August 09 2011
Karma Comedian
Before this website came into being, my niche was known as Cassowary Crossing. The original blog was based on my Offbeat guide to Australia, published in 2007. But soon the travel motif morphed into wordplay, and stuff like Birdbrains, Brainstorms and Clues of Repute seized control. A year ago the bird was ditched for this new-look, all-verbal home for Dabblers to flock together.
Hence this week’s storm we dabble in reincarnation. Choose a celebrity – or person of profile – and wangle their letters to suggest what they will be in the next life. Or what have they already become, in the case of the notable dead. For example, Eddie Mabo has gone from loved liberator to gloved resuscitator, in the shape of Eddie Ambo.
Or Cameron Diaz has shifted from paparazzi target to gossip columnist: Romance Diaz. While surf champ Andy Irons has drifted from Waikiki Sunset to My Beautiful Laundrette in the guise of Andy Rinso.
That’s the game: to mix the first or second name of your chosen celeb, and nutshell the karmic journey in a pithy summary. Double-barrels are OK, such as Gwyneth Paltrow becoming Gwyneth War-Plot, though a one-word shift perhaps holds greater charm. True Nirvana is reached by those entries owning a sweet synopsis, a clean anagram and a thoroughly deserved karma. Some more examples:
From talk show to talk (no): Harpo Winfrey
From Possession to possessed: AS Batty
From bubblegum pap to gangsta rap: Ni##er Spice
From It Girl to Frat Boy: Marilyn Mooner
From Good Will Hunting to food, kill, hunting: Matt Nomad
In the meantime, I’m still trying to conjure the right précis for Tenzing Groany! Spiritual enlightenment goes to the best three examples, with a shortlist of Zen zingers scheduled as part of our Saturday worship. Deadline so to speak is Thursday, 8pm. So get cracking and tackle your astral project.
Comments
RobT — 09 August at 07:12AM
Decal Evans, bike sticker salesman.
Boniface — 09 August at 09:20AM
From Papillon to nothing on, Nudist Hoffman bares all.
Em — 09 August at 10:43AM
From wordophilia to kleptomania: David Steal
From literary mind to caught behind: Charles Snicked
From guitarist with Queen to chef de cuisine: Brian Yam
From the mountains of Salzburg to... well, anywhere really!: Julie Wanders
Sam — 09 August at 11:05AM
Revenge of the pocket watch? Salvador Dial
ADB — 09 August at 11:42AM
From Actor/author to Park ranger: Warden Dodad
ADB — 09 August at 11:52AM
From Crossword compiler to a huge Scotish young man : Vast Laddie
RobT — 09 August at 12:03PM
From Mover-and-Shaker to An-Accident-Waiting-To-Happen: Warned Tendon
Em — 09 August at 12:19PM
From leader of the pack to stabbed in the back: Knive Rudd.
So close!
ML — 09 August at 01:05PM
George O'Dowd did actually go from BOY to YOB
ML — 09 August at 01:07PM
From Crooner to Wilderness advocate: Green-Belt Humperdinck
Sam — 09 August at 01:36PM
Not an entry as such, but perhaps a sign these two were meant to work together!
Tony Curtis - citrus - Jack Lemmon
RobT — 09 August at 01:38PM
Masterchef magus to endangered diminutive Matt Pronest.
DA2 — 09 August at 02:25PM
Some pearls early, though try to stick to the one-name tweak idea. Just purifies the puzzle.
From finishing line to dotted line: Notary Senna
RobT — 09 August at 02:37PM
From easily-taking to easily-taken Peter Softer.
JD — 09 August at 04:14PM
From football legend to pill - Gary Tablet
SK — 09 August at 04:16PM
From genius to nervous batsman: Albert Nineties
From crooner to craftsman: Frank Artisan
From taxi driver to home duties: Robert Ironed
From Maggie singer to maggot pinger? Rod Swatter
From "Extras" to extras? Ricky Gravies
RobT — 09 August at 06:06PM
Soccer supremo to cranky schoolmaster Frank Owly.
RobT — 09 August at 06:11PM
Submariner to neophyte Noob.
JD — 10 August at 08:40AM
Not very brave gladiator- Russell Cower
From Treasurer to tippler - Paul Take Gin
Avant garde chef goes on the straight and narrow - Honest Blumenthal
Sam — 10 August at 09:03AM
From forecast to downcast: Paul Sighing
Mr X — 10 August at 09:55AM
The Hollywood star who'll follow Grace Kelly's lead and become royalty:
Charlize Throne
DA — 10 August at 10:20AM
From heroine to anti-heroine: Nancy Weak
Sam — 10 August at 10:37AM
"... cryin' all the time" - Elvis Yelpers
RobT — 10 August at 10:44AM
Downing St to Dating St: David Romance.
JD — 10 August at 10:47AM
From alcoholic songstress to winter tavern - May Winehouse
JD — 10 August at 10:48AM
- well autumn,actually
RobT — 10 August at 11:44AM
Bare to bear Carla Bruin.
RobT — 10 August at 12:02PM
Viceroy to vice toy Quentin Cyber.
DA — 10 August at 12:07PM
From spotlight to candlelight: Moth Yorke
RobT — 10 August at 12:17PM
Jabberer to warbler John Yodel.
Em — 10 August at 12:51PM
From ooh-aah to blah-blah: Drab Pitt
From richest of all to Carnegie Hall: Bill Stage
From first man on the moon to Mr Universe: Neil Strong-arm
From survivalist to naturist: Bare Grylls
From American Idiot to Spanish nutcase: Tre Loco
RobT — 10 August at 02:22PM
Racquetman to handyman Tony Chore.
RobT — 10 August at 02:26PM
Premier to genuflector Kristina Lay-Kneel.
DA — 10 August at 02:51PM
From activist to actor: Noel Persona
ML — 10 August at 03:00PM
Taxi Driver to House-Husband : Robert Ironed
RobT — 10 August at 03:01PM
Genuflectrix?
Mr X — 10 August at 03:08PM
or to en-pith my offering:
From stardom to royalty
Charlize Throne
DA — 10 August at 03:14PM
From paparazzi to paparazzo: Charlize Hornet (that's an etymology joke)
RobT — 10 August at 03:22PM
Grid salesman to billiard table salesman David Slate.
RV — 10 August at 08:32PM
Newsreader to subeditor: Tracey Precis
RV — 10 August at 08:40PM
Hitter to hitten: Seve Tees or balls
RobT — 10 August at 09:37PM
From thrasher to racehorse The Geed.
Em — 11 August at 09:52AM
From treble clef to pastry chef: Eclair Bowditch
Em — 11 August at 11:25AM
From diabolical to diminutive: David Least
Sam — 11 August at 12:52PM
From drawing to driving the urban landscape: Jeffrey Trams
From virtual cyborg to the body corporate: Cartels
Back to the drawing board for Margaret Postern
From dauber to warder: Eugene von Guarder
RK — 11 August at 02:33PM
From Kind of Blue to pretty happy: Smile Davis
RK — 11 August at 03:02PM
From The Wild One to boy next door: Normal Brando
Sam — 11 August at 03:16PM
From Silk Road to Roundabout - Marco Loop
Mr X — 11 August at 05:28PM
From politician to Imperial Overlord/annoying pests/Charlize's property:
Bill Thrones/hornets/Theron's
Mr X — 12 August at 09:32AM
One last one:
From Twin Peaks victim to detective - Laura Marple
RobT — 12 August at 02:35PM
Madman to Everyman's - King Real