Comedy

Doug Stanhope – grumpy young man

~ Wiberg ~ 1 Comment

I first heard of comedian Doug Stanhope in 2000 when I was temping (fun!) at a Los Angeles talent agency that represented him (APA, I doubt they rep him now). Anyway, I heard of him because he came in with a friend and grabbed a bunch of bottled water and left. I guess he was thirsty. Anyhow, video librarian at the place told me who he was, gave me a couple of CDs to listen to (Sicko, and Something To Take the Edge Off.  all the info on Doug can be found here – I’m not for doing links on every other word I type. Maybe later I’ll be at it, but I’m writing shit, not linking shit on this site. I’ll link when I feel like it.)….ANYWAY, the first thing that struck me was there was an annoying music track underneath the jokes on one of the CDs.  Like some cool hip jazz mellow music. A ‘can you dig it’ sort of thing. I couldn’t dig it. The jokes were funny – Doug is funny – but the music on the CD was distracting.

So, cut to a few years later, and I recall seeing Stanhope on television – of course, why wouldn’t he be – he is funny and he works and tours hard, it seems. More recently, he has a Showtime special: Doug Stanhope: No Refunds. Not sure where it’s taped, don’t really care. I recommend watching it for several reasons – some funny bits, and a good example of the personality selling the jokes in some cases. Stanhope is one of the grumpy, know-it-all comics that tell you things suck, etc. – there’s a market for that (believe me, it’s a purposeful style: some comics do impressions, some do PG observations, and some are the angry comic; but he does it better than anyone, I suspect. I never buy that David Cross or Patton Oswalt are really angry or upset about the world/America/people/current President/whatever. And I’ve mentioned it before, but any comedian who bitches for an hour in their act can come across as a little ridiculous – you’re a comedian, dude! Chances are you are living a crazy (possibly profitable, God forbid) life doing what you’re doing – you’re not stuck in an office staring at spreadsheets, or adjusting your drive-thru headset every five minutes. So, I’m always a little suspicious of the ‘angry comic’ – especially those who have broken through to the level that Stanhope has.  Can you really be that angry all the time? Chillax, all you mad comics. But, I give him full credit for having a great presentation style and material.  If there’s a comic who can joke about anything, it’s probably him. Check out a bit from the No Refunds show (note: adult language alert or caution or announcement in this video).

Oh, btw, and Stanhope smokes and drinks and so will probably be dead before too long. So, if you can see him in person, do it! Then later you can say “I saw that dude when he was alive, man” and where the tribute t-shirt with pride, knowing you were in the same room. If you don’t, you can still wear the tribute shirt, but it won’t be the same.  Now, if he stopped smoking, he might have good cause to be angry! But, to each his own.

Rita Rudner: what happens in Vegas, probably involves watching her do her thing…and by ‘thing’, I mean telling jokes.

~ Wiberg

A few months ago while watching the nth episode of Premium Blend or some show that featured some forgettable comic trying his best to be cute or clever about child-rearing, technology or relationships (or all three, who knows), I was reminded that one of the first comics I took notice of was Rita Rudner – someone who was one of hundreds of comics to burst out in the 1980s via the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, but who stood apart from many others – in appearance and presentation (her one-liner style wasn’t new, but it seemed new and fresh the way she delivered the jokes in the sweetest of manners). And so what was she doing today? I decided to call her and say ‘Rita, what are you doing.’ But my cell phone’s battery was dead at the moment and I also didn’t have her phone number. But, off course a quick search revealed that Rita Rudner is performing gobs of shows in Las Vegas at Harrah’s. And also around the country – all this information can be found at her site, of course. The internet is like that sometimes.

Anyway, it felt good to do an internet search that wouldn’t raise any flags with local, state, or federal security, and to learn something of value – that one of America’s most witty comediennes (or comedian, or comic, or whatever) is still telling jokes. And, the other day I watched her most recent DVD, “Rita Rudner, Live From Las Vegas” – a title that might seem boring, but gets the job done and tells you what you’re gonna see. Her show is not some vaguely named  “Comedians of Comedy” or “Tourgasm” or any “[insert cultural or ethnic identity] of Comedy” – (btw, this is subject for another post – the segregation of comedy – last time I checked, comedy/humor was supposed to be universal, supposed to bring people together and laugh at one another, learn about one another through humor. Nowadays, everyone is so hell-bent on promoting their ‘group’ that it’s comedy group mentality and STOP!!!!!! this will be another post, for later).

Back to Rita Rudner – in today’s GTA:IV world, RR may seem old-fashioned, but buy/rent her stuff and you’ll find some incredibly sharp one-liners and jokes, just as good as anything out there. Please, watch these excerpts:

I watch her show and I think to myself, (to quote Rudner): What is it like in there?

hey, after you view ALL those Carlin clips on YouTube, read this:

~ Wiberg ~ 2 Comments

This interview took place earlier this month – an interview posted on Pyschology Today’s website –  read it if you’re interested in how now dead comedian George Carlin viewed himself, stand-up comedy, etc…very interesting.

and below, check out the clip of Carlin posted on youtube. Just kidding! You’ve probably seen ’em all anyway! Now, I encourage to read that interview.

UPDATE: I realized I should have mentioned that, of course, Carlin was a great comic and I really dug his stuff, especially the 1970s/1980s stuff.  Who is going to take the time post that they didnt? I guess some will. Anyhow, a very sharp comic who was fortunate to keep at it for so long. And, per George Carlin, please wait 6 weeks to scratch his name out of your address book (if you were so fortunate to have him in your book to call on).

King of Comedy – DeNiro

~ Wiberg

If you think actor Robert DeNiro plays the same dudes over and over, rent/buy The King of Comedy, directed by Martin Scorsese. DeNiro plays Rupert Pupkin (say that fast) – a delusional thirty-something living with his mom, believing that he is the most talented comic/television host to substitute or replace a popular, Johnny Carson-like figure (Jerry Lewis). Pupkin, though, has not exactly developed his skills, and has never performed in front of an audience (except in his own mind). Anyway, the movie is brilliant and way overlooked by DeNiro fans and fans of show business-type ‘making it in show-biz movies’. Sandra Bernhard also stars as an even crazier character. This movie has some cringe-making scenes, as Rupert tries his best to insert himself in the ‘late night show’ scene. This clip is Rupert ‘having a meeting’ with his idol:

Comedy, arcania

~ Wiberg ~ 2 Comments

few things:

First, I did a show last week with 170 people in the audience – largest for our little comedy oasis in San Luis Obispo.  I probably did about 15 minutes of stand-up – solid set (i should have taped it).

Second, great little blog started by friend Kim Noyes and his friend Krissa. It’s called Eclectic Arcania. About rocks, history, and other, well, stuff.

Laughreview update

~ Wiberg

Hey, world, over at laughreview.wordpress.com i have a few posts about Lenny Bruce, Carrot Top, etc….

I’m debating whether or not to try out for Last Comic Standing – seems like a lame cattle call with bullshit on top. Last season I recognized ‘undiscovered’ comic talents who made the cut – so it’s a fixed game, so not sure if I should bother….