Comments on: What a struggle. Struggle, struggle, struggle.

What a struggle. Struggle, struggle, struggle.

beaucoupkevin — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 14:06:25 -0800

Harry Shearer finds footage that shows how some people act when the camera is off.

By: mrnutty

mrnutty — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 14:13:33 -0800

I get the impression that Harry Shearer is kind of a smug asshole.

By: not_on_display

not_on_display — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 14:15:51 -0800

By: Adam_S

Adam_S — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 14:23:47 -0800

The Ann Coulter bit must be staged. There's no way that she could take a product that would prevent her from consuming carcinogens without people diving across the room to knock it out of her hand.

By: Dr-Baa

Dr-Baa — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 14:24:20 -0800

I get the impression that Harry Shearer is kind of a smug asshole. Truth be told, he's a bit more like lukewarm water.

By: Pastabagel

Pastabagel — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 14:24:55 -0800

By: cell divide

cell divide — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 14:25:18 -0800

Pretty tame stuff, really.

By: Pastabagel

Pastabagel — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 14:26:08 -0800

Posted too soon - google video link to Spin.

By: chillmost

chillmost — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 14:26:36 -0800

Synonymous is not a good morning show word.

By: chillmost

chillmost — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 14:30:07 -0800

What an asshole. Asshole, asshole, asshole.

By: tkchrist

tkchrist — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 14:30:14 -0800

Next on Harry Shearer's My Damn Channel: Scandalous footage of Glen Beck eating clear broth! Thrill as Bill Clinton puts on clean socks! Feel your blood freeze as Chris Mathews buys antacid at the pharmacy! Stay tuned America!

By: Richard Daly

Richard Daly — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 14:32:21 -0800

I don't know, it was kinda surreal just watching her chew.

By: The Light Fantastic

The Light Fantastic — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 14:32:47 -0800

I think Bill O'Reilly needs a hug.

By: wemayfreeze

wemayfreeze — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 14:35:43 -0800

These are pretty wonderful. Not a lot of drama, just people hanging out. There's something about the clips that feels similar to the more peaceful Garfield without Garfield strips.

By: inconsequentialist

inconsequentialist — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 14:38:41 -0800

O'Reilly apparently has very little to say off-air.

By: mrmojoflying

mrmojoflying — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 14:42:16 -0800

I get the impression that Harry Shearer is kind of a smug asshole. Just thought it needed repeating.

By: anazgnos

anazgnos — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 14:50:48 -0800

And then he goes to Bohemian Grove.

By: Navelgazer

Navelgazer — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 14:53:23 -0800

Is there any word that's synonymous with "synonymous"? Something with a little more of that "morning show" flavor?

By: pedmands

pedmands — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 15:11:18 -0800

I get the impression that Harry Shearer is kind of a smug asshole. nthed Also, this video proves that Katie Couric is cute for serious.

By: everichon

everichon — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 15:20:37 -0800

I am feeling a little insensitivity in this thread towards the smug.

By: teleri025

teleri025 — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 15:21:37 -0800

Is there any word that's synonymous with "synonymous"? Something with a little more of that "morning show" flavor? Like, totally...

By: I-baLL

I-baLL — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 15:23:44 -0800

Why a smug asshole? These videos aren't supposed to be "gotcha" videos. They're just videos of on-camera people being presented off-camera.

By: pedmands

pedmands — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 15:28:23 -0800

I've heard some NPR interviews with him where he came off pretty pompous.

By: veggieboy

veggieboy — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 15:31:26 -0800

Uh oh. I think we broke the Internet. I'm getting this: Oops, you encountered a DAMN error. Rest assured! The engineer responsible will be flogged mercilessly.

By: QuietDesperation

QuietDesperation — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 15:33:52 -0800

Well, I enjoy Shearer's Le Show podcast a lot. Smug or not, he's got a brain and he can be very funny. That puts him far above Coulter and O'Reillly, for two.

By: middleclasstool

middleclasstool — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 15:34:54 -0800

I've heard some NPR interviews with him where he came off pretty pompous. "Le Show" doesn't do him any favors in this department, either. And I'm a huge fan of his acting.

By: pedmands

pedmands — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 15:35:25 -0800

The point at which he starts the pompousness is 3:00, mocking the host is 3:30. Shearer on NPR. Tame, I know. But all I could find online.

By: Sys Rq

Sys Rq — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 15:39:47 -0800

Indeed, internet broken.

By: mrnutty

mrnutty — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 15:44:04 -0800

That puts him far above Coulter and O'Reillly, for two. Yeah, but... that's not much of a compliment.

