(ceased publication)
SQF: Why did you start DECASP?
Kenny B: Humor is everywhere these days but much is just scattered around, which is okay. Sites dedicated to humor though tend to focus on political humor. MAD Magazine comes to mind. I personally, and I think others, would like a respite from that "humor with an agenda". So I created DECASP with the goal of presenting absurd humor in the vein of Monty Python, minus the politics and implied social commentary. I like the idea of comedy that appears stupid but is actually very well planned.
SQF: What are the top three things you look for in a submission and why?
KB: I'm looking for absurdity, more absurdity, and a hint of smarts. I don't care if it's a fart joke, a fake ad for microwaveable shoelaces, or a story riffing on ancient Chinese history. Have fun, go nuts, be absurd. Just don't be mildly humorous. I want DECASP to be like Chris Farley - a wrecking ball of joy.
SQF: What most often turns you off to a submission?
KB: I've placed calls for submission ads in Poets & Writers. And the submissions are mostly exactly what you'd expect - too literary. I can tell the submitter, just like with a serious literary site, didn't check out DECASP and didn't actually read the guidelines. Here's the bottom line from the submissions page: two parts Monty Python, one part Jethro Bodine, one part Parks & Rec, two parts pork shoulder (lean), BLEND, WRITE/DRAW, SUBMIT. And yet I still get mildly humorous, I guess, submissions ("the worm tickled my toe and made me giggle"). And I know though that some submitters are in fact crazy funny, but they just seem to be afraid to let go. Here's my advice to them: drink a lot of water, eat a lot of burritos, then wet your pants and fart out loud in a mall while reciting the quadratic formula (well, metaphorically speaking). When people laugh at you, fart some more and declare "Long live Algebra!" Then write about your experience and send it in.
SQF: Who are a few comics/humorists/cartoonists who really make you laugh?
KB: I think there's the problem. I'm not really looking for humorists. I'm looking for comedians. Stephen Wright, W.C. Fields, The Oatmeal, Andy Kaufman, Rodney, Monty Python, Benny Hill, Louis CK. They're nuts. They're absurd. And they're brilliant. And every one of them makes you think at the same time. "Because of overdraft fees, my bank account is actually negative. I mean if something was free, I couldn't even afford that."
SQF: If DECASP had a theme song, what would it be and why?
KB: A symphonic orchestra playing the Benny Hill theme song, complete with slide-whistle and timpani shots. It'd be absurd yet classy at the same time, especially if they taught a penguin to hit the triangle.
SQF: What one question on this topic do you wish I'd asked that I didn't? And how would you answer it?
KB: What does DECASP mean? I literally bought a domain for something entirely different. That project fell through, but I'm stingy and didn't want to waste money on another URL. So I went with it, created a couple cartoon characters, De and Bo Casp, and off went I. And by the way, Ignore the Gorilla!
SEE ALSO: Calling All Writers, where publishers list calls for submissions.
Thank you, Kenny. We all appreciate you taking time from your busy schedule to participate in this project.
SQF: Why did you start DECASP?
Kenny B: Humor is everywhere these days but much is just scattered around, which is okay. Sites dedicated to humor though tend to focus on political humor. MAD Magazine comes to mind. I personally, and I think others, would like a respite from that "humor with an agenda". So I created DECASP with the goal of presenting absurd humor in the vein of Monty Python, minus the politics and implied social commentary. I like the idea of comedy that appears stupid but is actually very well planned.
SQF: What are the top three things you look for in a submission and why?
KB: I'm looking for absurdity, more absurdity, and a hint of smarts. I don't care if it's a fart joke, a fake ad for microwaveable shoelaces, or a story riffing on ancient Chinese history. Have fun, go nuts, be absurd. Just don't be mildly humorous. I want DECASP to be like Chris Farley - a wrecking ball of joy.
SQF: What most often turns you off to a submission?
KB: I've placed calls for submission ads in Poets & Writers. And the submissions are mostly exactly what you'd expect - too literary. I can tell the submitter, just like with a serious literary site, didn't check out DECASP and didn't actually read the guidelines. Here's the bottom line from the submissions page: two parts Monty Python, one part Jethro Bodine, one part Parks & Rec, two parts pork shoulder (lean), BLEND, WRITE/DRAW, SUBMIT. And yet I still get mildly humorous, I guess, submissions ("the worm tickled my toe and made me giggle"). And I know though that some submitters are in fact crazy funny, but they just seem to be afraid to let go. Here's my advice to them: drink a lot of water, eat a lot of burritos, then wet your pants and fart out loud in a mall while reciting the quadratic formula (well, metaphorically speaking). When people laugh at you, fart some more and declare "Long live Algebra!" Then write about your experience and send it in.
SQF: Who are a few comics/humorists/cartoonists who really make you laugh?
KB: I think there's the problem. I'm not really looking for humorists. I'm looking for comedians. Stephen Wright, W.C. Fields, The Oatmeal, Andy Kaufman, Rodney, Monty Python, Benny Hill, Louis CK. They're nuts. They're absurd. And they're brilliant. And every one of them makes you think at the same time. "Because of overdraft fees, my bank account is actually negative. I mean if something was free, I couldn't even afford that."
SQF: If DECASP had a theme song, what would it be and why?
KB: A symphonic orchestra playing the Benny Hill theme song, complete with slide-whistle and timpani shots. It'd be absurd yet classy at the same time, especially if they taught a penguin to hit the triangle.
SQF: What one question on this topic do you wish I'd asked that I didn't? And how would you answer it?
KB: What does DECASP mean? I literally bought a domain for something entirely different. That project fell through, but I'm stingy and didn't want to waste money on another URL. So I went with it, created a couple cartoon characters, De and Bo Casp, and off went I. And by the way, Ignore the Gorilla!
SEE ALSO: Calling All Writers, where publishers list calls for submissions.
Thank you, Kenny. We all appreciate you taking time from your busy schedule to participate in this project.
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