Give Me Immortality or Give Me Death
Encyclopedia
Give Me Immortality or Give Me Death is a comedy
album by The Firesign Theatre
that was released in 1998 on Rhino Records.
broadcast on the night of December 31, 1999. Radio Now is a radio station in FunFunTown (apparently modeled after Los Angeles, California
) whose format changes approximately every hour at the slightest whims of overzealous market researchers and focus groups. The album chronicles Radio Now's attempt to operate normally on the final day before the year 2000, a day riddled with apocalyptic
omens, rampant computer errors, and dangerous doomsayers. The station is populated by DJ Bebop Loco (Phil Austin
), Dwayne, his producer (Peter Bergman
), news anchors Harold Hiphugger (David Ossman
) and Ray Hamberger (Philip Proctor
), sports commentator Chump Threads (Bergman), and self-help
guru O'Nann Winquedinque (Austin). Also reporting from outside the station are celebrity
stalker
Danny Vanilla (Ossman) and helicopter-bound traffic reporter Col. Happy Panditt (Proctor).
the death of Diana, Princess of Wales
, the Joe Camel
controversy, and the Art Bell
radio show.
A running gag involves eyeballs, which at one moment represent binary
digits (the digit 1 resembles the letter I, a homophone
of "eye", while the digit 0 is in the shape of a ball) and at other times seem to be an allusion to The Residents
("Guyz in Eyeball Hats"). Another is "U.S. Plus", an apparent multi-national conglomerate with intentionally vague commercials that hint at their all-encompassing presence ("We're U.S. Plus. We own the idea...of America!")
The album consists almost entirely of new ideas, the only significant nods to the past being a reappearance of Proctor's Ralph Spoilsport character (introduced in How Can You Be in Two Places at Once When You're Not Anywhere at All
), the presence of Harold Hiphugger and Ray Hamberger (introduced in Everything You Know Is Wrong
), and a telephone conversation with Caroline Presskey from Don't Crush That Dwarf, Hand Me the Pliers
.
2. Eyeballs In The Sky
3. U.S. Plus: Pork
4. The Celebrity Stalker
5. Sports In Your Shorts
6. Ralph Spoilsport's Going Out Of Body Sale
7. The News Drought Continues
8. Goddess Air Presents 'Hullo, Don't Worry!'
9. A Developing Chase Situation
10. Pull My String
11. Princess Goddess Escapes The Celebrazzis
12. Chump Takes Some Hits
13. Polar Pro: Texas Trots
14. Miss Shelob's Feelin' Poorly
15. Unconscious Village: Last Days Sale
16. Mr. Coffee Comes Up Zeros
17. Glacier
18. Gridlock At Homeless Stadium
19. Polar Ice: Party Vertical
20. Going, Going, Gone A La Blonde
21. Sex With My Hat
22. Trippple Rippoff
23. Night Whispers
24. Bebop And Dwayne Feel No Pain
25. Smokin' Joe Says Farewell
26. U.S. Plus: Zeros And Ones
27. Chump Makes A Resolution
28. The Doll Drop
29. Radionow Says Good-By And Hello
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
album by The Firesign Theatre
The Firesign Theatre
The Firesign Theatre is an American comedy troupe consisting of Phil Austin, Peter Bergman, David Ossman and Philip Proctor. Their brand of surrealistic humor is best known through their record albums, which acquired a cult following in the late 1960s and early '70s.The troupe began as live radio...
that was released in 1998 on Rhino Records.
Synopsis
The album takes the form of a fictional radioRadio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
broadcast on the night of December 31, 1999. Radio Now is a radio station in FunFunTown (apparently modeled after Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
) whose format changes approximately every hour at the slightest whims of overzealous market researchers and focus groups. The album chronicles Radio Now's attempt to operate normally on the final day before the year 2000, a day riddled with apocalyptic
Apocalypse
An Apocalypse is a disclosure of something hidden from the majority of mankind in an era dominated by falsehood and misconception, i.e. the veil to be lifted. The Apocalypse of John is the Book of Revelation, the last book of the New Testament...
omens, rampant computer errors, and dangerous doomsayers. The station is populated by DJ Bebop Loco (Phil Austin
Phil Austin
Phil Austin is a comedian and writer. He was born in Denver, Colorado and later grew up in Fresno, California, attending Fresno High School...
), Dwayne, his producer (Peter Bergman
Peter Bergman (comedian)
Peter Paul Bergman is an American writer and comedian, best known as a member of The Firesign Theatre. He plays Lt. Bradshaw in the Nick Danger series....
), news anchors Harold Hiphugger (David Ossman
David Ossman
David Ossman is an American writer and comedian, best known as a member of The Firesign Theatre.-Career:...
) and Ray Hamberger (Philip Proctor
Philip Proctor
Philip Proctor is an American actor, voice actor and a member of The Firesign Theatre. He plays Rocky Rococo and Nancy in the Nick Danger series. He is from Goshen, Indiana...
