Anyone Feel Like a Slow Jam?
April 28, 2011 11:32 AM Subscribe
The Comic Stylings of Brian Williams. How’s an anchor to cope when network newscasts keep losing ground? Having a second career helps.
In the Big Book of Sayings, "damning with faint praise" is illustrated by the sentence "He's really funny for a network news anchor."
posted by Horace Rumpole at 11:41 AM on April 28, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by Horace Rumpole at 11:41 AM on April 28, 2011 [2 favorites]
This one of him making fun of New York Times trend pieces is pretty amazing. He has amazing timing and is completely deadpan. I really think he's hilarious.
posted by Corduroy at 11:47 AM on April 28, 2011 [11 favorites]
posted by Corduroy at 11:47 AM on April 28, 2011 [11 favorites]
One of my favorite characters on 30 Rock.
Wait, you mean he's a newsman?
posted by General Malaise at 11:51 AM on April 28, 2011 [3 favorites]
Wait, you mean he's a newsman?
posted by General Malaise at 11:51 AM on April 28, 2011 [3 favorites]
Yes! As much as I love 30 Rock and everyone on it, 10 second of Williams is often the best part of any season.
posted by bondcliff at 11:51 AM on April 28, 2011
posted by bondcliff at 11:51 AM on April 28, 2011
I'm glad someone had a link for the NYT takedown thing. Not only is it funny, but it destroys so much in one fell swoop. Not just the NYT, but also that whole segment he was participating in and in particular the "the biggest story of 2010 is how the iPad changed all our lives" nonsense.
posted by DU at 11:52 AM on April 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by DU at 11:52 AM on April 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
Brian Williams talking shit about Brooklyn is kind of a thing.
posted by Ad hominem at 11:53 AM on April 28, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by Ad hominem at 11:53 AM on April 28, 2011 [2 favorites]
Damnit. Link is supposed to go here. Anyone in my gmail, please reply to all the email from my mom, I've been a bit busy. Thanks.
posted by Ad hominem at 11:56 AM on April 28, 2011 [9 favorites]
posted by Ad hominem at 11:56 AM on April 28, 2011 [9 favorites]
Huh, looks like he converted his NYT/media-takedown into a plain Brooklyn-mock.
posted by DU at 11:59 AM on April 28, 2011
posted by DU at 11:59 AM on April 28, 2011
Brian Williams is lol as fuck. Brian, you are welcome to put that endorsement on your resume.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 12:05 PM on April 28, 2011
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 12:05 PM on April 28, 2011
I saw the Daily Show on my birthday. They had a story on bedbugs, which my friend who accompanied me had had. Then they showed Isabella Rosselini's Green Porno about bedbugs, which was great. Then Brian Williams was the guest and he and Jon made references to Isabella being creepy, Isabella in Blue Velvet (one of my favorite movies) and Brian started quoting "In Dreams" to make Jon laugh.
Anyway, really great birthday. I like Brian Williams now.
posted by Brainy at 12:14 PM on April 28, 2011
Anyway, really great birthday. I like Brian Williams now.
posted by Brainy at 12:14 PM on April 28, 2011
Walter Cronkrite liked to play Diplomacy.
posted by clavdivs at 12:15 PM on April 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by clavdivs at 12:15 PM on April 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
Shitty newsman doubles as a shitty comic - news at 11.
posted by any major dude at 12:18 PM on April 28, 2011
posted by any major dude at 12:18 PM on April 28, 2011
Some funny TV bits. Didn't see any actual stand up comedy though -- did I miss it?
posted by msalt at 12:34 PM on April 28, 2011
posted by msalt at 12:34 PM on April 28, 2011
He plays the straight man to comedic hosts, he's not doing stand-up.
