Obsession of the Week: Garfunkel and Oates

Micucci and Lindhome

It is time to name Tableau Your Mind’s 2^nd Official 'Obsession of the Week,' and this time it’s an easy one. Because we are absolutely obsessed with Garfunkel and Oates, the singing comedy duo headed by very funny ladies Rikki Lindhome and Kate Micucci. It’s hard to say when we first fell in love with G&O. Was it when Lindhome played a bulimic dandy lion on Pushing Daisies? Was it when Micucci Scrubbed it up as Gooch, the adorable and ebullient girlfriend of sad sack Ted Buckland, or when she partied internationally with Kristen Bell in When in Rome? Or was it the first time we heard "Pregnant Women are Smug" and it effectively kicked us in the ovaries or the testicles or whatever reproductive organs that we have (we don’t know anymore)?

We’re not really sure where our love began, but we are sure that it was in full effect when we

went to see them perform at Helium Comedy Club in Philadelphia, PA this past weekend. We brought guest bloggers McWhiskey Wheats and Square Peg along for the ride. One was a G&O fan, the other was about to be.

It was a delight to watch two people on stage who clearly get a kick out of being around one another. We can't wait for the Behind the Music where it's revealed that they hate each other and that these were the most terrible years of their lives. Of course, that fantasy scenario would involve Behind the Music still being a thing in the future, but whatever. 

Says Square Peg:

"The banter between the two of them, I have to say, was really natural, and banter can often seem forced. Not all of the banter was funny, but it really seemed liked they were just enjoying each other’s company and making sure we were enjoying it as well. Also, the lead-in stories to the songs were really good."

Even if there songs hadn't rocked, just being around so much concentrated friendship and camaraderie put us in a good mood. We were suddenly in The City of Sisterly Love, and we were basking in it. But then G&O had to be doubly awesome by also singing great songs. There were a lot good ones featured. "Weed Card," "29/31," and so many more. Garfunkel and Oates get a lot of jokes out of the "being so cute and being so dirty and wise" schtick, but it really works for them, so back the frak off.

There was a lot of new material that we had not heard before. One song really stood out. It was new-ish ditty about sexual experimentation. As people who are quick to use the Kinsey Scale as a touchstone in sexuality debates and who want to feel superior and evolved, it was nice for us to hear a song about how women feel about other women's vaginas. Sure, they’re beautiful and wonderful and the source of all life, but, to borrow a phrase from G&O, they are also like 'Eewww.'

Guest Bloggers Peg and McWhiskey

McWhiskey had this to say:

"I don't normally think about how women feel about their own vaginas, but this made me think about that."

 All-in-all, it was a very enjoyable night.  None of us have been to a comedy show where singing is involved, and it’s certainly interesting to watch. Definitely it's more energizing. Maybe it's different in a Dane Cook-type of show, but the comedy of Mike Birbiglia, amazing as he is, has never made us want to dance.

Also, good note: In normal comedy, nobody cheers for a comedian to do an encore set, but it was disappointing that Garfunkel and Oates didn’t come back for some sort of song-encore (song-core).

Still, the show was amazing, and it was definitely good enough to make Garfunkel and Oates our Obsession of the Week.