By: Dave Faris

Dave Faris — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 15:48:38 -0800

Is it übersmug to comment on an internet message board about how some other guy is too smug?

By: batmonkey

batmonkey — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 15:49:40 -0800

"If you can chop it up so I can snort it...that would help." ~ Ann Coulter Classic!

By: peppito

peppito — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 15:54:56 -0800

The point at which he starts the pompousness is 3:00, mocking the host is 3:30. Shearer on NPR. Tame, I know. But all I could find online. Shearer doesn't/didn't like 'Car Talk.' Sounds like he considers it gimmicky.

By: mrnutty

mrnutty — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 15:57:39 -0800

Is it übersmug to comment on an internet message board about how some other guy is too smug? Good question. Follow-up: Is it metasmug to comment on an internet message board about how some other guy has commented on an internet message board about how some other guy is too smug?

By: Dave Faris

Dave Faris — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 15:59:51 -0800

I think I can safely answer that question. You might even say I'm an expert. The answer is "no."

By: mrnutty

mrnutty — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 16:03:24 -0800

That's a shame, because I really like the term "metasmug"

By: sourwookie

sourwookie — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 16:08:54 -0800

I found Huckabee's mention of the specific brand and size of firearm he would use to kill the snake a little creepy. Makes it easy to see where his dog-torturing son got them violence genes from.

By: Sys Rq

Sys Rq — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 16:12:56 -0800

I thought Mitt Romney was the dog torturer.

By: Peter H

Peter H — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 16:17:26 -0800

The irony of any member of this website calling anyone a smug asshole is worth about 2500 Alanis Morissetteowatts.

By: middleclasstool

middleclasstool — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 16:17:48 -0800

Shearer doesn't/didn't like 'Car Talk.' Sounds like he considers it gimmicky. Yeah, and I agree with it (though the show's a guilty pleasure for me), but to dislike it to the point that when the station asks you to end your show by simply saying "Car Talk is next" you refuse to do so and make a Very Big Point of refusing, that's petty and unprofessional.

By: mrnutty

mrnutty — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 16:19:31 -0800

The irony of any member of this website calling anyone a smug asshole is worth about 2500 Alanis Morissetteowatts. Truly, it's like rain on your wedding day! Or a free ride, when you've already paid.

By: basicchannel

basicchannel — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 16:25:27 -0800

Car Talk is a horrible piece of shit and my hero Joe Frank has also made fun of them on-air so POO-PA-DOO!

By: Toekneesan

Toekneesan — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 16:25:38 -0800

They're found objects. You bring you're own interpretation. I think they're funny. I also find Shearer a comic genius. Spinal Tap, The Simpsons, Fernwood 2-Night, and SNL have all benefited from his collaboration, just to name a few of his credits. Can't disagree more about the asshole part.

By: ROU_Xenophobe

ROU_Xenophobe — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 16:26:51 -0800

I don't know, it was kinda surreal just watching her chew. I had the same reaction. It was like watching a blonde llama chewing its cud, with the big eyes and the long lashes and the vacant stare and the sideways nom-nom-nom. Which isn't bad, I guess. Llamas are cute. Pero las llamas son peligrosas. Si usted ve a una llama donde gente esta nadando, grita [[Cuidado! Llamas!]]

By: mrnutty

mrnutty — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 16:29:29 -0800

You know who Coulter reminded me of, with her eyeliner and pallor? I like turtles!

By: DU

DU — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 16:40:11 -0800

Harry Shearer is a great voice, a good actor and a terrible writer.

By: ooga_booga

ooga_booga — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 16:46:41 -0800

Cuidado, cuidado, cuidado, cuidado, llamas!

By: tkchrist

tkchrist — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 17:01:37 -0800

I thought Mitt Romney was the dog torturer. No. That's Jennifer Love Hewitt. Mitt Romney is the Torture Whisperer. Or is that the Ghost Torturer-er? ? God dammit. Now I'm all confused.

By: zzazazz

zzazazz — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 17:12:54 -0800

Le Show with its phone calls between 41 and 43 have had me on the floor more than once.

By: goodnewsfortheinsane

goodnewsfortheinsane — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 17:44:01 -0800

I liked this a lot. Thanks!

By: cecilkorik

cecilkorik — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 17:46:22 -0800

I thought Mitt Romney was the dog torturer. Both, I think. If I recall correctly, Mitt was the one who supposedly put his dog on the roof of his car on the highway for several hours. Huckabee's son was the one who was arrested for animal abuse and then the sheriff was allegedly pressured to let him go. The Republicans were trying to lock in the dog-hater vote, I guess.

