What's So Funny?
Russell Gayer, author speaker
Disasterpiece Theater
Hello, I’m Louis Feinberg and welcome to Disasterpiece Theater. Our story this week is written by a little known, and even less cared about American author whose autobiography, “Dreams of Mediocrity” has become the poster-child for rejected short story manuscripts.
This week’s photo prompt is courtesy of Claire Fuller. Our unpaid sponsor, and a the gal with a smile as wide as Texas, is the lovely and talented, Rainbow Wisoff-Fields. To learn how to participate, in this weekly exercise in madness, visit her blog, http://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/ after which, scroll down to the blue In Links critter and follow the links to other author’s blogs.
His mother in-law declared, “He’s a chip off the old block.”
“A nut doesn’t fall far from the tree, but this one is certain to roll further down hill,” remarked a well-known New York art critic.
“If he’s striving for mediocrity, he needs to lower his expectations,” wrote another.
Negative reviews fanned the fire of determination. “With God as my witness, I will be average,” he declared.
Despite half-hearted efforts to improve, his work remained far below the norm.
Then, for no apparent reason, he was commissioned to sculpt the bust of a hypocritical politician.
Overnight, he became a sensation.
32 Comments on “Disasterpiece Theater”
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What's So Funny? 
Very nice. Overnight celebrity. I’m linked
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You are fabulous, Russell. Love your wry humor–and the subtle political satire here is great.
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Nice piece as always from you!
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You will always be above average to me…
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Aww, thank you Erin.
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This is terrific.
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“Then, for no apparent reason, he was commissioned to sculpt the bust of a hypocritical politician.” –I love this line.
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Thanks, TW. It was the only way I could think of to work “two-faced” into the story.
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I love “Disasterpiece Theater!”
Still chuckling,
janet
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A very realistic possibility and nicely written. A succinct story. Well done!
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Russell, thanks for the mediocre story! It was totally fair to passable! And, as someone who is average to slightly below average in every respect, I know what I’m talking about!
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Thank you, Perry. We are very blessed to not have to live under the burden of high expectations.
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Dear Rabaul,
You have me rolling! A person has to work hard to achieve such a high level of mediocrity. You’ve done fairly well, Padawan.
Shalom,
Rainbow
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Dear Rainbow,
I expected you to give our readers some history on Louis Feinberg, the host of Disasterpiece Theater. Can’t you just picture him in a wingback chair, his curly hair sticking out like a Brillo pad, attempting to impersonate Alistaire Cooke?
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Dear Rabaul,
Indeed, that is the picture that came to mind.
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Dear Russell,
You’re going to have to stop writng so well. I’m getting confused as to what is real and what imaginary. I give this a rave review despite the intent.
aloha,
Doug
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Dear Doug,
We have a saying in the Ozarks that is in essence the theme for this story. “Even a blind hog finds an acorn once in while.”
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I loved that last line – nicely put.
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Very clever and very funny. 🙂
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100 words broke into one liners. Made me chuckle.
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I’ll give you thirty minutes to quit saying stuff like that 🙂
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🙂
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Brilliant! The laughs kept on coming. Though where you get the idea that politicians have two faces I just don’t know…
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As an expert in the mediocre, with many years experience, I have to tell you your story fell well above the bar. But it shows promise. Persevere and perhaps, with luck, you will acquire, eventually, some semblance of ‘average’.
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Thanks for the encouragement. I need all the help I can get.
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Ha! Ha! 🙂
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It’s a scary fact that half, I repeat half of the population is below average. Striving for mediochracy is an excellent ambition for many. Very well written.. So you might have to go a little lower to hit the average. 🙂
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Poor guy, desined to either under- or over-achieve every time. I enjoyed your story and especially the criticisms, Russell. I wish my critics could be as witty!
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Hilarious. Loved it.
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“A nut doesn’t fall far from the tree, but this one is certain to roll further down hill,” remarked a well-known New York art critic.
That sounded like an authentic remark published in the New York Times Russell!
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I guess no one wants a perfect replica of a politician huh?
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are you suggesting that politicians are two faced? how dare you! well done.
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