Coaches on the Edge ask: It’s 10 PM. Do you know where your funny bone is?

elizabeth: As a life coach, I do ask my clients if they are open minded enough to ask the universe questions before they go to sleep at night. I tell them at night their brains are quieter and the grey matter can regroup and consider their requests. Throw in a little intuitive dance and with practice, answers can make themselves known upon awakening the following morning.
But I always wondered how can the mind slow down enough when the last thing it took in are killings, blood splattered murder scenes and the exposure to the emotional pain of a loved one being taken from the grieving family. And this is what we normally see blasting out from our TV sets between 10 and 11 PM almost every night. Studies say to keep the bedroom a quiet sanctuary. Yeah right. I choose not to wake up drooling on the sofa with 4 cats sleeping on me. But now I just might fall asleep with a smile on my face. Either that or Daniel Day Lewis is invading my sleeping hours. Again.
Laurie: Blood and guts, murder scenes, emotional pain? I assume you’re not talking about my man Letterman. He may create splatters by dropping a 20-pound pumpkin off a 40-story building for laughs every now and then but that rarely scares me. I love your theory but reality tells me differently. I have this delightful CD that sends me positive, subliminal messages through my earphones late at night. For two weeks straight, I listened and visualized and created receptivity for all the cool and groovy things that this CD was promising would come my way. And then I took the headset off and tuned in the television until I fell peacefully asleep. I did not wake up skinny, rich, client-laden, or super confident. I did however wake up so I always consider that a plus.
elizabeth: I think the big wigs at one network might have gotten it right. People need to laugh more and find some time to put their troubles on hold. Jay Leno has been doing stand up since the 1970s, and while he does not have the bite of a Chris Rock, his observational humor is brilliant. And he does not pick on those who cannot defend themselves. But if you (Congress – are you reading this?) can, look out. I think I am going to go to bed feeling lighter and knowing that maybe the world will sleep the sleep of a less jaded planet or until the radio alarm goes off.
Laurie: I’ve always considered David Letterman the thinking man/woman’s comic and Jay Leno more of a slapstick comedian. I think finding out just how dumb Americans are (Jay Walking) or seeing Leno’s head superimposed on the latest celebrity body in today’s headlines can be just as disturbing as the local news. Maybe those “funny” skits would run a neck-in-neck race with the corn crop report but I don’t think they are going to help me end my day on a positive note. And speaking of positive, I’m positive I don’t want to see them five days a week. Curiosity will win and I will tune him in to see the new format of the show, and then I will probably start looking for something else to watch at 10 PM. But to each their own.
elizabeth: Just for the record - I hate slapstick with a passion. If my family thought for a second that I did, I would have been left at the doorstep of some church. I am just talking about some humor before REM sets in. So thank you, Jay Leno. Forgive me, but I will be taping your show when Project Runway is on. I can’t just go cold turkey like that. But I will drop the Housewives from Atlanta on their heads. Or on their wigs – whatever. I just felt a brain cell crack a smile.
Laurie: How lucky are you that you are tucked in bed tightly around 11 PM? I’m usually hanging in there with Craig Ferguson (who is absolutely hysterical by the way) at least until 1 AM. And therein may lay the secret to real comedy – the later you are broadcast, the crazier and more creative you can be. Will Leno’s comedic talents be watered down even more if he is on during prime time when Ma and Pa and the kids are watching? You might be right, elizabeth. That could be just the thing to put us soundly to sleep.
elizabeth: Ouch!

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