That's right, tapered at both ends. Larry (of whom I'm a fan) dropped a real stink pickle with this one. The lack of an audience certainly doesn't help, but frankly I don't think an audience would laugh at much of this performance. The whole thing smacks of cashing in on his popularity. This CD will probably detract from his continued success. There are a few modestly funny moments on this CD, but the material runs mostly between "not funny" and "less than funny". My IQ dropped fifteen points after listening to this just once. Save your money or buy "Lord, I Apologize" instead. If you've already got "Lord, I Apologize", buy some collectible plates. They'll be worth more in the long run.