COST OF LAUGHTER UP 3 PERCENT

COST OF LAUGHTER UP 3 PERCENT

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (Wireless Flash) -- Laughter may be the best medicine, but you'll be paying 3 percent more for your yucks this year. That's according to humor consultant Malcolm Kushner, who has just compiled his 1999 Cost Of Laughing Index, which tracks the prices of 16 leading humor indicators. Only two items actually increased in price: Singing telegrams featuring dancing chickens now cost $75 per hour -- $10 more than last year, and the cost of writing a 30-minute sitcom has increased from $11,891 to $12,248. Kushner says prices for some items on the Cost of Laughing Index actually decreased or remained the same, including... -- A dozen rubber chickens, which dropped from $66 to $60. -- A dozen "Groucho Glasses" remains firm at $15. -- And a copy of "Mad" magazine is still $2.50.

CONTACT: Malcolm Kushner, ****; Santa Cruz, CA; (831) 425-4839