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Dang, this one hurts. Along with Mad Magazine, Tom Lehrer was a developmental cornerstone of my sense of humor. As a kid, it was revelatory to learn “wait, there are adults who see all this nonsense too?” /1 www.nytimes.com/2025/07/27/a...

His songs are nerdy, WASP-friendly, Ivy League drollery but, man, they’re funny. His lyrics are way darker than the showtune sunniess of the music; a contrast thar was always core to the joke. /2

I’ll always argue that song parody is the most advanced form of humor. Lehrer’s passing and Dr. Demento’s retirement are sad milestones for the form. /3