And NY Mag: I thought we covered The Daily Show before - Jon Stewart's fake newsroom 1) actually remembers the past like it happened (probably because they have/had Beta tapes of original footage), and 2) they report more honest news than most news shows, because they can wear their "liberal bias" on their sleeve and say it's all a joke. The jester telling the truth and all that.
posted by filthy light thief at 12:57 PM on April 28, 2011
And NY Mag: I thought we covered The Daily Show before - Jon Stewart's fake newsroom 1) actually remembers the past like it happened (probably because they have/had Beta tapes of original footage), and 2) they report more honest news than most news shows, because they can wear their "liberal bias" on their sleeve and say it's all a joke. The jester telling the truth and all that.
posted by filthy light thief at 12:57 PM on April 28, 2011
Shitty newsman doubles as a shitty comic - news at 11.
Met with shitty internet comment and shitty internet cliché.
posted by found missing at 1:04 PM on April 28, 2011 [6 favorites]
Met with shitty internet comment and shitty internet cliché.
posted by found missing at 1:04 PM on April 28, 2011 [6 favorites]
Thanks for posting this, I wasn't aware of Brian Williams and now I'm plowing around the web watching everything I can, and my sides hurt from laughing.
posted by sidereal at 1:20 PM on April 28, 2011
posted by sidereal at 1:20 PM on April 28, 2011
Met with shitty internet comment and shitty internet cliché.
ok, I'm willing to have any open mind here. All I know is that Brian Williams has been the news anchor of NBC during what should have been the most scandalous decade in American history. The only reason it wasn't was because smarmy corporate cock-sucking millionaires like Brian Williams were in control of network news. While this hack was yucking it up with Conan, Dick Cheney was gutting regulations and raping the American treasury. Give me one fucking investigative report that this prick is responsible for in his career as an NBC anchor, Go ahead, I'm listening.
posted by any major dude at 1:21 PM on April 28, 2011
ok, I'm willing to have any open mind here. All I know is that Brian Williams has been the news anchor of NBC during what should have been the most scandalous decade in American history. The only reason it wasn't was because smarmy corporate cock-sucking millionaires like Brian Williams were in control of network news. While this hack was yucking it up with Conan, Dick Cheney was gutting regulations and raping the American treasury. Give me one fucking investigative report that this prick is responsible for in his career as an NBC anchor, Go ahead, I'm listening.
posted by any major dude at 1:21 PM on April 28, 2011
He's a dilettante. Splashing watercolors on some printer paper doesn't make you a painter.
posted by basicchannel at 1:26 PM on April 28, 2011
posted by basicchannel at 1:26 PM on April 28, 2011
Give me one fucking investigative report that this prick is responsible for in his career as an NBC anchor, Go ahead, I'm listening.
Well, he's partially responsible for this story, but not exactly in the way he would probably hope. Heh.
posted by monju_bosatsu at 1:27 PM on April 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
Well, he's partially responsible for this story, but not exactly in the way he would probably hope. Heh.
posted by monju_bosatsu at 1:27 PM on April 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
Well, it's not like anyone watches network news so he's got to be prepared to turn a hobby into his day job.
posted by tommasz at 1:27 PM on April 28, 2011
posted by tommasz at 1:27 PM on April 28, 2011
Give me one fucking investigative report that this prick is responsible for in his career as an NBC anchor, Go ahead, I'm listening.
If I may paraphrase Bobcat Goldwaite:
Getting angry at Brian Williams is like getting pissed at Ronald McDonald when you get a bad cheeseburger; neither of them run the company.
posted by dorkydancer at 1:42 PM on April 28, 2011 [4 favorites]
If I may paraphrase Bobcat Goldwaite:
Getting angry at Brian Williams is like getting pissed at Ronald McDonald when you get a bad cheeseburger; neither of them run the company.
posted by dorkydancer at 1:42 PM on April 28, 2011 [4 favorites]
I'm not angry at Brian Williams. I'm angry at those who are charmed by him when they should be disgusted.
posted by any major dude at 1:58 PM on April 28, 2011
posted by any major dude at 1:58 PM on April 28, 2011
Shitty newsman doubles as a shitty comic - news at 11.
