It's insane, this post's taint!

December 19, 2004 1:30 AM

So is David Cross now a resident of Wisconsin? He's taken a keen interest in the Journal Sentinel's online columns. First he takes on the technology columnist then the TV/Radio columnist, an entertainment reporter and finally a UW-Extension consumer horticulture agent. You'll have to scroll down to find the question from "David Cross of Atlanta, GA". [more inside]
posted by KevinSkomsvold (35 comments total)

I was searching earlier for some David Cross articles and noticed that Google news pointed to all of these questions posted by a "David Cross of Atlanta Ga". Thinking it was a fluke, I visited each one and noticed a common theme; that whole taint thing.
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 1:31 AM on December 19, 2004

Er, yes...and..? Is there a point to this post?
posted by salmacis at 1:42 AM on December 19, 2004

I think David posted.
posted by wuchoogundonow at 1:44 AM on December 19, 2004

And what's he doing in both GTA: San Andreas and Halo 2? That's just nuts. And those GTA missions are killing me.
posted by bobo123 at 2:10 AM on December 19, 2004

I'm very skeptical that the person who posed these questions is the same David Cross referenced in the IMDB link.
posted by davidmsc at 2:12 AM on December 19, 2004

Is there a point to this post?

David Cross, or some one claiming to be him, is having fun seeing if he can get "It's insane, this guy's taint." printed in The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel by putting it in 'questions' to Q&A sections:

#1

Q: David Cross of Atlanta, GA - Hi Stan, Do you continue schooling to keep up with the Web, computers and technology... I was just curious you get your information in this ever changing field? It's insane, this guy's taint.

A: Stanley Miller II - David, I don't take classes, but I read -- a lot -- and I talk with many experts in different fields (both academic-research and corporate) to keep up on what is going on. Sometimes I will attend a conference or symposium held locally, and when I attend major conventions like the Consumer Electronics Show or the Electronic Entertainment Expo, I will sit in on at least a few workshops that I think will help broaden my knowledge and give me a chance to meet more professionals across various technology fields

#2

Q: David Cross of Atlanta, GA - Hello Tim, My show, Arrested Development, continues to be a favorite among critics, yet a flop in the ratings... will people eventually listen to you folks and watch this brilliant show already? It's insane, this guy's taint. Also, do you think comedies (like ours, The Office, The Simpsons, Scrubs) without laugh tracks are preferred? David Cross (Nevernude, Blue Man) P.S. - Say hi to Oprah for me next time she calls you.

A: Tim Cuprisin - You're one of two "Arrested Development" questions, so I'll answer you both. Ratings are slightly better than last year, but not where they should be to keep post-"Simpsons" viewers. The show is as good or better than last year, but it may be too good for a network audience. If only HBO was interested.

Amusing that Cuprisin, media writer/critic for the MJS, doesn't connect the name with the show

#3

Q: Clubhopper of Milwaukee - I have noticed several times in the past few months at Tangerine, Kennadees,& Eve, that their usual clientele has changed. Now those places are full of dressed down people who look more at home on Water St. Or did Tom, the owner of those places, wise up and decide to let people of all races, clothing, etc. in because he was losing money?

A: James Burnett - Clubhopper, I honestly haven't noticed a ton of change in recent months in the places you name. I suspect, that this time of year, when it gets colder and some people are more reluctant to go out, that all bar/club owners get a little more people friendly to keep numbers up. But I don't know that that's the case with these places any more than any other bar/club downtown. That's all for me, folks. I have stories to write and a meter to run outside and plug. If you have further questions or comments, feel free to email me off this list at [e-mail]. David Cross from Atlanta, I didn't miss your question, but there was a word in it that might get me locked up, and I'm not trying to annoy whatever government body monitors online communications. So the answer to your question is No, Milwaukee does not always party like it did during the Harley 100th celebration. Later

This guy apparently caught the phrase

#4

Q: David Cross of Atlanta, GA - Hello, why are you hosting a "gardening" chat in the middle of December? It's insane, this guy's taint. Anyway, is it tough to grow raspberry's in a regular garden, and when should they be planted? Thank you, David Cross

A: Sharon Morrisey - David, Atlanta, GA? Why are you chatting with a northerner about gardening? Really, about the raspberries - they are almost too easy to grow. Raspberries are suckering plants that are often hard to contain so I would not plant them in a general garden area. They should have their own site. They should be planted as soon as the ground can be worked in the spring - which in Georgia is probably about February - here it is early to late April. There are several training systems to use to control them but all require pretty extensive pruning every year. I suggest you contact your local Extension service for details for your area. Good luck.

posted by Steve_at_Linnwood at 2:13 AM on December 19, 2004

""It's Insane, This Guy's Taint" is the name of Episode #28 of Mr. Show with Bob and David.
posted by Steve_at_Linnwood at 2:16 AM on December 19, 2004

What does "this guy's taint" mean?
posted by painquale at 2:18 AM on December 19, 2004

No, sorry, it may be Sunday morning, but I'm still not getting it.
posted by salmacis at 2:34 AM on December 19, 2004

Sounds like a euphemism for "cool" or otherwise "excellent."
posted by davidmsc at 2:34 AM on December 19, 2004

Well, there's this guy, see, and his taint, well, it's insane.
posted by queen zixi at 2:36 AM on December 19, 2004

