Memphis Comedy and Jheri Curls

The very sad news has come to us all in the Memphis Comedy Stand up Community, Comedy Tennessee is shutting it's doors at their Macon Rd. location in Bartlett. Initially, I thought this was the end of those guys and Memphis Comedy, but luckily, it is not!

Hurrah!

There are rumors low to the ground that have been circling about, that they will return to Neil's in Midtown to have one nighters and collaborate with Minglewood Hall to bring in even bigger names, like your Lewis Blacks and Dave Attells.

This might be the way to go. Memphis has a long history of dying comedy clubs. Sir Laughs-a-Lot, The Looney Bin, The Funnybone, the Wacky and Not Clever Laugh Allusion with Noun Comedy Club (which was the least successful of all...).

Though, I hear my skinny, quiet, non-spontaneous, analytic, and kinda aggro father was on stage at Laughs-a-Lot once during the 80s ('86ish) as a volunteer from the audience. The story goes he ended up there dancing with a shower cap on his head whilst rapping. Clearly, a hilarious premise, most definitely not being racist.

Ironically enough, with a cursory google search, the only african, american or otherwise, with a shower cap on that I could find with a picture was Snoop, when I know I could walk on Lamar Rd. and find at least one Jheri Curl, even today, though they are a rare and illusive hairstyle, you can still find them here. I think that's why we also have a Drive in Movie theater. If Memphis looses all the jheri curls and people still talking like Supa Fly, then we will loose The Summer Drive In.

So, relaxer companies and retro pictures of Eric La Salle must not die!

What was I talking about? Oh yes, Memphis Comedy. But what's funnier than a Jheri Curl in 2009? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Except maybe a Jheri curl in 1709, now that's pretty damn funny too.