Wow this is like the worst comment in any thread ever.
posted by shakespeherian at 2:08 PM on April 28, 2011 [2 favorites]
Wow this is like the worst comment in any thread ever.
posted by shakespeherian at 2:08 PM on April 28, 2011 [2 favorites]
It must be exhausting to be you.
posted by Think_Long at 2:09 PM on April 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Think_Long at 2:09 PM on April 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
And what's wrong with cocksucking?
posted by shakespeherian at 2:09 PM on April 28, 2011
posted by shakespeherian at 2:09 PM on April 28, 2011
Cocksucking is both a fun and noble activity of which the World could use more.
posted by Floydd at 2:17 PM on April 28, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by Floydd at 2:17 PM on April 28, 2011 [2 favorites]
Wow this is like the worst comment in any thread ever.
as I stated before, give me evidence to the contrary and I will change my mind. I'm still waiting. I'm a big fan of good journalism and a big fan of good comedy. I find Williams an affront to both professions.
Floydd, there are a lot of people who suck cock in this world who otherwise would rather not but it's part of their job description. Do you think the world could use more of that?
posted by any major dude at 2:28 PM on April 28, 2011
Wow, any major dude, you might want to channel your (part 3) namesake and just... chill.
posted by ChrisR at 2:30 PM on April 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by ChrisR at 2:30 PM on April 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
It's the worst comment in any thread ever because you're being completely dismissive of the subject of the FPP, you're ignoring everyone's stated opinions in the thread which differ from yours as though they are irrelevant, and you're doing it all by using the stupidest cliche at your disposal, all without any sort of reasoning or justification. Also, Brian Williams is funny, objectively, as proven by this formula:
posted by shakespeherian at 2:32 PM on April 28, 2011
posted by shakespeherian at 2:32 PM on April 28, 2011
Also, and I can't believe I forgot to mention this, using 'cocksucker' as pejorative is a homophobic slur. Don't do it anymore.
posted by shakespeherian at 2:35 PM on April 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by shakespeherian at 2:35 PM on April 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
I use it as a compliment. You should never use things you like as a slur. "You pie-baker!" Makes no sense.
posted by grubi at 2:39 PM on April 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by grubi at 2:39 PM on April 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
If Brian Williams was named Brianna, would you let it go or is that considered a heterosexual slur? Oh wait, I didn't specify the gender of the corporation, I guess if it was a female corporation it would still be homophobic. How does one derive the gender of a corporation, shakepeherian? You seem to be the expert and I surely don't want to offend anyone other than the intended target.
posted by any major dude at 2:44 PM on April 28, 2011
posted by any major dude at 2:44 PM on April 28, 2011
MY FATHER WAS A BAKER YOU SONUVABITCH
posted by danny the boy at 2:45 PM on April 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by danny the boy at 2:45 PM on April 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
I *said* I like it when someone baked me pies. Maybe your dad baked me a pie.
I SAID IT
posted by grubi at 2:47 PM on April 28, 2011
I SAID IT
posted by grubi at 2:47 PM on April 28, 2011
Floydd, there are a lot of people who suck cock in this world who otherwise would rather not but it's part of their job description.
I think it's time to polish your résumé.
posted by Floydd at 3:09 PM on April 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
I think it's time to polish your résumé.
posted by Floydd at 3:09 PM on April 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
This was not a thread I expected this particular brand of trolling to occur in.
posted by flippant at 3:12 PM on April 28, 2011
posted by flippant at 3:12 PM on April 28, 2011
You get trolled in the thread you have, not in the thread you might want, or wish you had at a later time.
posted by Floydd at 3:19 PM on April 28, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by Floydd at 3:19 PM on April 28, 2011 [2 favorites]
Anyway so yeah Brian Williams is my favorite character on 30 Rock and elevates every episode he's in, and I say that as someone who really likes 30 Rock.
posted by shakespeherian at 3:20 PM on April 28, 2011
posted by shakespeherian at 3:20 PM on April 28, 2011
It does seem sort of out of place, doesn't it?
