COMEDY - WE NEED MORE OF IT.

One of our favorite TV shows is "Whose Line Is It Anyway"

It's a show based on improvisional humor performed by three regulars: Wayne Brady, Colin Mochrie, and Ryan Stiles, as well as various guests.

If you've ever attempted improv humor you realize just how difficult it is.

I grew up in a 3/4 Irish household that had a lot of humor when we were all younger and less serious about life.

One of my favorite memories is when my two brothers and myself had the guts to give it a try while sitting around the Sunday dining room table  enjoying one of Mom's fantastic roasts, garnished with potatos and carrots.

The "roasts" included much more than the food.

While we probably didn't realize it at the time, I still believe most of the comedy was dry humor we had inherited mostly from our dad - before all of our lives became much more serious.

The beauty of  the one liners was that it was ad-lib humor with Mom mostly the target, but included Dad - when we worked up the nerve.

Mom usually took it well and occasionally had a great comeback - which, if you enjoy humor, you don't resent it - you invite it.

Perhaps, that was because she was comfortable in that setting and just enjoyed having us all together at a time in which life was beginning to take her three boys in different directions.

Another reason may have been because Mom really didn't have much of a choice, being the only female seated around a table of five.

It was a time before making fun of your Mom - or any female for that matter- became both politically incorrect and proof of your male insensitive ways to so many.

That's a shame. Humor need not be perceived as hurtful. Often it's a demonstration of how much you like and enjoy someone. I am, as are many - many others - a great fan of  my wife Phyl's sense of humor - even when I become the occasional target.

I'm convinced that humor - as well as the people who practice it - is an inherited trait. Perhaps, it's just my imagination, but I seem to fall in most comfortably when trading humorous attempts with folks - both male and female - of Irish heritage.

It was not unusual for me to hear, after introducing our Dad to my friends and co-workers, "Now we know where you get your sense of humor." Therefore, when in my 20's and early 30's Dad sometimes became a welcome addition to our entourage.

I may still have a copy of  one-liner humor between my brother Tom and myself  when he invited me to visit him in California in the 70's, and we traded jibes on tape while attending "The Swap Meet.".

Not only did we sound alike back in those days - causing Tom to occasionally respond when I called, "Is this me?" - but, our humor was similar.

I believe our dry humor was more appreciated "back in the day". I base this upon the many blank facial responses I get down here in "seniorland' when tempted to begin a comeback tour.

Of course, it might just be my faded memory of comedic timing, but Phyl warns me that not all people understand my attempts at humor. I kinda picked that up on my own, but still appreciate the advice.

Apaprently like good scotch - dry humor is an acquired taste - so I dip my humor pen in the water less frequently these days.

However, I still enjoy those folks with whom I can trade those one-liners  - (probably equally twisted people) - as we bask in the smiles and outright guffaws that our combined efforts generate - even among ourselves.

While I miss playing golf , I miss the jokes and camaradie even more.

For now, do yourself a favor and turn to the TV listings for The CW - and enjoy good comedy - even if possibly a little ribald at times for some tastes.

"Comedy - we "definitely" need more of it.