I’m feeling it, Folks!
The driving and the weird beds and varied pillows and strange sounds of hotels starts to wear me down a little. I’m just glad that generally, even if I’m only in town one night, I can register and remember where the bathroom is in each room before I crash. It's good to know when you’re a man over 50. Plan ahead. Don’t fall down. Don’t walk into a wall. Don’t die.
I’m not complaining, but I’m getting a little punchy. Sometimes that’s good for the work, sometimes it makes me a little too sensitive and defensive. Which can also be good, not for the people I direct it at, but mild bullying in a comedy show context can be funny. Even if I don’t really want to do it, I have the skills.
As much as I am tired of the context of comedy show expectations that were built into the form in the eighties, I was built during that time as well. Reactive. Ready.
This last week’s shows have been very good. Great, even. All of them. Madison, Milwaukee, Chicago and Minneapolis. My midwestern fans are the best. They know how to behave at a show. They are there to listen and laugh. They are open-hearted folks willing to go for the ride I’m providing. As much as I condescend to the ‘middle of the country’ sometimes, I really do know that there are plenty of good people there. Progressive people. Smart people. Isolated, sad people. People that need exactly the kind of show I’m doing.
I was punchy last night. I was at the Pantages Theatre in Minneapolis. Fourth show in a row of long shows. The last one of this run. It was my third time there. Lynn Shelton directed me in Too Real there and I did a show before the pandemic there as well. Seats around 900. Pretty much sold out. Sitting front and center were a middle aged couple who weren’t laughing at all. Nothing. It was really the only row I could see. Obviously, it didn’t really matter. The show was going great but I could SEE them. Nothing.
Eventually I asked if they were at the right show. Ron White was up the street, maybe they screwed up. I did an impression of the man’s face so the rest of the theatre could see what I was dealing with. Standard crowd work stuff. Big laughs. Nothing from them. Then when I talk about my typical audience, I say it’s mostly disgruntled, middle aged women and whoever they bring to the show who sit there saying, ‘So, this is the guy you like, huh?’ That made him laugh. That was the situation. Then back to nothing.
I have a bit of a break from comedy this week. I’m going to Tulsa to shoot an episode of Reservation Dogs. I’m very excited. I am sorry I had to reschedule my Dynasty Typewriter shows. Another time. I’m in LA a lot. There’s plenty of opportunity to see me.
Today I talk to skateboarding legend Tony Hawk. I knew nothing about skateboarding. It didn’t matter. On Thursday I talk to film director Nicole Holofcener about her movies and writing. Great talks.
Enjoy!
Boomer, Monkey and LaFonda live!
Love,
Maron
Punchy.
