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BACK ISSUES INTERVIEWS Stand-Up Comedians Jim Norton Robert Kelly Donnell Rawlings Brad Stine Tammy Pescatelli Leighann Lord George Sarris Nick DiPaolo Russ Meneve Shang and more By Tasha A. Harris, NYC Comedy Journalist STAGE TIME The Magazine That Stands Up For Comedy |
How do you deal with that?
I haven’t seen grand thievery yet. If I see it, I will say something. I don’t think I’ve seen it. One
time...years ago, it was a movie reference. I thought, maybe we just both thought of the reference.
And my other friend reminded me, “No, you’re taken two different parts of the movie and putting
them together.” “Oh, yeah.” I told him. He’s an actor and he kept doing it anyway. Fuck him.
When did you find your “voice" and how did you know?
Well, it just feels right. I think ten years in, you start to find your voice...Earlier than that, you’re doing
jokes. You’re doing well but you get comfortable just being onstage and just talking to the audience.
I don’t need energy. I work my material with very low energy…I know that if a joke works, especially in
this room, at the Cellar, really slow and deliberate, then it’s going to work anywhere. If I kinda try like
that - take out any nonsense that might be getting a laugh that I don’t want.
If the joke is getting a laugh just because I make a face, then the joke needs to be better written.
Or if because I’m cursing...Cursing is great but I try not to curse in bits until I know they work.
A lot of guys do the same shit every night and they wonder why no one cares about them.
“Hey, motherfucker—write! Take a risk. Stop needing to kill on a Tuesday. You’re making $20 dollars
here.” I don’t do this for the money. I’m at the Cellar because it’s a gym…
What can comics do if they become bored with their material?
Put it on a CD and start writing. Once I put something on a CD, I rarely ever do it again. My only
advice is to pick up a pen, you lazy motherfucker and write. You fucking anchor on the business.
I got no mercy for guys who don’t work. None!
My writing is kinda onstage. I do four hours of radio a day, so it creatively saps you. I’m always trying,
always working on something. Sometimes it works. A lot of times, it stinks or it bombs…I try really
hard to do a lot of material because I get bored very fast. Guys want to go out and have your social
lives. You want to get the big laughs on a Tuesday. Fuck you. Don’t complain. Take your $20 bucks
and go fuck yourself. Have fun on your date, stupid. But, I’m going to work.
What sacrifices have you made to do stand up?
Every relationship I’ve ever had. Christmas, New Years, Thanksgiving. I work every night. I’m going to
get tired of that crap. And now, I kinda like want…I’m 37 and I’m still on Craigslist at three in the
morning, looking for full service for a $100. Maybe, I should have done a couple things differently.
You sacrifice your social life. You don’t have a wife, kids or friends.
To me, I’ve sacrificed completely having a social life. I’m not saying that’s for everybody but that’s
what I did. And I’m glad I did it…I’m happy with where I am so I’m moving in the right direction.
And I know I’m always working on something. If you’re doing that and you’re a funny person, you’re
going to succeed. If you’re trying to work towards new material most of the time, you should succeed.
It is luck.
Comedy Central never fucking gave me shit - nothing. The only reason I was on that dumb network
because Colin Quinn, who is my friend, wanted me on his show. They gave me Premium Blend. I guess
I’m kinda bitter because they canceled our show - his show. You know. I’m kinda pissed off about
that. I heard about Chappelle leaving and I just smiled. I love Dave for that. I’d love to hold him.
I ought to take Chappelle out to dinner for that. I’ll be honest: I’m just pissed off because I loved
doing Tough Crowd. I loved it.
How did it help your career?
It made me a better comic.
Really-
Oh yeah! That forced you to write, comically. You better be funny because – Colin, who was ruthless,
Nick DiPaolo, Keith [Robinson] and Greg Giraldo – these are funny dudes who would smash you.
If you start doing things in your act, they’re going to attack you. If you start [doing] corny, nonsense
jokes, you’re going to get wasted. I have been many times…We all have bombed but it really made
you want to write.
I haven’t seen grand thievery yet. If I see it, I will say something. I don’t think I’ve seen it. One
time...years ago, it was a movie reference. I thought, maybe we just both thought of the reference.
And my other friend reminded me, “No, you’re taken two different parts of the movie and putting
them together.” “Oh, yeah.” I told him. He’s an actor and he kept doing it anyway. Fuck him.
When did you find your “voice" and how did you know?
Well, it just feels right. I think ten years in, you start to find your voice...Earlier than that, you’re doing
jokes. You’re doing well but you get comfortable just being onstage and just talking to the audience.
I don’t need energy. I work my material with very low energy…I know that if a joke works, especially in
this room, at the Cellar, really slow and deliberate, then it’s going to work anywhere. If I kinda try like
that - take out any nonsense that might be getting a laugh that I don’t want.
If the joke is getting a laugh just because I make a face, then the joke needs to be better written.
Or if because I’m cursing...Cursing is great but I try not to curse in bits until I know they work.
A lot of guys do the same shit every night and they wonder why no one cares about them.
“Hey, motherfucker—write! Take a risk. Stop needing to kill on a Tuesday. You’re making $20 dollars
here.” I don’t do this for the money. I’m at the Cellar because it’s a gym…
What can comics do if they become bored with their material?
Put it on a CD and start writing. Once I put something on a CD, I rarely ever do it again. My only
advice is to pick up a pen, you lazy motherfucker and write. You fucking anchor on the business.
I got no mercy for guys who don’t work. None!
My writing is kinda onstage. I do four hours of radio a day, so it creatively saps you. I’m always trying,
always working on something. Sometimes it works. A lot of times, it stinks or it bombs…I try really
hard to do a lot of material because I get bored very fast. Guys want to go out and have your social
lives. You want to get the big laughs on a Tuesday. Fuck you. Don’t complain. Take your $20 bucks
and go fuck yourself. Have fun on your date, stupid. But, I’m going to work.
What sacrifices have you made to do stand up?
Every relationship I’ve ever had. Christmas, New Years, Thanksgiving. I work every night. I’m going to
get tired of that crap. And now, I kinda like want…I’m 37 and I’m still on Craigslist at three in the
morning, looking for full service for a $100. Maybe, I should have done a couple things differently.
You sacrifice your social life. You don’t have a wife, kids or friends.
To me, I’ve sacrificed completely having a social life. I’m not saying that’s for everybody but that’s
what I did. And I’m glad I did it…I’m happy with where I am so I’m moving in the right direction.
And I know I’m always working on something. If you’re doing that and you’re a funny person, you’re
going to succeed. If you’re trying to work towards new material most of the time, you should succeed.
It is luck.
Comedy Central never fucking gave me shit - nothing. The only reason I was on that dumb network
because Colin Quinn, who is my friend, wanted me on his show. They gave me Premium Blend. I guess
I’m kinda bitter because they canceled our show - his show. You know. I’m kinda pissed off about
that. I heard about Chappelle leaving and I just smiled. I love Dave for that. I’d love to hold him.
I ought to take Chappelle out to dinner for that. I’ll be honest: I’m just pissed off because I loved
doing Tough Crowd. I loved it.
How did it help your career?
It made me a better comic.
Really-
Oh yeah! That forced you to write, comically. You better be funny because – Colin, who was ruthless,
Nick DiPaolo, Keith [Robinson] and Greg Giraldo – these are funny dudes who would smash you.
If you start doing things in your act, they’re going to attack you. If you start [doing] corny, nonsense
jokes, you’re going to get wasted. I have been many times…We all have bombed but it really made
you want to write.