Editor's Note: The original title was "At What Point Do We Start Punching Laughing Babies In The Face?" but I thought that a bit harsh and reconsidered. Plus, I've got a whole bunch of Mazzy videos to post next week.
So. Here's the latest laughing baby hoping to go viral. Her name's Molly, she's ten months old and she's got a dog named Benny. Molly's mom blows bubbles, Benny eats them, and then Molly OBVIOUSLY thinks this is hilarious.
In the world of shared content, it would APPEAR that this video has all the magical elements to turn water into Chocolate Rain and Indonesian babies into future throat cancer patients.
But you know what? I DON'T THINK SO. Below is a look so we all know what we're dealing with.
Adorable, right? But here's my thinking. Isn't this all getting a little old? Kinda like the third American Pie or the fortieth time Lindsay Lohan entered rehab? Also— can Kate Hudson stop making rom-coms about weddings already???
I think I may be getting *GASP* just a wee bit sick of laughing babies.
And as the mom of a 16 month old, I have to say, it really sucks that on the rare occasion that MY baby actually laughs, all I can think is— "Oh GOD, you're such a wannabe."
The problem is not funny baby videos themselves. (Nose Blowing Baby was brilliant in my opinion and every man, woman and child on this earth should have the honor of viewing it). The problem is the various news outlets coverage of said funny baby videos.
Did you know that at just over 1,000 measly hits, ABC News has already covered the MASSIVE EVENT that is "Baby Laughs At Dog Blowing Bubbles"? When the news covered Paper Ripping Baby, at the very least, that video had already gone viral so that was their angle. And the Talking Twins video was covered under the guise of "language development". But Laughing At Dog Eating Bubbles Baby? She was just covered in the hopes that the news will catch a viral video before it starts.
That's just stupid.
If someone who writes a blog about funny baby stuff (me) is getting annoyed at funny baby video coverage, then I think we've officially got a problem.
So I don't think Laughing at Dog Eating Bubbles Baby is going to make it. Nope, I'm calling a Laughing Baby Backlash. I think Laughing Baby has to go away for a bit— maybe a retreat in Thailand. Find his/her center, do a cleanse, and then come back renewed and funnier than ever.
And then maybe the networks can leave fluff like funny baby videos to people like me and concentrate on real news. God knows there is plenty of that these days.
Just to bring home my point, check out ABC's coverage of Molly— it's complete with forced laughter, meaningless banter and one hugh SIGH from Walter Cronkite as he rolls over in his grave.
Now, tell me— am I crazy? Or does anyone else think that the news should leave the stupid baby stuff to the professionals (like myself)?
Nope, have to say that was pretty cute.
Though my 7 year old came over when he heard the laughing. “What’s he going to do?”, he asked. “Nothing, just laughing”, I said. Then at the end he asked, “What was so funny?”. So I think he’s on your side.
I’ve had a few moments to reflect and I think my rant had to do with two things.
1) I have a google alert set up for funny baby videos so I see laughing babies every day.
2) Mazzy never laughs.
Either A. yes, I am totally over it or B. I am just jealous that not one of my three kids has made me a dime by laughing or C. I don’t know how to use YouTube.
I always enjoy a laughing baby. Even my husband will crack a grin at a laughing baby.
I almost never watch those videos, but when there is a laughing baby sign me up.
Molly’s laugh is pretty cute. So is my Monkey’s and I haven’t made the news, damnit.
Mazzy doesn’t laugh?? But, but, she always looks so smiley! Have you tried, er, blowing bubbles and getting a dog to eat them?
I have a laughing baby video! I didn’t post it on youtube, though.
It was the second time she had ever laughed. My landlord was there trying to talk to us as we were just moving in, and our friends were entertaining our daughter. I left my husband to apologize to the landlord while I got it with my camera. I totally love it, but I don’t expect most other people to.
I am going with door number B. I mean I pimp my child out every day and I got nothing. Since laughing is out, you think I should ask her to take up smoking?
I know, I know, I like the laughing babies too. Just feeling bitter today.
Mazzy is very smiley. And she gets ridiculously excited about bubbles. And dogs. But she doesn’t laugh. The only way we can get her to laugh is by really aggressively tickling her. And even then, she tries to hold it in. Once or twice she has laughed when I pretended to eat her hand. But that’s it.
I’m sure I would love it too. Despite whatever I may have said above.
The laughter of my child can change my day maybe the news should end that way.
My MIL sent me this video the other day and my kids loved it but I really don’t think it is newsworthy.
I don’t want my laughing baby journalism from anyone but you Ilana. 😉
p.s. I want to punch Kate Hudson.
I find all laughing babies meh at best. Except mine. And yours. Now a dog laughing at a baby eating bubbles? Maybe. I’m not much of a dog person either.
I just don’t get the phenomenon with the laughing babies. I mean, I find it very entertaining when my own kids get hysterical laughing at absolutely nothing. But I’m just not that into the completely random kids. The ones whose parents are trying to make a buck or two during their 15 days of fame.
Spot on. Laughing babies jumped the shark just after babies dancing, especially to any Beyonce song.
I will make one hybrid exception that involves a baby, laughing and dancing. But only because it also involves Florence & The Machine.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnBau6fL8S8
This one is worth watching and makes me wish my baby was this cool, instead of car seat dancing to Top 40.
I think perhaps some like-minded, less-than-impressed mom bloggers should respond with a new series. DeadPan Babies, perhaps???? Who’s in?
I like laughing babies. And babies scared of noses being blown. And I will watch every FB video of friends’ toddlers dancing and/or singing.
But I don’t like watching laughing babies, old people’s birthday parties, newscasters doing stupid human tricks, or any anchor forced to pose with a parrot on their shoulder while trying to watch the news. When I finally peep my head out from the mountain of diapers and spit up turn on the news… It’d be nice to actually see some!
But, it’s rainy and I’m cranky.
My daughter didn’t laugh either. It was painful when people would “Coochie Choochie Coo” and she would stare at them right back — deadpan. Now she is a funny, smiley smart-ass chick! (Useless trivia: The term “Jump the Shark” is named after that Happy Days’ episode when Fonzie jumps the shark while water skiing — probably in a Tommy Barlett Water Show in the Dells.)
I am also sick of the laughing baby/dog trick videos showing up every morning on GMA. I was particularly annoyed one morning when I turned on the tv for the news and I found a dog scootering in Times Square. Is this really news? As a former journalist, it just makes me ill. I’m right there with you and I love babies who laugh – I just think it is enough already.
Exactly.
Exactly.
The non-dog person part of me might be the same part of me refusing to love this video.
Yeah. What kind of parent would put videos of their kid out their onto the internet for anybody and everybody to see??!!
Oh, wait.
For a second, I thought you had scooped me on a baby video and I was about to get really upset. But nope, I posted that one a few months ago. On the same day it appeared on the Today Show. Damnit!!!
And yes, I love that one too.
OH, I have hours and hours of deadpan baby. Let’s do it! Videos have to be minimum of ten minutes long.
I agree. I like baby videos too. (Obviously). But when I see them on the news, it just feels wrong. Save it for Tosh 2.0 or something.
I always say, Mazzy is going to either have no sense of humor or have such a superior sense of humor that she knows better than to believe something lame like paper ripping is funny. Our daughters should get together and become the next Fey-Poehler writing team on SNL.
Was the dog scootering supplies to Japan? Or leading a scooter special forces to Libya? Cause that would be news.