Okay, I guess you must have had to been there.

Sally

I SAW it.....and thought it was not funny at all, but actually I didn't watch all of it.I don't find the anguish of others to be funny.
Linda C

Duane, we watch Howie do it here too...I missed that particular one..but there have been some hilarious "set ups"...But I always loved watching Candid Camera as a kid..

I think the funniest part to me..is some of it is soooooo out there..that if someone asked me to do those things..I'd NOT do it...but it's a bit like Jerry Springer..there are always someone out there that has no problem disgracing themselves!

I'm with LindaC. I just don't find any humor in watching people in discomfort, especially when it's not of their own choosing. Something like Survivor is different because the contestants made the choice to be there.

What was that awful Ashton Kutcher show that was similar? Yuck.

Since I've only seen about a ten minutes of each of these shows, maybe I am not a good judge, but that is as much as I could tolerate. I would say I'd give Howie another chance, but I can't.

" SAW it.....and thought it was not funny at all, but actually I didn't watch all of it.I don't find the anguish of others to be funny."

Jeez, Linda, it's just a SHOW! I guess I have a warped sense of humor, and must have got it from my dad, because we were both almost on the floor laughing!

Duane

Yep...its' only a TV show....but those are real people who are thinking they will be in solitary for 30 days and their anguish is real...they are not acting.
Linda C

I saw a review of the show, which warned me off. I don't watch shows when the premise is to humiliate people, I don't care if they bring it on themselves. I think it shows such bad breeding on the part of the creators and host of the show to be so cruel. Clearly, I'm in the minority.

Now, if you want to laugh out loud, watch Top Gear on BBC America. That's funny.

I guess those of you who don't like this type of humor wouldn't have appreciated the sequence when they brought in the professional farters to the yoga class! They just renewed the show for 12 more episodes so I'm not the only one who find it funny. If you don't like it don't watch it. Free country, as they say.

I can't stand to watch all the 'Fear factor' type shows and the bachelor shows, etc., but many people like them.

That's what makes the world go 'round. Everyone is different.

I like Monty Python too, so 'warped' is fine with me. If you don't like my comedy fine. I might not like your musical taste or your choice of movies, books, etc. But that doesn't mean I don't like YOU! My wife and I are opposites in most everything, and she wouldn't watch Howie Do It either! But I still love her!

Duane

Duane, I agree. Different strokes -- hey! That sounds like an idea for a tv show. ;)

I'm glad you got a belly laugh. There are few enough of those for any of us these days.

Here is one of my silly weaknesses in tv-- America's Funniest Home Videos, although I don't like the accidents and crotch shots. I'm watching it right now.

There is such a thing as a professional farter??

Give me bean dip and sign me up. I had no idea one could make money this way. ;) I actually think the idea is kinda funny. Not so much with the solitary confinement gag.

I had someone pull my leg in a similar fashion. I freelance. I drove 2 hours one way on a Friday to collect a check from a client. Badly needed, house payment due. I had money but getting the check would certainly allow some breathing room. I got there on time and had called along the way to make sure all was well. The gal who was holding my check found it amusing to tell me everyone was gone and my check was locked up. Maybe Monday. I was really stressed. I said you're kidding me. She kept up the gag just about a sentence too long to be at all funny. Then she produced the check and held it in the air. It was hard at that point to express any graciousness. Not nice.

Duane, I don't particularly like Howie Mandel, but I'd probably find that just as amusing as most people think American Idol is, or Survivor. I won't watch either of those, I think it's all set up and just a way for the television people to get us to watch TV without them having to pay actual actors.

So, anyone who doesn't like to see anyone else humiliated or in anguish, sure shouldn't watch American Idol or Hell's Kitchen.

I say, watch what you like and turn off what you don't. I happen to like Red Green and find him inordinately funny, but a lot of people don't. I like a lot of the stuff that Monty Python did very funny and other stuff just dumb. Go figure, I loved the "Lumberjack Song".

Annie

I am not a fan of Howie Mandel either, so I have never seen his show. To be perfectly honest with you, it doesn't sound like a show I would enjoy. But I don't like any of the so called "reality" shows, and I'll admit, I have never watched a single episode of Survivor or American Idol or Bachelor. Just not my deal, I guess.

Now I'll watch just about any movie on Turner Classic Movies...I just adore old movies!

To be honest, there's really not much on TV these days that I find of much interest.

Linda

Ha! Annie, you brought back a great memory! "I'm a lumberjack and I'm just fine"! If I remeber it correctly! Funny stuff!

We all have our own idea of funny. Bob Hope never did it for me, for example, and comedians that drop the F-word every 3rd work don't interest me either.

George Carlin, I loved...because he could twist everyday life and it's craziness to a level I found hilarious.

I also love John Candy, God bless his soul. What a funny, self effacing man.

Duane

I confess, I don't watch any TV at all. At least never at home, I got rid of cable over a year ago. I don't miss it. If I want to see something I can visit someone. Sometimes I leave the TV on when I am working out of town and stay in a motel. Usually I find the endless stream of chatter to be annoying.

I remember Howie WAY back when he first started doing stand-up. He was okay. I find other people funnier. I love Monty Python as well as most British humor.

Another fan of Monty Python and the Lumberjack Song. A radio station here closes its morning show with Always Look at the Bright Side of Life, which cracks me up every time.

I'm ultra-sensitive about shows where people get hurt by violence though - can't watch any psychological thrillers, police shows, etc.

I loved Howie on St. Elsewhere, one of my favorite all-time shows.

Can't say as I've seen the show but I don't mind a good guffaw. The Japanese do it the best and if you google the 3 words japanese tv pranks, you will find a whole host of them from a Japanese Candid camera type show which makes the American version look like Sesame Street in comparison.
Another funny Youtube, search Smothers Brothers Liberace and there's a good one on there

I loved Howie on St. Elsewhere, too. I've never seen his stand up routines, and don't watch his game shows. The only game shows I like are the quiz type shows, but I rarely even watch those, with one new exception. My new favorite is Cash Cab on Discovery. I just found that show a few weeks ago, and am hooked.

Sally

I also loved Howie Mandel on St. Elsewhere, and it was my favorite show also. I got the first season in DVD from one of my kids for Christmas. Unfortunately, they have not put 2nd season onto a DVD.
I also hate reality shows. The only one I ever watched is Idol, but hate it when Simon is cruel.
However, I do have a warped sense of humor.