No no, I'm a juggler and a handbalancer. I have my own show but my comedy is verbal, I'm terrible with physical comedy. That's why I have so much respect for good clowns.

I'm sorry to hear that. I've known a number of wonderful clowns. I hope things get better.

Please please please make these

Wow man, I was just explaining where I was coming from. I didn't know you were gonna it's a hostile about it. Sorry if I pushed a button.

A few months ago I realized I've been in the circus industry for 15 years. Even though I've mostly been doing theatrical circus and street performing for the last 10 years I started in a more traditional setting and I still have a soft spot in my heart for the Golden age of circus. If I could go back in time and run…

it's a funny statement in your world, but not in mine. I've been a professional circus performer for 15 years and I know lots of clowns.

I love you too :)

One of the best acts I've seen in a long time.

OH MY GOD OH MY GOD, are you serious? That's amazing! I have and old clip of him doing his rabbit hunting bit on this old VHS circus compliation that I bought from one of the Wallendas at a garage sale. It's such a great bit. I'm jealous.

It's true. You have to hold the stage without handstands or back flips (usually while rigging gets changed out or sometimes in case of an accident or other snag in the show) and there are so so many terrible clowns out there and of course the perception put out there by birthday party clowns, Steven King and John…

seriously though, clowning is probably one of the most difficult circus disciplines because it is so very easy to be very bad at it. Birthday party and Shriner clowns are an abomination to this world.

Piff whatever. If you knew anything about Emmett Kelly, Otto Griebling and the Golden age of circus you would have a favorite clown too. I'm talking about art here, friend. Not some hackey travesty written by Stephen King. I weep for the shallowness of your existence.

It was awful. It ended up changing a lot of fire safety codes in the US and Ringling didn't play Hartford for decades.

It's an amazing picture from a horrible horrible tragedy. The bleachers in the background were covered by a 10,000 seat tent that went up in like 10 or 11 minutes. It's easily the worst circus disaster in American circus history.

Hey now, let's not bring Emmett Kelly into this, he's a legend and a goddamned hero.

I did not know that. I think everyone in my mom's classes are about her age, so maybe it's not as full on as other classes. I think they also do some step and some work with small weights. I really love hearing her talk about it though. She loves "learning all the moves" and hearing "new music" (top 40 from like the…

My mom does Jazzercize. It's basically aerobics to top 40 music (don't ask where the 'jazz' comes in). She loves it and goes a couple of times a week—and good the fuck for her—she looks better at 60 than she did at fifty. She's constantly trying to get me to go and while I love my mother and I'm glad it's working for…

they had thongs then too. Horrible highcut thongs, sometimes one-piece thongs and sometimes worn over tights. We should all be glad those days are over and we should pray they never return.

In this Thanksgiving season, can we all just take a moment to be glad those hi-cut bikini and leotard bottoms are out of style? Because, that seems like a lot of unnecessary shaving to me.

The shitty part in both cases is that they were asking for professional level talent, not just enthusiastic amateurs. Amanda asked for resumes and proof of stage experience and Oprah's people were contacting performers directly, presumably through their websites or other professional contacts.