Musings: On networking, roasts, Colbert, and tribalism
Random comedy thoughts.
Some recent comedy thoughts:
After years of attending shows featuring both professional comedians and open mic’ers, it stuns me that anyone thinks they “hate the elites.”
My YouTube feed is filled with vids where some random dude in front of a purple LED backdrop “destroys” or “eviscerates” a famous person. To me, it always feels like a parasite complaining about its host. Bro, you’re heckling from your mom’s basement using that celeb as clickbait juice – maybe tone down the ‘tude a tad.
IEDs are yet another reason to hate improv.
Hosting The Colbert Report was one of the most incredible feats in comedy/television that's ever occurred. He carried the entire thing, every night, in character FLAWLESSLY – even the improv during the interviews was gold. I can only imagine how exhausting that musta been. Tons of late night hosts go mad even when they have support. He was just solo on the high wire the whole time.
Spotted online…
My reply: Networking *somehow* is integral in a lot of industries. I’d seek ways to do this besides “the hang.” Make cool vids with your comedy buddies during the day perhaps. In general I’d say do/make stuff more than hang out is the answer.
The way raw comics get aggro towards YOU if you dare to point out a bit has been done before is shocking. Comedians used to take pride in avoiding hackdom. Now it’s the goal since the path to Likes is lowest common denominator slop.
Tribalism is an enemy of good comedy. A great comedian’s job, besides getting laughs, is to point out bullsh*t. And there’s plenty of that in every tribe.
People know, “We roast the ones we love.” But they never consider the inverse: “We act overly polite with the ones we don’t know or don’t like.”
The notion of punching up/down is antiquated now that the counterculture feels mainstream and the establishment feels like the rebels. Example: Trans people are marginalized yet their online defenders feel like cancelling bullies. So are those Chappelle jokes punching up or down?
STANDUP COMEDY: Riff on the room. Some light crowdwork. Solid opener to get them on my side. Some unexpected tags. A little bit of topical. And now we’re ready for the joke I actually want to tell that no one will like.
"What very important truth do few people agree with you on?” is a great thought exercise for coming up with joke premises. If nothing else, they’ll wanna hear what you have to say next.
Ya know how trees turn CO2 into Oxygen? I feel like comedy does that with complaining.
Ha! #12 is great. Re: #9 I think the operative word is "feels". Feeling like a rebel online is not like being marginalized in real life. Maybe it's harder to see which way is up online, but a joke based in limited life experience/perspective only feels anti-establishment or funny to those who share the same ignorance. Isn't it all hackdom to avoid?
dear matt,
I like this a lot: "In general I’d say do/make stuff more than hang out is the answer."
And with respect to this: "The notion of punching up/down is antiquated now that the counterculture feels mainstream and the establishment feels like the rebels. Example: Trans people are marginalized yet their online defenders feel like cancelling bullies. So are those Chappelle jokes punching up or down?"
In this case? Punching down.
What power has anyone had to "bully" him or "cancel" him?
Chappelle is a rich, powerful, cisgender man who has won Grammys for his anti-trans material. He is on Netflix. He is the establishment.
How is a Grammy-winning Netflix anti-trans millionaire not the establishment?
Just offering this because I also agree with you here:
"A great comedian’s job, besides getting laughs, is to point out bullsh*t."
I love you and thank you for sharing as always!
Myq