Blog Guy, prepare for your ultimate throw-down! You’re good at coming up with fantasy photos for your readers. Do you think there’s any limit to your archive?

None whatsoever.

Okay, I’m drawing random names from two different drums. One contains the stars of the old sitcom “Seinfeld,” and the other contains everybody else who ever lived. First, I’d like to see, uh, Jason Alexander, with, let’s see, U.S. Senator Richard Lugar.

Here you go. This one is from last Friday, unless you prefer one of their earlier pairings.

That’s stunning! Okay, now I want Jerry Seinfeld with - aha! - Shimon Peres, the President of Israel!

Okay, check this out.

My God! You’re diabolical! Next I want Julia Louis-Dreyfus, with former first lady Mamie Eisenhower.

Oh, sorry, only two requests per reader. I can’t make exceptions. It’s a shame, too, because that one is a real doozy…

Join the Oddly Enough blog network

Follow this blog on Twitter at rbasler

Above: Actor Jason Alexander (R) is greeted by Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN), ranking Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, to discuss Israel and the Palestinian Territories on behalf of the ONEVOICE Peaceworks Foundation on Capitol Hill in Washington, November 13, 2009.  REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

Below: Israel’s President Shimon Peres (R) meets comedian Jerry Seinfeld in Jerusalem, November 23, 2007, in this handout photo by the Israeli Government Press Office (GPO). REUTERS/Moshe Milner/GPO/Handout

More stuff from Oddly Enough

Blog Guy, what can you tell me about that Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi guy, who seems to be involved in lots of controversy these days? Have you seen him speak in person?

He doesn’t give speeches. He does comedy shtick. He patterns his stage act after hip ’60s comics like Shelley Berman and Bob Newhart, with imagined telephone chats.

Awesome! Is he funny? “

He’s hilarious! Well, uh, actually I don’t speak Italian, but I guess he’s probably okay.

Ah. And what’s this stuff about Berlusconi’s scandals involving young women? Any truth to that?

I can’t say, but I do know that after I blogged this week about actor George Clooney’s rumored ability to get women just by gesturing what he wants, Berlusconi appeared to throw down the gauntlet, describing better-endowed chicks, as you can see in these photos below.

Thanks, but I’d rather see pictures of the chicks they got.

Sorry, this isn’t that kind of a blog.

Join the Oddly Enough blog network

Follow this blog on Twitter at rbasler

Upper left: Comedian Shelley Berman

Upper right: Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi gestures during a right-wing youth party meeting in Rome, September 9, 2009.  REUTERS/Remo Casilli

Right: Italy’s Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi gestures as he speaks during a news conference in Milan, September 8, 2009. REUTERS/Alessandro Garofalo

Right: Actor George Clooney is escorted by police during his tour of earthquake-damaged areas in central Italy, July 9, 2009. REUTERS/Philippe Wojazer

More stuff from Oddly Enough

Blog Guy, I read that they’re doing a remake of the classic 1980 comedy “Caddyshack.” That means we’ll see the great Bill Murray again in that hysterical gopher scene?

No. They’ve gone another direction with the casting. The part of Carl Spackler is being played by Thailand’s prime minister, as you can see in this studio publicity photo taken today.

Okay, hang on. Why would they use a Thai politician? What’s Bill Murray doing now?

He and George Clooney are working on an earthquake disaster film. Look at the photo below, from Italy during the G8 summit.

Why would Bill Murray and George Clooney need to be where the G8 summit is?

I guess they represented the Thai prime minister so he could keep shooting “Caddyshack.”

You’re driving me nuts here. In the photo, the prime minister is with a ferret, not a gopher.

Yes, that ferret is a big star in Thailand. On the movie set, he…

Please don’t say it.

Yes, he has his own gofer.

Stick it to the man.  Join the Oddly Enough blog network

Follow this blog on Twitter at rbasler

Above: “Caddyshack” publicity photo, and Thailand’s Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva looks at a ferret at Silapakorn University on the outskirts of Bangkok, July 12, 2009. REUTERS/Chaiwat Subprasom

Left: Actors George Clooney and Bill Murray (R) tour an area hit by an earthquake in L’Aquila, July 9, 2009. The two visited the region during the G8 Summit. REUTERS/Daniele La Monaca

More stuff from Oddly Enough

My blog’s traffic stats have been tabulated for April, and I’m proud of the results.

The diverse subject matter in the top five posts shows readers are coming here for news they can’t get anyplace else.

Just look. A report about making your dog happy on the road, a fresh angle on  entertainers who make us laugh, and a surprising look at a life-saving garment at least half of us wear every day.

To round out the top five, a feel-good look at some young people smiling through diversity, followed by a report on a guy reaching for the stars - or for something, at least.

Step up and take a bow for your good taste, readers. The gent in item number one is choosing your prize now….

5. I can poop right in the back seat?

4. SNL veterans: not stand-up comedy?

3. Miracle bras: hooters and shooters?

2. Harry Potter and the Murder Rap?

And my number one most-popular posting for April:

1. It don’t get much worse than this!

Lose weight easily. Join the Oddly Enough blog network!

Twick or Tweat? Follow this blog at rbasler

REUTERS photo credits: Shelby by Robert Basler; Amy Poehler by Mario Anzuoni; Heidi Klum by Mario Anzuoni; Amanda Knox by Daniele La Monaca; Elephant guy by Tim Chong

More stuff from Oddly Enough

Blog Guy, I really love Amy Poehler - you know, from Saturday Night Live! Isn’t she in some new show on TV?

