Issue 67 - Laughter Track

Welcome to Issue 67 of Deep Life Reflections, where I share five things I’ve been enjoying and thinking about over the past week.

In this week's issue, we explore the vital role laughter plays in our lives. We’ll begin by celebrating the extraordinary life of comedian and filmmaker Mel Brooks, who just turned 98. Then we'll examine the 2017 film The Big Sick, which is based on the real-life story of Pakistan-born comedian Kumail Nanjiani. Finally, we'll reflect on the importance of maintaining a sense of humour to navigate life’s many challenges.

Join me as we explore this week’s Friday Five.

1. What I’m Reading

The Immortal Mel Brooks. Article in The Atlantic.

Mel Brooks is 98 today and still going strong. The actor, comedian, and filmmaker has been making people laugh for over seven decades. Three of his films—Blazing Saddles, The Producers, and Young Frankenstein—are ranked in the top 15 of the American Film Institute’s list of the top 100 comedy films of the past 100 years. Brooks is the reason many comedians got into comedy.

Last year, the director and producer Judd Apatow interviewed Brooks for The Atlantic. In celebration of Brooks’ entering his 99th year, I revisited the article. Brooks talked to Apatow about his time in World War II, his life in comedy, and the secret to happiness. As always with Brooks, he’s funny and irreverent, offhand and wise—still sharp as a tack.

Brooks talked about his experiences in World War II. Initially a radio operator, he was reassigned in Europe as a combat engineer, tasked with building bridges and defusing mines and booby traps—and he was told he was going to love it. He spent every day thinking, “Any day now, I’m going to get blown up.” Fortunately, he returned in one piece, remembering fondly the camaraderie with his fellow troops.

He also spoke about his childhood and the importance of his older brother Irving, who taught him about life after their father died when Brooks was two. Irving, who was ten, took on the fatherly role, teaching him everything from maths to manners. “He made me an aware human being,” Brooks said. He also reminisced lovingly about his late wife, Anne Bancroft, who died in 2005 and gave him huge reserves of belief when he doubted himself.

In comedy, Brooks always pushed boundaries—not to shock, but to surprise. “It was always to get the biggest laugh. Never to make a political point—I was never making any points. I was always: Surprise them!” He emphasised the importance of an uncensored writers’ room: “Nothing is off the table. Nothing. It’s not for us to censor ourselves. There are plenty of censors around, you know? Every joke is an experiment that could succeed or fail spectacularly.” Brooks believes the comedian is the court jester, whispering in the king’s ear when they go off track. “We have a good job to do.”  

Brooks never dwells on his enormous body of work. He’s aware of it, but as Apatow recalls Brooks once saying, “We should enjoy life; we should not future ourselves so much. We should now ourselves more.” When asked if this had always been his philosophy, Brooks quipped, “No, I just made that up at the moment.”

Mel Brooks remains unapologetically Mel Brooks.

(Read the full interview in The Atlantic here.)

2. What I’m Watching

The Big Sick. Directed by Michael Showalter.

Every now and then, I watch a film without prior knowledge or expectations. I stumbled upon a very funny clip on YouTube, which turned out to be from The Big Sick, and decided to watch it. The film is about a Pakistan-born comedian, Kumail Nanjiani, who falls in love with a grad student, Emily Gardner, but struggles as their cultures clash. When Emily falls into a coma due to a mysterious illness, Kumail is forced to confront some big questions about himself and his relationships.

Although this doesn’t sound like a comedy, it works brilliantly. Director Michael Showalter deftly balances romance, comedy, and drama, skillfully blending jokes from The X Files to ISIS. The Big Sick was nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay, co-written by the real-life Kumail and Emily, with Kumail playing himself in the film. It’s loosely based on their real-life courtship before their marriage in 2007.

Kumail Nanjiani is excellent as his on-screen persona. When we first meet Kumail, he’s struggling to make ends meet, working as an Uber driver by day and a stand-up comic by night. He sleeps on an air mattress in a dodgy neighbourhood in Chicago with his needy roommate, Chris. One night at the comedy club, he’s teasingly heckled by the smart and fun Emily (Zoe Kazan, also excellent) and they fall for each other in the hardest way.

But life is rarely that simple. We also meet Kumail’s family: devout Muslims who are none too pleased with his career choice and insistent on arranging a marriage for him, with eligible Muslim girls always ‘dropping by’ for dinner. His parents just want him to be happy—as long as he carries on their cultural traditions. But Kumail feels conflicted; he’s unsure of what he really wants and just needs time to figure it all out.

The Big Sick also functions as an insightful exploration of modern times, dealing with cultural conflict, family strife, societal expectations, communication, sacrifice, and racism that is both casual and pointed. But it’s the potentially deadly illness—and the movie’s title—that provides not only the drama, but also the dark humour that allows the film’s characters to evolve in ways that feel significant and genuine. When Emily’s parents arrive, in the shape of Holly Hunter and Ray Romano as flawed but good-hearted, the film takes on a new perspective as further grief, humour, and human complexity are integrated into the mix.

We’re left with a film that is both funny and poignant; light and dark. The real-life Kumail and Emily mine their personal history for laughs, heartbreak, and hard-earned wisdom. Its solutions aren’t easy, and its journey unconventional, but it’s a story that earns its emotional heights, supported by its comedic foundation.  

3. What I’m Contemplating

Recently, comedian Jerry Seinfeld delivered a commencement address to the students of Duke University. Seinfeld offered both a compliment and a warning to his Gen Z audience.

First, the compliment: “I totally admire the ambitions of your generation to create a more just and inclusive society. I think it’s also wonderful that you care so much about not hurting other people’s feelings in the million and one ways we all do that.”

Then came the warning: “What I need to tell you as a comedian: Do not lose your sense of humour. You can have no idea at this point in your life how much you are going to need it to get through. Not enough of life makes sense for you to be able to survive it without humour.” Humour he said, is “the most survival-essential quality you will ever have or need to navigate through the human experience.”

This is a powerful message. I’ve often used humour—especially dark humour—to deal with serious and difficult situations. Whether to entertain, like Mel Brooks, or to endure, as depicted in The Big Sick, humour is a potent tool available to all of us. It not only helps us cope with adversity but also helps us connect with others, making the journey through life a lot more enjoyable. Humour isn’t just a luxury; it’s a necessity for our wellbeing and resilience.

4. A Quote to note

“Comedy is important, because it brings people together and helps us all deal with life a little bit better.”

- Joan Rivers

5. A Question for you

How has humour helped you navigate difficult times in your life, and how can you use humour to help you get through a difficult situation you’re currently facing?

Thanks for reading and being part of the Deep Life Journey community. If you have any reflections on this issue, please leave a comment. Have a great weekend.

James

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