), sports commentator Chump Threads (Bergman), and self-help
Self-help
Self-help, or self-improvement, is a self-guided improvement—economically, intellectually, or emotionally—often with a substantial psychological basis. There are many different self-help movements and each has its own focus, techniques, associated beliefs, proponents and in some cases, leaders...
guru O'Nann Winquedinque (Austin). Also reporting from outside the station are celebrity
Celebrity
A celebrity, also referred to as a celeb in popular culture, is a person who has a prominent profile and commands a great degree of public fascination and influence in day-to-day media...
stalker
Stalking
Stalking is a term commonly used to refer to unwanted and obsessive attention by an individual or group to another person. Stalking behaviors are related to harassment and intimidation and may include following the victim in person and/or monitoring them via the internet...
Danny Vanilla (Ossman) and helicopter-bound traffic reporter Col. Happy Panditt (Proctor).
Themes
The album, made in 1998, lampoons the various world-threatening results which were being predicted from the Y2K bug. It also satirizesSatire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
the death of Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, whom she married on 29 July 1981, and an international charity and fundraising figure, as well as a preeminent celebrity of the late 20th century...
, the Joe Camel
Joe Camel
Joe Camel was the advertising mascot for Camel cigarettes from late 1987 to July 12, 1997, appearing in magazine advertisements, billboards, and other print media.-History:The U.S. marketing team of R. J...
controversy, and the Art Bell
Art Bell
Arthur W. "Art" Bell, III is an American broadcaster and author, known primarily as one of the founders and the original host of the paranormal-themed radio program Coast to Coast AM. He also created and formerly hosted its companion show, Dreamland...
radio show.
A running gag involves eyeballs, which at one moment represent binary
Binary numeral system
The binary numeral system, or base-2 number system, represents numeric values using two symbols, 0 and 1. More specifically, the usual base-2 system is a positional notation with a radix of 2...
digits (the digit 1 resembles the letter I, a homophone
Homophone
A homophone is a word that is pronounced the same as another word but differs in meaning. The words may be spelled the same, such as rose and rose , or differently, such as carat, caret, and carrot, or to, two, and too. Homophones that are spelled the same are also both homographs and homonyms...
of "eye", while the digit 0 is in the shape of a ball) and at other times seem to be an allusion to The Residents
The Residents
The Residents is an American art collective best known for avant-garde music and multimedia works. The first official release under the name of The Residents was in 1972, and the group has since released over sixty albums, numerous music videos and short films, three CD-ROM projects and ten DVDs....
("Guyz in Eyeball Hats"). Another is "U.S. Plus", an apparent multi-national conglomerate with intentionally vague commercials that hint at their all-encompassing presence ("We're U.S. Plus. We own the idea...of America!")
The album consists almost entirely of new ideas, the only significant nods to the past being a reappearance of Proctor's Ralph Spoilsport character (introduced in How Can You Be in Two Places at Once When You're Not Anywhere at All
How Can You Be in Two Places at Once When You're Not Anywhere at All
How Can You Be in Two Places at Once When You're Not Anywhere at All is the second comedy album recorded by The Firesign Theatre. It was originally released in 1969 by Columbia Records.-Side one:...
), the presence of Harold Hiphugger and Ray Hamberger (introduced in Everything You Know Is Wrong
Everything You Know Is Wrong
Everything You Know Is Wrong is a comedy album by the Firesign Theatre released in October 1974 on Columbia Records.-Detailed track information and commentary:...
), and a telephone conversation with Caroline Presskey from Don't Crush That Dwarf, Hand Me the Pliers
Don't Crush That Dwarf, Hand Me the Pliers
Don't Crush That Dwarf, Hand Me the Pliers is The Firesign Theatre's third comedy recording for Columbia Records, released in 1970. In 1983, The New Rolling Stone Record Guide called it "the greatest comedy album ever made"....
.
Track listing
1. Unconscious Village: Wake up2. Eyeballs In The Sky
3. U.S. Plus: Pork
4. The Celebrity Stalker
5. Sports In Your Shorts
6. Ralph Spoilsport's Going Out Of Body Sale
7. The News Drought Continues
8. Goddess Air Presents 'Hullo, Don't Worry!'
9. A Developing Chase Situation
10. Pull My String
11. Princess Goddess Escapes The Celebrazzis
12. Chump Takes Some Hits
13. Polar Pro: Texas Trots
14. Miss Shelob's Feelin' Poorly
15. Unconscious Village: Last Days Sale
16. Mr. Coffee Comes Up Zeros
17. Glacier
18. Gridlock At Homeless Stadium
19. Polar Ice: Party Vertical
20. Going, Going, Gone A La Blonde
21. Sex With My Hat
22. Trippple Rippoff
23. Night Whispers
24. Bebop And Dwayne Feel No Pain
25. Smokin' Joe Says Farewell
26. U.S. Plus: Zeros And Ones
27. Chump Makes A Resolution
28. The Doll Drop
29. Radionow Says Good-By And Hello