Humor Archives

12 Unexpected Items to Add to Your Winter Emergency Kit

Being Texan|

December 20, 2022

15 Items to Add to Your Winter Emergency Kit

May we suggest tickets to Cancun?

By and

Being Texan|

October 8, 2022

This 1981 Photo Essay Captured Why Being an Aggie Is Not at All Funny

Will Van Overbeek's images, with words by Oscar-winning screenwriter and Texas A&M alum and proud Aggie Al Reinert, were "good bull."

By

What Your Favorite Mexican Ice Cream Says About You

Tacos|

October 8, 2022

What Your Favorite Mexican Ice Cream Says About You

From mamey to nuez, the varied flavors found at Mexican ice cream shops around the state make for a pretty accurate personality test.

By Kimya Kavehkar and

Tacos|

October 6, 2022

The Great Hard-shell Taco Debate

Two Texas Monthly writers go head-to-head on the merits and inferiorities of tacos made with crispy shells vs. soft tortillas.

By and

Being Texan|

December 16, 2021

‘The Twelve Days of Christmas,’ Texas Edition

Twelve tamales steaming, eleven Longhorns losing . . . and thirty to fifty feral hogs.

By

Politics & Policy|

December 14, 2021

The 2022 Bum Steer Awards

A year ago, in this very space, we referred to 2020 as “perhaps the craziest, stupidest, Bum Steeriest year in Texas Monthly’s history.” The unspoken assumption—or perhaps it was a desperate wish—was that 2021 would prove to be at least marginally saner than that misbegotten election year. And how

By Texas Monthly

bum steers of the year january 6 rioters

Politics & Policy|

December 14, 2021

Bum Steer Awards 2022: 25 Texans Who Invaded Washington, D.C.

An A-to-Z list of 25 Lone Star State residents who disgraced themselves last January 6.

By Texas Monthly

Politics & Policy|

December 14, 2021

2022 Bum Steer of the Year Runner-up: Ted Cruz

Ted Cruz had a very, very, very bad year. Maybe he’ll blame it on his daughters.

By Texas Monthly

News & Politics|

December 2, 2021

What Mark Cuban Should Do With the Texas Town He Just Bought

We have several suggestions for the new owner of the tiny burg of Mustang.

By

Meanwhile in Texas|

March 17, 2021

A Pair of Thieves Broke Into a Houston Art Museum, Then Escaped by Boat

They didn’t manage to steal any art, but they did vanish into a storm drain.

By

Books|

March 2, 2021

Meet the Comedian Whose New Poetry Book Is as Discomfiting as Her Cabaret Act

Houston-raised actor and stand-up star Catherine Cohen confronts anxiety and narcissism in a self-deprecating collection of poems.

By

Health|

February 1, 2021

Newly Vaccinated Boomers Are Ready to Get Down

While much of the under-65 population awaits their COVID-19 vaccines, the generation that invented sex, drugs, and rock and roll is about to run amok.

By Ruth Pennebaker

A collection of year's Bum Steer Award Winners

Politics & Policy|

December 16, 2020

The 2021 Bum Steer Awards

Let’s face it: this was no one’s favorite year. Here are a few dozen reasons why.

By Texas Monthly

Politics & Policy|

December 16, 2020

Bum Steer Awards, 2021: Get Ready for the Amazing Adventures of PAXT-MAN!

Can you help Texas's attorney general escape the long arm of the law?

By Texas Monthly

A group of 19 Texans who let down the state with their response to the pandemic

Politics & Policy|

December 16, 2020

Bum Steer Awards 2021: The COVID Nineteen

The not-quite-twenty Texans who spectacularly disgraced themselves during the pandemic.

By Texas Monthly

Arts & Entertainment|

June 2, 2020

What Exactly Does the New York Times Think the Alamo Is?

An investigation into the Paper of Record that is, alas, somehow necessary.

By

Politics & Policy|

January 30, 2020

Bull Session: Ted Cruz Rides Impeachment to the Top of the Podcast Charts

Plus, Ken Starr is pulled out of retirement, Pete Olson visits Sesame Street, and Vicente Gonzalez desperately needs a celebrity.

By Sean O'Neal

Politics & Policy|

January 23, 2020

Bull Session: Greg Abbott’s Historic Summit With Wesley Snipes

Plus, Ted Cruz takes on Stephen King (again), Eliz Markowitz does her best Willie, America Ferrera leaves Vicente Gonzalez hanging, and more!

By Sean O'Neal

Politics & Policy|

January 16, 2020

Bull Session: Beto Is Still Out Here Standing on Stuff

Plus, Chip Roy blames California, Paul Bettencourt targeted by liberal hackers, and other extremely on-brand happenings

By Sean O'Neal

Politics & Policy|

January 9, 2020

Bull Session: Texas Republicans Rally Around Ricky Gervais and Enrique Iglesias Dances to the Tune of $485,000

Plus, Julián Castro and Beto O’Rourke are on the rebound, and Tony Buzbee is on another bender.

