Best of BBtv: Leslie Hall is gem-tastic
Boing Boing tv is taking a week off for organic yak-yogurt wrestling on a private Himalayan island; we leave you to enjoy some of our crew's favorite past episodes in the meantime.
"Gem sweater diva" and midwestern maven Leslie Hall has appeared twice on our show. The video featured above is a tour diary she recorded just for us. If you like that, check out our backstage visit with her during a stop in San Francisco, below. "With these shoulder pads, I have the strength to destroy villages, homes and crops."
Original BBtv posts:
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Leslie Hall: Dear Diary
* Leslie Hall: ceWEBrity, gem sweater diva, jammer of jams.
the latest
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t's lk sh swllwd mr ntrstng prsn.
I like Peaches.
Don't be rude, dude.
I had the opportunity to meet Leslie Hall at the Seaport BUST party two weeks ago. She is making a new "Midwest Diva" brand of homemade spandex jumpsuits and pants (I know I already got MY pair!).
Also, she named my sweater: "Tibble Tabble Toothpick Rasties."
She then proceeded to give me a gut slam, yelling, "Booyah!!"
Nt my cp ' t.
@#2
ppl r rd nd cyncl n ths st ll th tm t vrs ppl nd thngs.
dn't fnd Lsl fnny, nr s shrwd s thr mscl strsts nd tb twstrs lk Pchs r Trb Ngr.
why ds sh gt pss?
dd y gys g t cmmnty cllg tgthr, r smthng?
She is so awesome. I've seen her on YGG, but I had no idea who she was.
Leslie is fantastic.
@#5 The tone of your use of "community college" makes you seem like a hugely pretentious jerk.
A few years ago, I thought this persona had the staying power of the smoke in a well-ventilated room. I don't understand how it's managed to stick around for so long.
@ZombieBabyDiego, that's two warnings. Don't be a douche, or I'm banning you.
#4 chromal, the space bar is your friend. It's considered very bad form to show up in a thread solely for the purpose of saying "this sucks" or "i don't like this."
Leslie is truly an artist, though much of the art she produces is also very funny.
I seeked thy gems with Leslie.
I wonder why she didn't make it on the set of Pork and Beans. Tron Guy either.
Wht's wth ll th dsmvllng hr? r y ll jst bnch f htrs? Lsl Hll s grt-- sh's bng hrslf, n mttr wht hppns, n mttr wht ppl thnk.
;)
i think that one day i might marry Leslie Hall.
-T
I went to highschool with Leslie.. she was a year or two younger. I didn't know/talk to her really, but I always knew she was destined for something, you can just tell with some people :)
p.s. please post my story i submitted thx.
Why th hll ws #4 d-vwld? Wht's ffnsv bt "Nt my cp ' t?" f tht's hw cvl lngg s rwrdd, why th fck shld try t b cvl hr?
Mittzna @8, I'm sure your mom thinks the same thing about you.
Chromal @15, some questions are their own answer.
ZombieBabyDiego, it's not like she didn't warn you.
@#8 - I was thinking exactly the same thing. Every time I see her pop up I wonder "Uh... why?"
b! wfl. nfnny. nrgnl.
gr wth cmmnty cllg gy - mst b sm srs nptsm t gt ths 'stff' n bng bng s t s fr bllw th sl stndrd
Clockwork, you've added so much to the discussion.
Thanks! [/irony]
She's so F*&#ing great. :D Though I'm really not surprised that a lot of people don't get her.
Leslie Hall is the internet!
I wondered what happened to Brigid Berlin.
@16, 5, 18, etc: Would you not agree that such comments as the ones about #8, #7 and #18 are perhaps uncalled for and to be avoided, even when others may make comments that aren't polite? For Teresa especially, is it not the place of a moderator to encourage polite conversation?
As for Leslie Hall, one cannot deny that she is interesting. I don't find the style particularly enjoyable in any but the smallest of quantities, and at times it can seem to verge on poor taste, but she does seem very good at what she does, and evidently does have a significant audience.
Most of the things I dislike about her style are things that are integral parts of it, and it can be difficult to say whether she simply goes too far in the persona in my mind, or whether she actually holds the views that she espouses. For example, I find the constant reference to status as a celebrity to be rather immodest and jarring, but then again, it is an integral part of how she presents herself. There are also some cases where it is difficult for me to tell whether people are being serious, especially with comments about art versus comedy. Comedians are artists, but Leslie Hall certainly relies heavily on comedy and amusement, albeit not in an entirely traditional manner.
In a way, I can see why her style is liked by some while not being fond of it, much as people have different tastes in so many things. Since Boing Boing caters to a variety of people, there are always going to be posts about artists that don't appeal to the entire readership. Insults and complaints about such posts are unwarranted, but so too is the expectation that everyone will only have praise for the artists.
those who don't like it are encouraged to take their comment-energy to things they DO like. Those who cannot find ANYTHING here to positively comment on are encouraged to take off, eh?
I repeat: THERE IS NO BAD REVIEW WORSE THAN "NO COMMENT". Learn this.
Certainly, if someone dislikes everything here, then one must wonder why they are here at all.
That said, I do believe there is a place for constructively negative comments.
yep, there is. However: previous less-than-well-intended posters have created a climate where anyone wishing to post constructively negative criticism had better give it their best, sincere and thoughtful effort. No apology. It is hoped that over time the standard overall will rise to the point where it isn't necessary to shoot first.
What I find odd is when commenters announce that they don't find something funny or interesting. It says nothing about the subject and everything about the commenter. Personally, I'd be a bit embarrassed to admit that I didn't get the joke.
WA, well explained. Thanks for taking the time.
this is true and I should have said so. See what I mean about "climate"?
I LOVE her! I had the exquisite privilege of bringing her some water after her concert at ROFLCon. She is truly an amazing performer.
@#13: I would fight you for her, but I don't like girls that way. I call dibs on the right to be her gay best friend, though!