of 2018.
#1 - John Mulaney - Kid Gorgeous at Radio City
"I paid $120,000 for someone to tell me to read Jane Austen, and then I didn't!"
- John Mulaney
This special was fun.
John tells us biting stories from his childhood, which I really enjoy, and his time working for Saturday Night Live. Although, I feel like SNL has been very...soft core for a very long time.
John's work is culturally relevant as an example of modern comedy, and I think it's important to see were comedy is heading right now.
#2 Kevin James - Never Don't Give Up
#3 Jim Gaffigan - Noble Ape
"They have a service called Tattoo 2 U, where they will send a van to your house to give you a tattoo. 'Yeah, how you doing? Listen, I got like three DUIs. I'm currently under house arrest. I'm pretty hammered right now, but...I need the Tasmanian devil on my left ass cheek immediately.' "
- Kevin James
Coming back to the stage after 17 years, Kevin knocks this one out of the park!
Tackling a list of ordinary topics, food allergies, fans, and tattoos, Kevin knows how to explore the absurdity of the small stuff with his high energy brand of comedy.
Looks like he might be making a second-wave comeback.
#3 Jim Gaffigan - Noble Ape
"What do we really know about massage therapists? They like to rub strangers for money while they listen to the Avatar soundtrack. That's a red flag! Those are the traits of a serial killer!"
- Jim Gaffigan
This was a very special year for Jim's work.
Jim shows us the value of comedy as he explores serious personal issues like dealing with his wife's brain tumor, traveling with his family internationally, and the difficulty of parenting.
But, he still manages to get us to laugh with his unique brand of comedy, because the laughs don't stop when Jim hits the stage!
#4 Ted Alexandro - Senior Class of Earth
"So, I used to be a music teacher. I used to teach K-5 music here in New York City. I taught the recorder. Are you guys familiar with Satan's little flute? If there's music in Hell, I assure you, it is played on a recorder."
- Ted Alexandro
Ted's comedy isn't afraid to sink it's teeth in.
This is Ted's third hour-long album, it's a bit underground, but mainstream enough to talk about with your friends. His show is not afraid to throw a few punches at today's hot button topics.
Even though I'm not a big fan of political humor, I think he does a great job creating humor with the topics he explores.
#5 Ali Wong - Hard Knock Wife
"Breastfeeding is this savage ritual that just reminds you that your body is a cafeteria now! It don't belong to you no more. When my baby girl would get hungry, she'd yank my nipple back and forth like that bear fucking up Leonardo DiCaprio in The Revenant."
- Ali Wong
This album is Ali Wong's shock album.
I enjoyed the female perspective on children, child-rearing, giving birth, breast feeding, every authentic topic I would expect a pregnant comic to discuss in bloody red detail.
I appreciate that this special could not be done by anyone else.
Ali Wong really owns her brand of comedy.
Ali Wong really owns her brand of comedy.
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| TOP 5: Of 2018 Sampler |
Did I get it all wrong?
Who would you rank as your
TOP 5 Comedians of 2018?
THROW YOUR LIST IN THE COMMENTS
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