humor news stories on Newser

Ellen DeGeneres to Get Twain Humor Prize

Matt Cantor — Tue, 15 May 2012 17:00:05 CDT

Ellen DeGeneres is following in the footsteps of Bill Cosby and Tina Fey: She's this year's recipient of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, E! Online reports. DeGeneres' "special brand of humor has allowed us to find hilarity in the mundane and has kept us laughing for years," said...

Maybe It's Time to Get Over Shakespeare

Kevin Spak — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 10:35:58 CDT

Is Shakespeare still relevant today? Before you answer, consider how many of his plays would be ruined by the addition of cellphones, writes Alexandra Petri of the Washington Post . "Soon, if we do a modern staging, we'll have to stipulate that, 'In fair Verona, where we lay our scene/The cell...

Miss Piggy Rips Fox News

Matt Cantor — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:41:05 CST

The Muppets are firing back at Fox News' claim their new movie is anti-oil . Asked about the accusation at a UK press conference, the Huffington Post reports that Kermit the Frog called the notion "categorically not true. If we had some problem with oil companies, why would we have spent...

Google Maps Advises Against Mordor Visits

Matt Cantor — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 13:51:05 CST

With The Hobbit trailer out , some among us may feel inspired to risk the trek to Mordor. But if you look for walking directions to it from the Shire on Google Maps, you'll be greeted with a warning: "Use caution—One does not simply walk into Mordor." The phrase echoes...

Gay Group 'Sorry' for Killing Lawmaker's Marriage

Matt Cantor — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 11:07:05 CST

After a married Minnesota state senator was caught in an "inappropriate relationship" with a male staffer, she quit her post as majority leader. And because Amy Koch was a staunch opponent of gay marriage who had pushed to amend the state constitution toward that end, the local gay community is...

Rick Perry Ad Inspires Wave of Parodies

Matt Cantor — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 12:31:54 CST

If all press is good press, then Rick Perry's in luck. His "Strong" campaign ad — now the most-"disliked" campaign video on YouTube—certainly has people talking. Its message about gays in the military, prayer in schools, and the "War on Christmas" has inspired a wealth of parodies, performed by everyone...

Airline 'Seat-Selling' Deal Tweaks Blago

Matt Cantor — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 11:48:05 CST

Rod Blagojevich is going to prison , and what better way to honor the former governor than by selling seats. No, not Senate seats, airline seats. Shortly after Blagojevich's sentencing , Spirit Airlines launched a "seat-selling" sale, the AP reports. Customers can escape Chicago for just $14—equivalent to the number of...

Will Ferrell Awarded Twain Humor Prize

Matt Cantor — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 07:01:14 CDT

Last year, it was Tina Fey ; this year, Will Ferrell rocked the Kennedy Center as he won the prestigious Mark Twain Prize for American Humor last night. The star-studded gala saw speeches from celebrities as diverse as Ben Stiller, Ed Asner, Molly Shannon, and Gwen Ifill, the Washington Post reports....

10 Really Relevant Halloween Costumes

Evann Gastaldo — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 13:00:00 CDT

Why dress up as a maid or a construction worker when you can instead construct a Halloween costume that’s relevant to our times? Time offers up a list of ideas, complete with instructions: Pregnant Beyonce : Grab yourself a fake baby bump (unless, of course, you’re already pregnant) and a brightly-colored...