While the most recent leg of the 2012 GOP campaign trail has been marked by eight vote leads, libertarian bluster, and plays to religion, it can also be defined by a lack of one key political ingredient: humor. The seriousness of all the candidates thus far has left voters on both sides of the aisle yearning for effortlessly funny former frontrunners like Bob Dole and John McCain. And, as Pete Dominick, comedian and CNN contributor has noted, boring politics makes for bad politics.

What's so funny about Denver?

We are broadcasting today and tomorrow from our member station KUVO in Denver, Colorado, which just so happens to be the humor research capital of the world. There are academics at the University of Colorado who make it their business to figure out what makes things funny. (Tough job, but somebody's got to do it.)

After a huge amount of publicity and hype, “The Big C” premiered on Showtime last night. The show is a comedy about something a lot of people don't like to talk about, let alone laugh over: cancer.

Laura Linney plays a middle aged woman who’s just been diagnosed with Stage IV melanoma, and given about 18 months to live. In the first episode, Linney's character, Cathy, confides her diagnosis to just one entity: the neighbor’s dog.

"I'm living the dream!" she shouts. "I'm here all year! Performing at Stage 4! Oh come on, come on, you gotta give it up for me a little bit. It's kind of funny? Death comedy." She laughs. And then starts to cry. 

To make his living, Peter Franklin drives a yellow cab in New York City. As he makes his way around the city, ferrying customers from point A to point B, Peter has a knack for getting people to talk on subjects as erudite as global economic indicators and domestic policy. Now he has turned those daily conversations into a report for BBC radio and other outlets around the world. He joins us now for his take on life in New York City.

For more from the Gabby Cabby, check out his website and the BBC series Up All Night .

The Takeaway's sports contributor Jeff Beresford-Howe looks into his crystal (foot)ball to try and help us figure out what we can expect from the new year in sports.

With just four days left until the election, early voting and new polling numbers are dominating the headlines. But comedian and satirist Harry Shearer doesn't want voters overlook the legacy of President George W. Bush and his administration. His new CD is "Songs of the Bushmen."

The plunging Dow, failing banks, rising prices — it seems like things couldn't possibly get worse. But Wall Street Journal humor columnist Peter Jeffrey thinks there are more shocks to come, including the collapse of the key-fob industry and razor-toothed Velociraptors lumbering down Wall Street.

Just weeks ago, Palin Syrah was a modestly popular organic Chilean wine that went for about $13 a bottle. Then came the Republican National Convention, and the announcement that a very popular Alaska Governor named Sarah Palin was John McCain’s pick for running mate. And Palin Syrah was suddenly not-so-popular. The Takeaway talks to Chris Tavelli — the owner of Yield Wine Bar in San Francisco.

In 2004, Muslim comics Preacher Moss and Azhar Usman formed "Allah Made Me Funny," a comedy tour based around the American-Muslim experience. Friday, an independent movie based on the tour opens for a one-week run in theaters across the country.

Joss Whedon ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer") and Seth MacFarlane ("Family Guy"), two of television's most powerful showrunners, are taking their brands online. Whedon's "Dr. Horrible" will be an on-the-cheap supervillain musical. MacFarlane's "Cavalcade of Cartoon Comedy" will be distributed by the advertising juggernaut Google, who just might be reinventing TV...