“Comedy is tragedy plus time” (theatre adage)
Entry in progress -- B.P. 21 July 1958, Bakersfield (CA) Californian, pg. 21, col. 1:Allen (Comedian Steve Allen -- ed.) also has another formula for laughs: "Tragedy plus time plus the will…
“Copacabana (At the Copa)” (1978)
"Her name was Lola. She was a showgirl." So begins Barry Manilow's 1978 Grammy-winning song, "Copacabana (At the Copa)." The lyrics are by Bruce Sussman and Jack Feldman.…
“Could Blazing Saddles be made today? No. It’s hard to make a film in a day”
The movie Blazing Saddles (1974) is a comedy classic. Many people say that the movie couldn't be made today because some of the humor is not "politically correct" and could…
“Country music is just farm emo”
"Country music is just farm emo" is a saying that has been printed on many images. "RT @pajamajams: country music is just farm emo" was posted on Twitter by Erik Casarez on May…
“Country music is just land shanties”
There are sea shanties, but what about land shanties? "Country Music is just land shanties" was posted on Twitter by manic pixie dudebro on January 18, 2020. "Country music is just…
“Critics are like eunuchs in a harem”
Irish poet and playwright Brendan Behan (1923-1964) is often credited for saying, "Critics are like eunuchs in a harem: they know how it's done, they've seen it done every day, but…
“Critics are the stupid who discuss the wise”
Russian author Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910) wrote in the essay "What Is Art?" (1897; English translation 1898): "A friend of mine, speaking of the relation of critics to artists, half…
“Curry OK?”/“Sorry, I hate singing in public.” (karaoke joke)
"Karaoke" sounds a bit like "curry OK." A joke has someone enter an Indian restaurant and the waiter asks, "Curry OK?" The diner responds, "Sorry, I hate singing…
“Dance enables you to find yourself and lose yourself at the same time”
"Dance enables you to find yourself and lose yourself at the same time" is a saying that has beenprinted on many posters. The quote has been cited on Twitter since August 18, 2011. The…
“Dance is a series of three-minute romances” (“three-minute love affair”)
Dance (especially the tango) has been called "a three-minute love affair (with a stranger)" and "a three-minute romance." It's not known who originated the descriptions.…
“Dance like no one is watching. Because they are not. They’re checking their phones”
The song "Come from the Heart" (1987) by Susanna Clark and Richard Leigh contains the lyrics: "Sing like no one is listening.Love like you’ve never been hurt.Dance like nobody’s…
“Dance like your vagina is on fire”
"Dance like your vagina's on fire" is a saying that has been printed on many gift items, such as bumper stickers and T-shirts. "Dance like your vaginas on fire!" was cited…
“Dancers count 5-6-7-8 because musicians took 1-2-3-4”
"Dancers count 5-6-7-8 because musicians took 1-2-3-4" is a saying that has been printed on an image. There are several technical answers. "Wondering why drummers usually start songs…
“Dancing cheek-to-cheek is really a form of floor play”
The song "Cheek to Cheek" (1935) by Irving Berlin (1888-1989) popularized "dancing cheek-to-cheek." A joke is: "Dancing cheek-to-cheek is really a form of floor play."…
“Dancing is a vertical expression of a horizontal desire”
"Dancing is a perpendicular/vertical expression of a horizontal desire/idea/intent/urge" has been credited to playwright George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950), playwright Oscar Wilde…
“Did you hear about the 25 Irish people that drowned? They were river dancing”
The show Riverdancing doesn't involve Irish dancing in a river, but there are jokes. "Did you hear about the 25 Irish people that drowned? They were riverdancing" was posted on…
“Did you hear about the actor who fell through the floorboards? He was just going through a stage”
A theatre joke is: ""Did you hear about the actor who fell through the floorboards? He was just going through a stage." The "just going through a stage" pun has been cited…
“Did you hear about the dancer’s birthday? It was a tappy one!”
A joke about a dancer's birthday has been printed on an image: "Did you hear about the dancer's birthday? It was a tappy one!" The "tappy" birthday saying has been…
“Did you hear about the ghost comedian? He was booed off stage”
"Did you hear about the ghost comedian? He was booed off stage" is a popular ghost pun. The joke has been cited in print since at least 2003. 25 October 2003, Evening Mail (Birmingham,…
“Did you hear about the musician who skipped a bar of silence? He was resisting a rest”
"Resisting arrest" sounds like "resisting a rest." "As I musician who refuses to pause my playing I was kicked out the band for resisting a rest" was posted on Twitter…