Yes.

Hey, thanks for that information. I’d love it if you could run a picture of her in your blog.

No problem. Here you go.

Uh, you know, that probably isn’t the one I would have chosen. I also love former SNL star Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Didn’t she also do a sitcom after SNL?

Yes.

Wow, it seems there’s nothing you don’t know about the TV scene. If it’s not too much trouble could you also run a photo of her? And let me be more specific here. One where you can see all of her, instead of just half.

Of course. Here you go, slick.

What else do you have to do? Join the Oddly Enough blog network

Presenter Amy Poehler helps Legacy of Laughter award winner Julia Louis-Dreyfus pick up coins as part of a comedy bit at the taping of the TV Land Awards in Los Angeles, April 19, 2009. The awards show honors classic TV shows and will be telecast April 26 on the TV Land cable channel. REUTERS/Fred Prouser

More stuff from Oddly Enough

Blog Guy, a few months ago you did several posts following Prince Charles’ efforts to break into show biz as an actor, singer, comedian, etc. Has he made any progress?

Sort of, I guess. His comedy routine seems patterned after somebody like Don Rickles. He picks people out like this little girl, and makes fun of them. Kind of sad.

The worst thing is, he only has three actual punchlines, and they get pretty tiresome:

1. “Laugh or I could have you beheaded!”

2. “Your valet has bad breath!”

3. “Who died and made you Queen?”

I think you’re being too critical. Those sound pretty funny to me. I’m going to use them today.

Oh yeah? Well who died and made you Queen?

Save resources! Join the Oddly Enough blog network!

Britain’s Prince Charles laughs as he sits with a girl during his visit to the Swaminarayan School to celebrate the Hindu festival of Holi, London March 4, 2009. REUTERS/ Arthur Edwards/Pool

More stuff from Oddly Enough

Blog Guy, I read that classic American comedy is catching on in China.

Yeah, it started when President Bush taught a variation of the famous Abbott and Costello ”Who’s on first?” sketch to China’s President Hu Jintao, and then taught him some stand-up.

And now, my sources tell me China has come up with its own Laurel and Hardy.

Awesome! Are they funny?

Do they LOOK funny? After six months of rehearsal they can only deliver one line, and BOTH of them insist on saying it!

So it’s like:

“Well, here’s another nice mess you’ve gotten me into.”

“Well, here’s another nice mess you’ve gotten me into.”

“Well, here’s another nice mess you’ve gotten me into.”

Gosh, I guess that doesn’t sound very entertaining.

Well, I will say it’s better than the new Chinese George Burns and Gracie Allen, with their two solid hours of “Say goodnight, Gracie!”

We can’t turn you down! Join the Oddly Enough blog network!

Paramilitary police recruits stand still as they balance hats on their heads during a training session at a military base in Wuhan, Hubei province, January 14, 2009. REUTERS/ Stringer

More stuff from Oddly Enough

George, I brought you a special gift. Italy’s greatest piece of literature, “The Divine Comedy.”

Hey thanks, Silvio! I love comedies. I’ll read it during the meeting this afternoon.

Um, it’s not really a comedy, George. It’s all about different sections of  Hell, and what politicians are there.

Politicians in Hell? It can’t be a true story!

It’s an allegory, George.

Oh, man, I hear you. My allegories start up every spring, as soon as that pollen hits the air.

Oh George, you fooled me again!

Thanks, you’ve been a wonderful audience. I’ll be here until January 20!

Improve your hearing. Join the Oddly Enough blog network!

President George W. Bush leads Italy’s Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi into the G20 Summit on Financial Markets and the World Economy in Washington, November 15, 2008. REUTERS/Jim Young

More stuff from Oddly Enough

Blog Guy, is it just me, or is everybody turning into a comedian these days?

Exactly. In these tough times, everybody wants a laugh. In recent days we’ve seen George Bush and Prince Charles get into the act.

Perhaps most surprisingly, author Gabriel García Márquez has been doing classic shtick from comedian Señor Wences.

The Nobel Literature Prize winner? “Love in the Time of Cholera?

I think so. Look at this photo of García Márquez at an event this week.

That’s amazing. But he should have some make-up on his hand, and maybe a little wig. And it looks like his lips are moving.

Hey, I didn’t say he was GREAT at it, I just said it looks like he’s doing it! “S’awright?”

“S’awriiiiight!”

Achieve inner peace. Join the Oddly Enough blog network!

Above: Señor Wences.

Below: Nobel Prize winner Gabriel Garcia Marquez of Colombia arrives at national tribute to Mexican writer Carlos Fuentes in Mexico City November 17, 2008. REUTERS/Henry Romero

More stuff from Oddly Enough

“Ya still don’t get it, do ya?

“The guy says, ‘Take my wife……..please.’ See, it’s that pause that makes it funny! It’s like he’s tellin’ somebody to take his…oh, never mind!

“You’re not supposed to mess with a perfect joke! It’s not funny when you say, ‘Please take my wife away for re-education through labor.’ That wouldn’t be a joke at all!

“Look, let me teach you a different one. Let’s see. You got roads in China? You got chickens? Okay. Why did the chicken…”

Don’t worry. Join the Oddly Enough blog network!

President George W. Bush glances at Chinese President Hu Jintao during the group photo at the G20 Summit on Financial Markets and the World Economy in Washington, November 15, 2008. REUTERS/Jim Young

More stuff from Oddly Enough