I think we could use a pick-me-up after that last post on depression. Anyway, I’m looking for an excuse to tout a comedy powerhouse. Plus she just celebrated her 30th birthday (on April 3rd).
Rachel Bloom grew up in Southern California but was something of a neurotic New Yorker at heart. In addition to a behind the scenes stint as an intern at Saturday Night Live, she cut her teeth with the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater, an improv troupe whose other graduates include Amy Poehler. Bloom first attracted widespread attention in 2010 with a rude song about wanting to have sex with the science fiction writer Ray Bradbury. It was in poor taste as she was 23 at the time while Bradbury was 90. But I reserve the right to change my mind about that some day in the distant future.
The following year, in 2011, Bloom hit her hit her stride with this video. Notice that she comes on like an (even more) over-the-top Rebecca Black before taking a bizarre turn:
Behind the laughter lurked a shadow. Back when Bloom herself was in 7th grade, she was
an outcast. One day the most popular kid in the school asked her out on a date — but only because the other popular kids had gotten together and paid him to do so as a prank. Unfortunately, unlike Stephen King’s Carrie, Bloom lacked telekinetic powers.
Lame Dog, of course, knows nothing about such lows. In contrast, when the Dog was in seventh grade, he was so well liked and respected that his home room class held an awards ceremony — with the consent of the teacher-advisor — at which he was voted to receive a special accolade by his peers.
What accolade? Oh, that’s not important. Okay, okay, if you really must know, it was the “Strangest Person in the Class” Award. But I digress. Bloom, to her credit, managed to channel her angst into a creative career. And the best was yet to come. (Part I of II).
What are your memories of seventh grade? Were you a social misfit (like Rachel Bloom) or a social superstar (like Lame Dog)?
The Dog Wants to Know.