Almost as out of place as milk in the crisper drawer.
posted by Copronymus at 3:21 PM on April 28, 2011
Almost as out of place as milk in the crisper drawer.
posted by Copronymus at 3:21 PM on April 28, 2011
Floydd, sadly it's pretty obvious from the replies here that there is no shortage of the willing.
Flippant, I hope you are not implying that I was trolling I was quite happy to make my one post and leave it at that. I really thought that it was common wisdom that Williams was an empty suit and had no idea that he had recently morphed into some kind of hipster icon. Is all the Williams-love an ironic gesture? If so then please excuse my squareness, I haven't watched tv news in years and nor do I watch 30 Rock. I'm a Bush era news burnout and spent a decade absolutely livid at people like Williams, Koppel, Brokaw and Russert for ignoring/suppressing news that could have kept a lot of bad things from happening.
posted by any major dude at 3:25 PM on April 28, 2011
Flippant, I hope you are not implying that I was trolling I was quite happy to make my one post and leave it at that. I really thought that it was common wisdom that Williams was an empty suit and had no idea that he had recently morphed into some kind of hipster icon. Is all the Williams-love an ironic gesture? If so then please excuse my squareness, I haven't watched tv news in years and nor do I watch 30 Rock. I'm a Bush era news burnout and spent a decade absolutely livid at people like Williams, Koppel, Brokaw and Russert for ignoring/suppressing news that could have kept a lot of bad things from happening.
posted by any major dude at 3:25 PM on April 28, 2011
Proposition: I've never watched Brian Williams. He sucks.
Discuss.
posted by found missing at 3:33 PM on April 28, 2011
Discuss.
posted by found missing at 3:33 PM on April 28, 2011
Williams was pablumest of the progression: "guy with the glasses in the seventies", then "that midwestern dork who wrote that suck-up book to the WWII fucks", then Brian Williams. Next, NBC should just have a bowl of lukewarm oatmeal drone the news.
posted by telstar at 3:34 PM on April 28, 2011
posted by telstar at 3:34 PM on April 28, 2011
Goddamn WWII generation. What is the perfect word to describe them? FUCKS!
posted by found missing at 3:50 PM on April 28, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by found missing at 3:50 PM on April 28, 2011 [2 favorites]
Here's another reason why I'm glad I'm not American - because I've only been exposed to Brian Williams via The Daily Show and 30 Rock. I'm glad I don't have to take him seriously as a newsreader.
posted by crossoverman at 3:55 PM on April 28, 2011
posted by crossoverman at 3:55 PM on April 28, 2011
Ahh, but here in The States, they don't read the news, they cast the news.
posted by Floydd at 4:20 PM on April 28, 2011
posted by Floydd at 4:20 PM on April 28, 2011
I find Williams an affront to both professions.
He went to my high school, so I like him. That is all.
posted by John Kenneth Fisher at 4:38 PM on April 28, 2011
He went to my high school, so I like him. That is all.
posted by John Kenneth Fisher at 4:38 PM on April 28, 2011
WWII Fucks. My new band name!
posted by Liquidwolf at 4:59 PM on April 28, 2011
posted by Liquidwolf at 4:59 PM on April 28, 2011
I'm not angry at Brian Williams.
Dude, you called him a prick. That suggests a bit of hostility.
the WWII fucks
So does that. Other Dude, care to elaborate on that? Not taking sides, just a little surprised at the phrasing. I mean to say - harsh. And broad.
As to BW - he's a newsreader, f'crissake. Did none of you see Broadcast News? Hell, Mike Wallace used to be a game show host.
posted by IndigoJones at 5:32 PM on April 28, 2011
Dude, you called him a prick. That suggests a bit of hostility.
the WWII fucks
So does that. Other Dude, care to elaborate on that? Not taking sides, just a little surprised at the phrasing. I mean to say - harsh. And broad.
