Neil Simon master of comedy dead at 91
August 26, 2018 10:15 AM Subscribe
You have to be pretty fucking good to have a Broadway theater named after you while you're still alive. He was pretty fucking good.
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posted by East14thTaco at 10:32 AM on August 26, 2018 [12 favorites]
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posted by East14thTaco at 10:32 AM on August 26, 2018 [12 favorites]
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posted by Going To Maine at 10:32 AM on August 26, 2018
posted by Going To Maine at 10:32 AM on August 26, 2018
I got to play Hennesey in a college production of Biloxi Blues shortly before I went off to boot camp myself. It's a small role, but Hennesey is shown to be a solid, talented recruit who absolutely belongs--but is thrown out of the Army because he's gay.
The original premiered in 1984. When I enlisted, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" was so new they didn't even have new enlistment papers for it; they just blotted out the questions. I thought about Hennesey a lot while I served.
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posted by scaryblackdeath at 10:35 AM on August 26, 2018 [12 favorites]
The original premiered in 1984. When I enlisted, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" was so new they didn't even have new enlistment papers for it; they just blotted out the questions. I thought about Hennesey a lot while I served.
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posted by scaryblackdeath at 10:35 AM on August 26, 2018 [12 favorites]
Also we're watching Murder by Death tonight. After I move this dead butler's clothes and we...well it would be tacky to describe.
posted by East14thTaco at 10:37 AM on August 26, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by East14thTaco at 10:37 AM on August 26, 2018 [2 favorites]
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posted by Slithy_Tove at 10:41 AM on August 26, 2018
posted by Slithy_Tove at 10:41 AM on August 26, 2018
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this man gave me so much joy and so much inspiration.
posted by ouke at 10:42 AM on August 26, 2018 [2 favorites]
this man gave me so much joy and so much inspiration.
posted by ouke at 10:42 AM on August 26, 2018 [2 favorites]
Also we're watching Murder by Death tonight.
Funny, I was just thinking of that movie the other day
posted by thelonius at 10:45 AM on August 26, 2018
Funny, I was just thinking of that movie the other day
posted by thelonius at 10:45 AM on August 26, 2018
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posted by Halloween Jack at 10:50 AM on August 26, 2018
posted by Halloween Jack at 10:50 AM on August 26, 2018
The Washington Post described him as second only to Shakespeare as the most popular playwright in the world. He had four plays running simultaneously on Broadway.
Twice.
What a talent.
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posted by 4ster at 11:00 AM on August 26, 2018 [6 favorites]
Twice.
What a talent.
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posted by 4ster at 11:00 AM on August 26, 2018 [6 favorites]
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posted by MovableBookLady at 11:03 AM on August 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by MovableBookLady at 11:03 AM on August 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
"Goodbye, Frances." "Goodbye, Blanche."
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posted by The Ardship of Cambry at 11:06 AM on August 26, 2018
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posted by The Ardship of Cambry at 11:06 AM on August 26, 2018
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posted by KleenexMakesaVeryGoodHat at 11:06 AM on August 26, 2018
posted by KleenexMakesaVeryGoodHat at 11:06 AM on August 26, 2018
"Ho no. I mean, no ho, sergeant. Just plain ho."
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posted by zachlipton at 11:46 AM on August 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
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posted by zachlipton at 11:46 AM on August 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
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posted by Barack Spinoza at 12:06 PM on August 26, 2018
posted by Barack Spinoza at 12:06 PM on August 26, 2018
This is really embarrassing, but just today I realized I had been conflating Neil Simon with Paul Simon. I had assumed Paul Simon took his songwriting to Broadway.
Neil Simons pretty awesome, I'm discovering. I've been loving his quotes shared on Twitter today.
posted by lownote at 12:30 PM on August 26, 2018 [4 favorites]
Neil Simons pretty awesome, I'm discovering. I've been loving his quotes shared on Twitter today.
posted by lownote at 12:30 PM on August 26, 2018 [4 favorites]
As a graduate student studying theater in the early 90's, it was sort of de rigueur to be sharply critical of Neil Simon. His works were pandering or too by the numbers or whatever. I fell into that until I actually say down and read a bunch of his plays. The politics and social commentary don't always age well, but many capture some real truths about being human. The opening scene of Chapter Two, for example, is a quiet, heartbreaking portrait of late-stage mourning that can just tear out your heart when played well. He was a genuine master writer and I am sure his work will eventually be regarded as among the great literature of the 20th century.
