Working, People.
I am doing a lot of comedy. Like, a lot.
I just can’t stop it seems. To the point where I’m wondering why. That happens sometimes. I feel guilty for taking a night off. It’s an old NYC club work ethic. I have to get the sets in.
In light of that I’m still amazed that a set that doesn’t feel great to me still fucks me up for a day. Even if it’s just a 15-minute set. Even if someone DMs me on IG to tell me it was the most they laughed since Trump was in office. I’m still a little mad about it. I think embarrassed is more the feeling. To not get laughs where I know they belong, where I’ve gotten them before is shameful somehow. I just have to suck it up. It’s part of the job.
Saturday I had a set in the Original Room at The Comedy Store that was so specifically a night club set that I felt like I was possessed by an old timey schtickster spirit. I was Ricklesing. I was working at a clip that was quick and the beats were happening every 15 or 20 seconds. I was slinging the insults at the people up front. I was totally killing. About 2/3 of the room were fighting for air they were laughing so much. The other third didn’t seem to know where they were or why they came. I didn’t care. Their loss. Fuck them.
I had to have a guy thrown out because he stood up during my set and started applauding on his exposed stomach. I had zero patience. "Get him out of here." Two women sitting up front, nowhere near him, shrieked, “It’s his birthday!”
I said, “I don’t care. It’s not my job to babysit him. Fuck him. It will be a memorable birthday.”
Tired of that shit. Why is that part of comedy club culture?
I was driving to the Comedy Store on Friday and a punchline was delivered to me from the big funny in the sky. I’m always thinking about ways to address heavy, controversial things in a way that isn’t too self-righteous or earnest. This one that came to me was about the pro-choice movement and trying to find some middle ground with the Christian Right. I think it’s a branding thing. Abortion Clinic just sounds too medical and awful. I thought maybe if we call them Angel Factories we can change the perception. Make it something positive for them. Angel Factories. That’s what came to me. What a gift.
Today I talk to stop-motion and special effects wizard Phil Tippett about his new feature Mad God that he has been working on for 30 years. There’s some Star Wars talk too. A little. On Friday I talk to the very funny comic Lara Beitz. Great talks.
Enjoy!
Boomer, Monkey and La Fonda live!
Love,
Maron
Can't Stop.