/me coughs in queen zixi's general direction
posted by Steve_at_Linnwood at 2:37 AM on December 19, 2004

And once again, I've shattered the dreams of people cleverer than I.
posted by queen zixi at 2:41 AM on December 19, 2004

It's a sketch about a magazine focusing on the men's perineum (known by some as a "taint"). The sketch was meant as a comment on adult magazines focusing on such a small part of the body, and was done in a style like "Boogie Nights." The expression was a comment of the publisher of the magazine about one of the models.
posted by ALongDecember at 2:59 AM on December 19, 2004

OK, so "taint" is a euphamism for a part of the body. I'm still not getting it.
posted by salmacis at 3:02 AM on December 19, 2004

I'm not sure there is much to get. Steve_at_Linnwood seems rather on the mark to me. I'd put my money on high schoolers. Those damn kids will ruin Christmas!
posted by shotsy at 3:20 AM on December 19, 2004

It's insane, this guy's taint.
posted by pemdasi at 3:46 AM on December 19, 2004

This is our latest discovery, Max Packer. He's got something quite special....

I've got a five inch taint.

It's insane, this guys taint!

posted by funkbrain at 3:48 AM on December 19, 2004

I'm so confused. Is this like some kind of AYBABTU? Is getting the word 'taint' published in print really that much fun? All I can think of is choads.
posted by ao4047 at 5:28 AM on December 19, 2004

"Well it taint your hmmmm and it taint your ahhhhh."

at least we got that gem out of this post. thanks zixi. i'm going to cut my losses now.
posted by recurve at 5:44 AM on December 19, 2004

Wow, obviously the world has already seen the habby-flabby and the ding-dong.

Okay, cumulative explanation for those who still aren't getting it:

David was on a show called Mr. Show with Bob And David. 30 minutes, sketch comedy, very similar to Python (Bob Odenkirk referenced them constantly in the book), was on HBO in the mid-90s.

In Season 4, there was the above-mentioned sketch about the "taint". The name of that episode happened to be "It's Insane, This Guy's Taint", which was a line from the said sketch.

So essentially this is an in-joke to Mr. Show fans, provided by someone who 99% likely isn't David, primarily because David lives in NYC these days (when he's not in LA taping Arrested Development, that is).
posted by Remy at 6:17 AM on December 19, 2004

I'm wondering if perhaps the webmaster of the site is not a David Cross fan, and is simply trying to see how many references he can make before getting noticed/fired.
posted by Eideteker at 7:05 AM on December 19, 2004

Salmacis, if you don't get it, you can feel free to read on your own time.

Anyway, I've got a six inch taint.
posted by jon_kill at 7:46 AM on December 19, 2004

Funkbrain and Remy have explained it now. I was sort of hoping there was a bit more to it than that. I'm surprised that this was posted to the front page without a bit more explanation.
posted by salmacis at 8:16 AM on December 19, 2004

I met David at a protest in DC once. He's a nice guy. A girl I was with told him that she wanted to rape him. I'm not sure if that scared him or not.
posted by baphomet at 8:38 AM on December 19, 2004

From queen zixi's link

1) In Pro Figure Skating, it's the area you should place your hand when lifting up your female skating partner above your head.

I did not know that </carson>
posted by TimeFactor at 8:40 AM on December 19, 2004

I like it. I think it's funny.
posted by adrober at 8:51 AM on December 19, 2004

Thanks Remy and S@L for the synopsis. My bad, salmacis for not being clearer. I know we have a lot of Mr. Show/David Cross fans here and assumed people wouldn't need clarification.

I have nothing to blame. I had plenty of coffee, I wasn't drunk and had plenty of sleep. Live n' learn I guess.
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 9:33 AM on December 19, 2004

David's Cross's DVD Let America Laugh ( Netflix / IMDB ) is a video account of his cross-country tour in 2003 and is one of the funniest things I've ever seen in my life. It's right up there with The Office. Fortunately, as I recall, it's not quite as chockablock with scatalogical humor as Mr. Show apparently was (I dunno, never saw it, cable is evil).

Oh, re being from Atlanta, as I understand it, David has kind of washed his hands of the Atlanta connection. Too much trauma growing up or something. When brought up in interviews, he seems to be pretty down on Atlanta and apparently hasn't lived here (ATL) for years.
posted by intermod at 10:05 AM on December 19, 2004

[David Cross is good]
posted by odinsdream at 11:37 AM on December 19, 2004

Tim Cusprin finally gets what he deserves!
posted by drezdn at 5:46 PM on December 19, 2004

Tim Cusprin finally gets what he deserves!

LOL
posted by Steve_at_Linnwood at 6:10 PM on December 19, 2004

As a devoted fan of Mr. Show, I'd say this probably isn't actually David posting. He'd come up with something a lot wittier than a recycled one-liner from a past show.

Also, that skit was one of their best. My favorite part were the competitors to the original "Taint Magazine", such as 'Tweren't" and "Taint Misbehavin'".
posted by r3tr0 at 6:52 AM on December 20, 2004

What's funny is that apparently this newspaper does not edit its letters at all, even to the point of leaving in sentences that are nonsequitors at best, and nonsensical at worst.
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 7:37 AM on December 20, 2004

True that SSF. And only one of the columnists addressed the taint remark.
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 8:39 AM on December 20, 2004