It’s a fascinating look at the science of how laughter and exposure to comedy illicits positive immune response, as well as other health benefits. Radio Netherlands look at Clown Doctors features the voices of medical practitioners who don sponge noses and oversized shoes to "inject" humor into humorless situations such as patients with terminal illnesses. While this documentary can get a bit dry in the middle, overall the science is presented in an easy to understand manner. There are great discussions with doctors from the US, the Netherlands and Canada, as well as plenty of great anecdotes about patients’ responses to and appreciation of comedy, and even the differences in responses of women and men to a funny situation . Presenter Ann Blair Gould effortlessly guides the listener through the tickles and the technical of humor and healing, with ease and touches of Hollywood musical expressions of the need for levity in an all too serious world. I could hear this show aired in the 1:00pm to 2:00pm area or as a late night addition to a 24 hour information/news format. Radio Netherlands work is always top drawer.
Review of RN Documentary: Humour & Healing
Michael Johnson
Posted on August 01, 2005 at 04:01 AM
It’s a fascinating look at the science of how laughter and exposure to comedy illicits positive immune response, as well as other health benefits. Radio Netherlands look at Clown Doctors features the voices of medical practitioners who don sponge noses and oversized shoes to "inject" humor into humorless situations such as patients with terminal illnesses. While this documentary can get a bit dry in the middle, overall the science is presented in an easy to understand manner. There are great discussions with doctors from the US, the Netherlands and Canada, as well as plenty of great anecdotes about patients’ responses to and appreciation of comedy, and even the differences in responses of women and men to a funny situation . Presenter Ann Blair Gould effortlessly guides the listener through the tickles and the technical of humor and healing, with ease and touches of Hollywood musical expressions of the need for levity in an all too serious world. I could hear this show aired in the 1:00pm to 2:00pm area or as a late night addition to a 24 hour information/news format. Radio Netherlands work is always top drawer.