posted by Joey Michaels at 12:30 PM on August 26, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by Joey Michaels at 12:30 PM on August 26, 2018 [5 favorites]
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It's either very new cheese or very old meat.
posted by octothorpe at 12:33 PM on August 26, 2018 [5 favorites]
It's either very new cheese or very old meat.
posted by octothorpe at 12:33 PM on August 26, 2018 [5 favorites]
Describing a Californian someone was dating, “You know the type. Blonde hair. Blonde teeth. Blonde life.”
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 12:48 PM on August 26, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 12:48 PM on August 26, 2018 [2 favorites]
It took me hours[?] to realize that F.U. was Felix Ungar!!
He had a good run.
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posted by Melismata at 1:04 PM on August 26, 2018 [5 favorites]
He had a good run.
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posted by Melismata at 1:04 PM on August 26, 2018 [5 favorites]
The year I was running a tiny automated radio station away from L.A., one of the few highlights of the year I remember was going to a movie theater to see "Murder By Death". It was more silly, more parody than almost everything I'd seen written by Neil Simon before, but it was still great. His range in writing within the semi-limited genre of stage and semi-cinematic comedy was incredible... no wonder he's compared to Shakespeare.
Another note, he outlived both of the iconic Odd Couples (Lemmon & Matthau, Randall & Klugman).
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posted by oneswellfoop at 1:04 PM on August 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
Another note, he outlived both of the iconic Odd Couples (Lemmon & Matthau, Randall & Klugman).
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posted by oneswellfoop at 1:04 PM on August 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
My first experience with legitimate thee-ay-ter was seeing a revival of "The Odd Couple" with Tim Conway as Felix and Tom Poston as Oscar.
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posted by MrBadExample at 1:16 PM on August 26, 2018 [4 favorites]
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posted by MrBadExample at 1:16 PM on August 26, 2018 [4 favorites]
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posted by mikelieman at 1:52 PM on August 26, 2018
posted by mikelieman at 1:52 PM on August 26, 2018
I was in Rumors in college. It was a lot of fun. In retrospect, I was terrible in that show. Sorry, Neil.
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posted by greermahoney at 1:56 PM on August 26, 2018 [2 favorites]
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posted by greermahoney at 1:56 PM on August 26, 2018 [2 favorites]
Huh, according to the IBDB, Art Carney originated the role of Felix on Broadway with Matthau as Oscar and Mike Nichols directing. That would be high on the list for a time machine stop.
posted by octothorpe at 2:05 PM on August 26, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by octothorpe at 2:05 PM on August 26, 2018 [7 favorites]
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posted by limeonaire at 2:25 PM on August 26, 2018
posted by limeonaire at 2:25 PM on August 26, 2018
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posted by jim in austin at 3:26 PM on August 26, 2018
posted by jim in austin at 3:26 PM on August 26, 2018
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I watch The Odd Couple at least three times a year, it’s the perfect hang out film. Murder By Death was one of my kids favorite films. I can remember how delighted they were the first time I showed it to them. The man had a way with the language.
posted by valkane at 3:37 PM on August 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
I watch The Odd Couple at least three times a year, it’s the perfect hang out film. Murder By Death was one of my kids favorite films. I can remember how delighted they were the first time I showed it to them. The man had a way with the language.
posted by valkane at 3:37 PM on August 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
I like the way he smelled.
posted by pangolin party at 3:38 PM on August 26, 2018
posted by pangolin party at 3:38 PM on August 26, 2018
My mom and I were pretty much a the ages of the mom and daughter of The Goodbye Girl when that came out. We could agree that Richard Dreyfuss was a cutie. Watching that with her is a nice memory even if that movie is not really considered a Simon masterpiece.
posted by thebrokedown at 3:43 PM on August 26, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by thebrokedown at 3:43 PM on August 26, 2018 [4 favorites]
"It's not spaghetti, it's linguini! " "Now it's garbage!"