By Sean O'Neal

The National Podcast of Texas|

February 18, 2019

Steve Treviño: “Our Culture Isn’t a Punchline”

On the latest National Podcast of Texas, the South Texas-raised stand-up comic talks about Mexican-American representation in Hollywood, the border situation, and writing jokes for Clint Eastwood.

By Andy Langer

Politics & Policy|

December 14, 2018

How Long Does Ted Cruz’s Beard Have to Grow Before He Is Beloved by All People?

An unscientific, untrimmed analysis of the phenomenon of Ted Cruz Beard Thirst.

By

The Culture|

December 7, 2018

Should Beto O’Rourke Host the Oscars?

Let's take a non-serious suggestion seriously.

By

Mo Amer leaning against a brick wall in Brooklyn

The Culture|

November 19, 2018

Mo Amer on Growing Up as a Muslim Refugee in Houston

Over three decades, Mo Amer has gone from being a refugee living in Houston to a successful comedian. His first stand-up special mines his experiences for comedic gold.

By Andy Langer

The Culture|

July 2, 2018

Mo Amer Charms the House at Netflix Special Taping in Austin

The Arab-American refugee, comedian, and proud Houstonian finds the humor in his family’s journey from Kuwait and being seated next to Eric Trump on a plane.

By Mary Geren

The National Podcast of Texas|

June 22, 2018

Mo Knows Immigration: Houston Comic Mo Amer on His Own Journey to Citizenship

In our latest podcast, host Andy Langer speaks with Amer as the comedian prepares to record his first Netflix special.

By Andy Langer

Sports|

June 14, 2018

Ted Cruz vs. Jimmy Kimmel: Basketball Scouting Report

The late-night host and Texas senator will go one-on-one on Saturday. Here's our scouting report.

By and Leif Reigstad

Music|

April 21, 2018

The Texanist: Bob Wills Played a Song About WHAT?!?

A Tulsa woman thinks the king of western swing had a raunchy side. Her husband isn't buying it.

By

News & Politics|

March 21, 2018

Meanwhile, in Texas

An inmate gets caught sneaking back into prison, a stolen cowboy dummy is returned, and the last Texas Blockbuster Video store closes.

By Leif Reigstad

News & Politics|

February 21, 2018

Meanwhile, in Texas

An obituary for a chicken, a consequential Whataburger receipt, an overenthusiastic Red Raider, and a handful of other stories from around the state.

By Leif Reigstad

Business|

January 31, 2018

Does Amazon’s Super Bowl Ad Prove That HQ2 Is Coming To Austin?

Probably not! But let’s read way too much into it anyway.

By

News & Politics|

January 23, 2018

Meanwhile, in Texas

A 45-pound catfish, a mannequin in the passenger seat, a naked woman eating cake, and a handful of other stories from around the state.

By Leif Reigstad

December 21, 2017

Bum Steer Awards 2018 No. 6: Bob McNair

The Houston Texans owner nabs sixth place, for saying of his players’ decision to kneel during the National Anthem: “We can’t have the inmates running the prison.”

By Texas Monthly

Politics & Policy|

December 21, 2017

Bum Steer Awards 2018

This year, virtually everyone embarrassed themselves—and the rest of us.

By Texas Monthly

Bum Steers|

December 21, 2017

Bum Steer Awards 2018 No. 3: The Travis County DA’s Office

The Austin-based office captured third place for the botched investigation of state representative Dawnna Dukes.

By Texas Monthly

Bum Steers|

December 21, 2017

Bum Steer Awards 2018 No. 8: Lamar Smith

The outgoing congressman takes eighth place for his refusal to face the truth about climate change.

By Texas Monthly

Bum Steers|

December 21, 2017

Bum Steer Awards 2018 No. 7: Louie Gohmert

The East Texas congressman takes seventh place for his wack-job debut as an infographic creator.

By Texas Monthly

Meanwhile in Texas|

December 21, 2017

Meanwhile, in Texas . . .

The craziest headlines you might have missed over the past month.

By Leif Reigstad

Bum Steers|

December 21, 2017

Bum Steer Awards 2018 No. 1: Dan Patrick

Our lieutenant governor, for his eagerness to squander his power, waste our time, and drag Texas politics into the bathroom, is our Bum Steer of the Year.

By Texas Monthly

Bum Steers|

December 21, 2017

Bum Steer Awards 2018 No. 2: Mother Nature

The Mistress of the Elements occupies second place—for being really, really mean to Texas.

By

Bum Steers|

December 21, 2017

Bum Steer Awards 2018: The Rest of the List

The eight infamous Steers celebrated elsewhere in this package had a lot of company this year in our hall of shame. Here are another fifty or so Texans deserving of some ignominy.

By Texas Monthly

Bum Steers|

December 21, 2017

Bum Steer Awards 2018 No. 4: The Texas Democratic Party

Landing in fourth place, the state government’s also-ran loyal opposition, for going missing in action, year after year.

By Texas Monthly

Bum Steers|

December 21, 2017

Bum Steer Awards 2018 No. 5: Alex Jones

In fifth place: the excitable radio host, for saying so many crazy things that his unsuccessful and very public child custody battle wasn’t the most embarrassing thing that happened to him this year.

By Texas Monthly