Ball's face, voice and comic verve are intimately familiar to viewers of every generation.

Parody of this comic verve is as much fun as the sort of marvelous party Noel Coward once sang about.

Kevin Glavin was also a bit woolly-sounding as the German Baron Trombonok, but he acted and sang the role with considerable comic verve.

The screenplay provides a batch of actresses with a chance to show some comic verve.

This is perhaps the most enjoyable part of the novel (although it's also the least ambitious), demonstrating Neate's comic verve and keen instinct for political and social commentary.

But the effort to stand out from other talk-show hosts, especially his idol, Mr. Letterman, seems to have sapped some of Mr. Kimmel's comic verve.

They don't obscure Ms. Troche and Ms. Turner's real comic verve, or their real promise.

Still, some of the songs have a comic verve, and those who delight in dirty jokes will certainly find something to enjoy.

Ms. Plunkett remains as alluring as before - her initially impressive performance has grown in comic verve - but she now has to fight more strenuously for her Bill's attentions.

Mr. Clapp describes such encounters with lots of comic verve, while regaling the reader with assorted myths, tales, rumors and some archeological history.