By: damn dirty ape

damn dirty ape — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 18:01:36 -0800

I get the impression that Harry Shearer is kind of a smug asshole. Have you ever listened to his radio show. Smug assholes isnt half of it. Its just this broken bitter old man reading headlines and making easy Bush/Cheney jabs. He's the main reason why I dont give to public radio anymore.

By: krinklyfig

krinklyfig — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 18:30:46 -0800

I don't get all the Shearer hate. Anyway, funniest thing I ever heard him do on Le Show was a bit on Rush Limbaugh after he got busted for pills. Had me on the floor. I can't really get into the show on a regular basis, though. It's a little too dry. But he's done so many great roles in his career that it doesn't really matter. He's great in almost everything else.

By: Pollomacho

Pollomacho — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 18:43:48 -0800

Is there any word that's synonymous with "synonymous"? Something with a little more of that "morning show" flavor? Certainly not homophonic.

By: tgrundke

tgrundke — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 19:01:02 -0800

I like Shearer's acting, but I absolutely cannot listen to Le Show. When it comes on the radio it's a mad, fighting dash between my girlfriend and myself to see who can hit the power button first. Yes, he can be funny, but Le Show is just smugtastically bad stuff.

By: mosch

mosch — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 19:29:19 -0800

Snark™, a copyrighted feature of Metafilter.

By: boo_radley

boo_radley — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 19:56:47 -0800

Revisit the Couric video pedmands posted so you can hear her say "guiliani's dead" with the whacking motion, and the ensuing "OMGWHAT"ness of the scene.

By: middleclasstool

middleclasstool — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 20:34:50 -0800

I don't get all the Shearer hate. Po-tay-to, po-tah-to. As you say, the radio show's not that great (though I'm sure it has its moments, I listened to precisely two podcasts, had a mild "WTF is the big deal" reaction, and unsubscribed), but he's a pretty damn good comedic actor. "Le Show" just struck me as a liberal Paul Harvey, only with more "Jesus, people who disagree with me are idiots" and the occasional novelty song. And his appearance on "Wait, Wait" (further unprofessional note: the same guy who produces "Wait Wait" also produces "Car Talk", which Peter Sagal went to great pains to point out after Shearer took a big shit on the show) left me with a bad taste in my mouth. So I stick with the acting and avoid the original material. As a comedic writer, he's a very good comedic actor.

By: stinkycheese

stinkycheese — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 20:45:12 -0800

I for one am thrilled to see the Shearer digs here. I liked him a lot for a long time, and he has done lots & lots of funny stuff, but the more I saw of him, I've got to be honest...the more he seemed like a smug asshole. Christopher Guest too.

By: neuron

neuron — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 21:53:06 -0800

I've been listening to Harry's Le Show regularly for about six years ago. It's sometimes funny, always useful. His stated purpose is "to make fun of everyone". Yeah, it irritates me when he makes fun of decent people. But his perspective on US politics is unique and essential.

By: peppito

peppito — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 21:56:11 -0800

Eesh, this is sad, I foresee a coming NPR-fan fight between Car Talk and Le Show crowds on metafilter next time there's a thread about them.

By: cytherea

cytherea — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 21:58:57 -0800

Shearer doesn't/didn't like 'Car Talk.' Sounds like he considers it gimmicky. I can't stand Car Talk. It's like NPR is trying to punish me for staying in bed too long on weekends.

By: ruddhist

ruddhist — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 22:51:30 -0800

Click to explore Harry. Um. No. No, thank you.

By: maryh

maryh — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 23:52:34 -0800

Jesus. If I chewed nicotine gum the way Coulter does in the first clip, I'd be projectile vomiting for the next half hour.

By: stavrosthewonderchicken

stavrosthewonderchicken — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 23:53:17 -0800

Anagrams of 'smug' include 'gums' and 'mugs', both of which seem appropriate to Mr. Shearer's toothless attention-seeking ways.* *I have been known to listen to both Car Talk and Le Show, though not at the same time.

By: The Deej

The Deej — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 05:12:45 -0800

Because of this thread, I listened to the podcast of Shearer's appearance on Wait Wait. Wow. As a long time Car Talk fan, and Harry Shearer fan, I gotta say... I'd rather spend an hour listening to the fun-but-sometimes-annoying-self-deprecating-laughter of Tom and Ray than than the pucker-faced-self-important-smugness of Shearer. The audience and panel on Wait Wait seemed a bit taken aback as well. I could even understand not wanting to announce the show if it was politically or morally opposed to your own views. But this is Car Talk. A silly show that knows it's a silly show, that happens to help a few people along the way. It's like accusing Sponge Bob of being too silly. Shearer is just being rude.