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posted by dannyboybell at 3:48 PM on August 26, 2018 [4 favorites]
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posted by dannyboybell at 3:48 PM on August 26, 2018 [4 favorites]
“You got anything on your chest besides your chin you better get it off.”
posted by valkane at 3:51 PM on August 26, 2018
posted by valkane at 3:51 PM on August 26, 2018
I was a poor kid. Going to the library and checking out a play script was my experience of theater. I checked out one Neil Simon play after another.
Critics, for a time, cruelly referred to him as the master of the zinger. He was a master of character and comedy through conflict. His comic scenes were compelling and that's what the audiences responded to and that's how he earned his popularity.
A master.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 5:14 PM on August 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
Critics, for a time, cruelly referred to him as the master of the zinger. He was a master of character and comedy through conflict. His comic scenes were compelling and that's what the audiences responded to and that's how he earned his popularity.
A master.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 5:14 PM on August 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
NY Mag is going all out:
* Losing Neil Simon, a Writer From a Lost Time
* Thanks for the Good Times, Neil Simon
* Neil Simon Was Theater’s Odd Man Out
* Neil Simon’s 29 Plays and Four Musicals: A Guide to the Highs and Lows
posted by jenfullmoon at 7:13 PM on August 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
* Losing Neil Simon, a Writer From a Lost Time
* Thanks for the Good Times, Neil Simon
* Neil Simon Was Theater’s Odd Man Out
* Neil Simon’s 29 Plays and Four Musicals: A Guide to the Highs and Lows
posted by jenfullmoon at 7:13 PM on August 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
I was never thrilled with the way he treated Art Garfunkel.
posted by alball at 7:19 PM on August 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by alball at 7:19 PM on August 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
QFT: four plays running simultaneously on Broadway.
Twice.
He did a superb job of reflecting American life right back at us with wry wit and affection. Currently, a great many movies, tv, etc., are about horrible people being horrible. Blechh. This is a loss.
posted by theora55 at 8:29 PM on August 26, 2018 [2 favorites]
Twice.
He did a superb job of reflecting American life right back at us with wry wit and affection. Currently, a great many movies, tv, etc., are about horrible people being horrible. Blechh. This is a loss.
posted by theora55 at 8:29 PM on August 26, 2018 [2 favorites]
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posted by heatvision at 2:46 AM on August 27, 2018
posted by heatvision at 2:46 AM on August 27, 2018
I have a twitter friend who was, I just learned, a relative. She posted this very sweet little remembrance.
posted by jessamyn at 7:27 AM on August 27, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by jessamyn at 7:27 AM on August 27, 2018 [6 favorites]
Ha! That reads like something my father in law would write about his dogs. That is wonderful.
posted by East14thTaco at 7:59 AM on August 27, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by East14thTaco at 7:59 AM on August 27, 2018 [1 favorite]
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I think Neil deserves my dot for whatever it's worth. He brought so much laughter to me over the years. The "maverick" Senator, not so much.
posted by jabo at 10:47 AM on August 27, 2018 [1 favorite]
I think Neil deserves my dot for whatever it's worth. He brought so much laughter to me over the years. The "maverick" Senator, not so much.
posted by jabo at 10:47 AM on August 27, 2018 [1 favorite]
All NYT:
The New York Times Reviews Neil Simon
Neil Simon, Broadway Master of Comedy, Is Dead at 91
Thank You, Neil Simon
Neil Simon Drew Big Laughs, Then Came a Cultural Shift
Actors and Writers on Neil Simon: ‘When He Laughed, You Knew You’d Hit His Truth’
posted by jenfullmoon at 2:03 PM on August 27, 2018
The New York Times Reviews Neil Simon
Neil Simon, Broadway Master of Comedy, Is Dead at 91
Thank You, Neil Simon
Neil Simon Drew Big Laughs, Then Came a Cultural Shift
Actors and Writers on Neil Simon: ‘When He Laughed, You Knew You’d Hit His Truth’
posted by jenfullmoon at 2:03 PM on August 27, 2018
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My first role in my high-school drama club was as Olive in the female "Odd Couple." It was great fun, and I'm still very fond of (in that close-Facebook-friends way) many of my classmates who were in that play with me, and joining the drama club changed my life for the better in a lot of ways. Fluffy, light, funny, and apolitical are not generally the genre of things I seek out, but Simon was definitely really really good at it. RIP.
posted by lazuli at 10:24 AM on August 26, 2018 [2 favorites]