Occasionally people say I’m funny, but I know my humor is sometimes dry and not everyone’s cup of tea. If comedy is supposedly subjective, then that doesn’t explain why a Laughter Museum exists in the world. Even though I’m not surprised to learn this place is located in Germany (hopefully David Hasselhoff doesn’t make regular appearances) at the same time I can’t help but think…no one finds the Germans funny, even in Deutschland itself. And I’m not making this shit up. According to both an episode of South Park and a recent international poll, Germany was voted the least funny country in the world, and that’s saying a lot when people are starving in Sudan and people are killing each other in the Middle East. I guess those people stop the misery from time to time and let out a good chuckle. An example of an old German joke? “Did East Germans originate from apes? Impossible. Apes could never have survived on just two bananas a year.” HAHA! Uh, no.
Anyway, if you ever find yourself wandering around Wiesbaden with nothing to do, consider stopping by the Harlekinäum. Opened twenty years ago, the museum contains over 2000 items designed to make people laugh, including dancing shelves and a giant walk-in cheese, tours are conducted by “Clown Doctors”. That doesn’t sound funny, just freakin’ scary. Instead of donning felt slippers as in other museums, visitors are given “fun slippers”, fluffy footwear shaped like tiger paws and crows feet. Again…not laughing. One room is completely upside down and the bathroom is in the middle of a jungle. Silent face.
If there’s a video playing one of Pauly Shore’s movies, I’m filling out a comment card to complain. Do I get my money back if I don’t laugh once? And by the way, I totally expect the Laughter Museum to resemble a sketch of Sprockets gone bad.
P.S. There aren’t any good pics of the museum (wonder why?) so I posted a video of Bavarian dance music. Even though I’ve been to Germany, I specifically remember watching shit like this when my satellite television was all fucked up during my time living in Britain. I’m proud to say I watched half of Gone With The Wind in German. Here’s the dance sequel, in case you’re interested.
