Recently, comic kindred spirits Will Ferrell and John C Reilly did a fantastic parody of “Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy” by Bing Crosby and David Bowie. You can watch it here:
Quite funny, particularly the way Reilly nails the “it’s been a long time since I’ve been the new anything” line. But immediately in the Funny or Die comments section there arose a great clatter, questioning the originality of the premise. Apparently, Jack Black and Jason Segel did it (albeit in animated form) just last week on College Humor:
Very funny, even though the fact Black’s upside down swoosh eyebrows make me think it could be a black ops viral campaign by Nike. Calling these two more musically talented is an understatement, so naturally the song is better. However, not nearly as funny in my opinion. Did they do it first? Kind of. The song is the same, the premise (and humor) are totally different. Advantage: Ferrell and Reilly.
However as you follow the comments down, another commenter (ssean) links to a Dave Foley version from Dave Foley’s The True Meaning of Christmas Specials. The date from the special… 2002. Watch (parody starts about 4 minutes in):
Foley gets major props for beating everyone to the punch by 8 years, looking more like Bowie than expected and performing a funny, original song. Foley and the always underrated Joe Flaherty really capture the awkward interaction that made the Bing-Bowie duet so fascinating in the first place. Ultimately, as part of the A Christmas Carol plot structure, the premise is different than Ferrell and Reilly’s but fairly similar in that awkwardness is the focus. In terms of which is more hilarious, I think that’s a matter of personal taste.
On the “copycat” front, I think the fact it was shown on a little-known (at least in the US) special, gives the FoD crew a bit of a pass. I also imagine the Black-Segel College Humor video was in production at the same time, giving the probable cause not to know about it until it was out… which was probably too late for them to scrap the idea.
Which do you think was the funniest?
Back in the very early days of “The Daily Show”, Craig Kilborn and Bob Mould did this bit as well, with nice results.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9tJQqPJnlM
The Dave Foley/Joe Flaherty duet gets top marks in my book!
Foley and Flaherty for the win, both of whom I think are underrated. The “Monsters” reference is so, so good. I do like Will Farrell’s faux browlift and when he knocks the Christmas tree over at the end, but I just think Foley and Flaherty nail it with their characteristic subtle, smart humour.
Clearly Dave Foley’s rendition of David Bowie and Bing Crosby is the best. Dave F’n Foley does not get the recognition that he deserves. KITH, Newsradio, Wrong Guy are some of great work Dave has done. Foley rules as Bowie, and he didn’t even wear a dress.
Dave/Joe for the win on this one, sorry.
Then there was the Steven Colbert/Willie Nelson duet on the Colbert Christmas special which, while not a parody exactly, owes a great deal to the Bing/Bowie duet.
I’m a big fan of the Venture Bros audio parody from a few years ago between the characters The Monarch and Dr. Girlfriend . . .personally I find it the funniest of all three.
Foley & Flaherty is definietly the best. Dave is particularly brilliant as Bowie. Actually, he’s brilliant in everything he does.
Foley & Flaherty for sure!!!
Dave, o’ course !