As to BW - he's a newsreader, f'crissake. Did none of you see Broadcast News? Hell, Mike Wallace used to be a game show host.
posted by IndigoJones at 5:32 PM on April 28, 2011
My favorite part in 30 Rock is when you learn that Tracy is faithful to his wife, and he's been giving out a fake number to all the women he hits on. Then it cuts to Brian Williams in his home, where he picks up the phone.
Brian Williams: "Hello? No, this isn't Tracy Jordan. [pauses] Really? I've not heard of that term before. Do you know how to get to Connecticut?"
For some reason, just the way Williams delivers that lines kills me every time.
posted by fryman at 5:55 PM on April 28, 2011 [4 favorites]
Brian Williams: "Hello? No, this isn't Tracy Jordan. [pauses] Really? I've not heard of that term before. Do you know how to get to Connecticut?"
For some reason, just the way Williams delivers that lines kills me every time.
posted by fryman at 5:55 PM on April 28, 2011 [4 favorites]
That was hilarious. But I clicked the "NYT finds Brooklyn" link first and it totally shocked me. You see, I am Canadian and rarely watch US news -- and I had thought we were discussing CTV's Brian Williams. (See Brian Williams meets Brian Williams). I was trying to imagine a stilted sportscaster doing jokes.
I like how he pretends not to call the Canadian Brian a "moose rider".
posted by acoutu at 9:30 PM on April 28, 2011
I like how he pretends not to call the Canadian Brian a "moose rider".
posted by acoutu at 9:30 PM on April 28, 2011
For some reason, just the way Williams delivers that lines kills me every time.
He really does have a way with delivery. My recent favorite is when Williams harasses Liz when rumors are going around she's trying to pick up one of the editors.
"And we have this just in to us: Liz and Richie spotted in a tree, eyewitnesses report K-I-S-S-I-N-G. For more, let's go to NBC's Andrea Mitchell."
He plays it straight and professional, which makes it all the funnier.
posted by Spatch at 1:40 AM on April 29, 2011
He really does have a way with delivery. My recent favorite is when Williams harasses Liz when rumors are going around she's trying to pick up one of the editors.
"And we have this just in to us: Liz and Richie spotted in a tree, eyewitnesses report K-I-S-S-I-N-G. For more, let's go to NBC's Andrea Mitchell."
He plays it straight and professional, which makes it all the funnier.
posted by Spatch at 1:40 AM on April 29, 2011
He was hilarious on Wait Wait, Don't Tell Me a while back.
posted by Evilspork at 9:01 AM on April 29, 2011
posted by Evilspork at 9:01 AM on April 29, 2011
I don't have the hostility of AMD above, but every-time I have heard Williams try and be funny it has fallen pretty flat for me. He just looks and sounds too whitebread for me. And he is a pretty ardent defender of the "traditional" model of news (including FOX)
and
Wow this is like the worst comment in any thread ever.
er, I bet you $100 I can find worse comment within 5 minutes.
posted by edgeways at 9:34 AM on April 29, 2011
and
Wow this is like the worst comment in any thread ever.
er, I bet you $100 I can find worse comment within 5 minutes.
posted by edgeways at 9:34 AM on April 29, 2011
I think he's pretty damn funny, but part of that stems from him being a news anchor. If he gave that up I'm not sure I'd like his funny appearances quite so much. He'd just be one of thousands of funny, handsome comics out there.
posted by chairface at 2:31 PM on April 29, 2011
posted by chairface at 2:31 PM on April 29, 2011
He's the new Leslie Neilson, that's all. Play off your straight look.
posted by msalt at 2:39 PM on April 29, 2011
posted by msalt at 2:39 PM on April 29, 2011
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posted by delmoi at 11:37 AM on April 28, 2011 [2 favorites]