Jim Holt, author of a new book on the history and philosophy of humor, has a theory.

1) According to that venerable institution, the United Nations, 2008 is the year of the potato.
How many hash browns have you downed lately?

2) You know that new 90210? The promo commercial’s big line is — go watch it, I’ll wait.

You heard it right?

“You wanna live in the code, you gotta live by the code.”
Amazing.

Just thought I’d make the introductions.

Does this remind anyone else of Cruel Shoes era Steve Martin?

Believe me, fella–I understand.

The Yankee Doodle has gone out of business.

Jane Espenson posted a link to this article on George Meyer of The Simpsons today. I figured I’d mimic her.

So Last Comic is back and casting in Hollywood at the end of the month, NY the beginning of February, and all around. Go check out the Web site at NBC.

This morning, an email appeared in my in-box from the alumni of The Cornell Lunatic, thus proving once again that college humor magazines only contact each other when they want money.

The short version is: they’re publishing a “best-of,” and given what I’ve seen from The Lunatic in the past, it’s probably pretty good. Because I am a college humor obsessive–though I am making progress, thanks to therapy and medication–I’ll probably plunk down the cash. And because I’m lazy, I’ll just post the email:

“Save 32% Off The Funniest Book Since The Brothers Karamazov.

Voted the funniest college humor magazine in America by its own staff, the Cornell Lunatic celebrates its 30th anniversary in April 2008 with the publication of this 224-page collection of comedy—jam-packed with sardonic wit, sophomoric irreverence, and scathing satire.

Yes, the hottest college humor magazine at the university Newsweek calls “the hottest Ivy” now has the hottest book in Happy Town.

Inside you’ll find:
• An Interview with Peter Pumpkin-Eater
• The World’s Worst Opening Pick-up Lines
• Condensed Classics
• The Cat in the Frat
• Procrastination Made Easy
• Everything You’ve Always Wanted to Know About Bowling
• Athiest for Hire
• Suicidal Duck
• How to Counterfeit Money
• Choose Your Own Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Adventure
• The Clone Order Form
• And much, much more!

This 224-page book is clearly the finest use of paper and ink in the known universe. Plus, you’ll receive a free sales receipt with every purchase. Roget’s Thesaurus says: “Brilliant, scintillating, sparkling, sprightly, keen.”

A little background on the Lunatic: it was founded in 1977 by Joey Green who (as the Wikipedia entry will tell you) has gone on to write a bunch of books on wacky uses for household products. Nice niche, eh?

The Lunatic was the post-NatLamp replacement for the defunct Cornell Widow–sound familiar?–and has seemed to thrive in the thirty years since. I’ve read a Lunatic-heavy collection of college humor from the late 70s called “Hellbent on Insanity,” which is quite strong and well worth picking up for those obsessed with the form (namely, me). Before leaving the Lunatic Joey started a national society of college humor magazines, which petered out after a couple of years. Because, as a wise man once wrote, “College humor magazines only contact each other when they want money.”

OK, so he’s a Yale grad. He gave us Deadwood. And he knows from writing. Speaking, maybe not so much. But David Milch’s recent lectures at the WGA Theater are up on this blog. So it’s not necessarily humor-related. But it is, ostensibly, about writing. Or more about him, a writer. Or more about drinking. Hard to say, really.

Post, people. Post!