A Love Hate Relationship
November 1, 2007 · Print This Article
Undoubtedly when you talk to a young comic after their first performance, you will get one of two reactions: “I’m hooked”, or “I’m never doing that again”. But the truth is, most people fall somewhere in the middle, and to prove the point Brian invites a young up and comer to the show to discuss his love hate relationship with comedy.
Other topics include shitty Halloween sweaters, condoms and butterscotch, comics turned street pedlers, Brian’s labor of love, and the first comedy/music feature of November. I’m the hiphopopotomus my rhymes are bottomless.
Email: brianmcomedy@gmail.com and give us a call on 206-203-4692
Het cool b-mo, im i a weird al fan. he’s really funny and the music is really good as both a song and a parody. nothin to be ashamed of.
oh also i once heard something cool about weird al, apparently before he puts a parody on cd he gets permission from the musician/s that wrote the song the parody is based off of. hell, apparently you havent made it in the music industry untill weird al parodys your song. also i think chamilionare thanked weird al for his grammy saying the his album wouldent have done nearly as well without white and nerdy.
Hey B-Mo, great show.
I also have to admit that I like Weird Al quite a bit. My favorite musical comedians are Stephen Lynch and Sean Cullen, though.
Kind of a big day for me: I got booked to do my first-ever radio spot to promote a show I’m in tomorrow night, which is pretty sweet. Our local MediaCom provider also picked up a stand-up special that I’m on; a Des Moines-area co-operative film corporation videotaped a show with about 10 comics at it, and then picked 4 guys to showcase in the show. I was lucky enough to be one of the guys on it, which is pretty cool. It airs at 6 o’clock tonight if anybody is in Des Moines by accident.
It’s also way cool that this show gets put on despite you not making any cash off of it. Hopefully that’ll change soon!
Great show. Regarding the discussion of being a BTB fan, I for one definitely look foward to the latest podcast each week. We get it around 3.00 p.m. on Thursday in the UK - I always have Thursdays off, so love downloading it, then listening to it on my mp3 player while going for a long walk . Am sure i speak for other people here when i say that BTB is always a really positive part of my week - it’s almost like the weekend starting early!
Thought I’d hate the Weird Al clip, but you’ve got to give it to the guy - he does commit 100% to his song parodies! Look forward to more musical comedy - featuring 2 acts each show is a great idea.
-Des Moines, joel? I’ve been there a couple times and my 83 year old grandmother is the most interesting person in that city.
-I kinda wanna ask about comedian’s being labeled as “alternative comedy”. That label annoys me because its not really honest. To me, Zach Galifinakis and Demetri Martin aren’t realy alternative comics, there joke comics or character comics. To me, Jim Norton and Doug Stanhope are alternative because they tackle things that aren’t really dealt w/ in a perspective that isn’t used often. It’s upsetting to hear that label used on people who just act goofy have hipster followings. what do you guys think?
Good call Ben. I almost think that it’s the comics who relish this idea of being “alternative”, because what they do isn’t necessarily that uncommon anymore.
And now, Leonar4do’s musings:
Larry Craig has ruined my life. Yes, the Senator from Idaho best known for his “wide stance” has had that big of an impact on me. Now don’t go thinking stereotypes about me; frankly I wish there were MORE gay conservatives. But it does have something to do with The Incident…
You see, I work on the road, and when it’s time to drop a deuce, it’s probably going to happen in a public restroom. Before i found out how It All Works, that would go off without a hitch. But now, when somebody is in the stall next to me, I get incredibly uptight. Are my feet appropriately separated? I hope to God I haven’t been mentally humming a tune and…toetapping.
I know, I know…you think I’m homophobic. Well, I’ve had a buddy or two that were gay, and we were cool. But if homophobic means “afraid of gays”, hell yes I am. Friggin’ terrified. I mean, I am capable of loving like a brother a gay feller, because the character and morality of an individual mean more to me than anything else. But if a guy made a pass at me, I’d probably faint like Miss Lily Applebottom as Sherman rode through Atlanta. I would have no idea how to react to that without screaming while experiencing the most horrifying visuals.
Seriously, I don’t mean to offend. If you enjoy that lifestyle, more power to you. If I seem a little crabby, it’s just that I’m backed up…
Personally I always have gotten annoyed when you go to the farthest stall in a public restroom and the next jackass that comes in goes into the next immediate stall. What, does he want to play battle shits? Go away!
Just recently watched Mystery Men again and I never realized how many comics who were basically unknowns were in the movie. Christ’s sake Dane riggin’ Cook was in it!
What’s the deal with older comics going all political all the time? Cosby’s pissed, Garafalo is righteously pissed, Franken has (had?) his Air America show, Rosie O’Donnell is psycho and Joe Rogan’s trying to get Mencia deported.
BTW, personally I’m more of a Frankie Yankovich fan.
Just listened to the last 20 mins of the show on the computer just so i could get an early post in. As per usual great show, love Weird Al at the end looking forward to more of that. Wasn’t sure about flight of the Conchords but just realised it’s on BBC4 this evening so figured i’d watch an see what thats like.
Has anyone heard of The Doug Anthony All Stars, a comedy Troupe from Australia, i’ve got a couple of videos that i’ve not watched in years but recall they had some rather amusing songs.
This maybe slightly out of the remit of musical comedy but John Hegley springs to mind. He does more of the Comedy Poems, but quite amusing.
Ben, you mention Alternative comics, well back in the early 80’s in the UK anyone not telling the standard one liner jokes about the mother in law etc etc were considered ‘Alternative’. Back then the likes of Bernard Manning and Mike Reid telling blue and Racist jokes were the norm. Then along came the Comedy Store with this ‘New Breed’ of ‘Alternative’ comediens who tell a story rather than a quick fire joke with punchline. Billy Connolly was part of this revolution which is probably when i started getting into comedy ( which means i have loads of Videos and Cassette tape i’ve got to try and transfer to DVD and CD)
Apologies for the ramble, its rather late
C Jack makes a great point that would maybe make a fab theme for a future edition of BTB -
What Exactly is “Alternative Comedy”?
I’m pretty sure the term is British in origin - from the late 70’s movement that was a reaction against the awful state of stand-up n the UK back then - fat balding old comedians in frilly shirts and dinner jackets just reciting a stream of ancient old racist and sexist bar jokes . Alternative Comedy in the UK was a reaction against the Old Comedythe same way Punk was a revolt against how dull music had gotten in the late 70’s…in that you could get up in certain open-mike clubs and do your very own self-written thing rather just rehashing old shit, the same way you could start your own punk band and start gigging after learning just 3 guitar chords, rather than having to study music theory for 20 years in the hope of maybe one day becoming Brian May of Queen.
So what do our American chums understand as Alternative Comedy? The thing is you guys invented it with people like Bruce ,Pryor, and Carlin talking about personal and political observations rather than the Bop Hope school of pre-written stand-up.
I so want to hear to hear other people’s views on this…
Larry Craig is nothing. Have you seen the new conservative legislator who resigned because he dressed up in lingerie and picked up a hustler. Jesus Christ, there’s gay and then there’s gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!
Unlike you Leonardo, I like it when guys hit on me. I view it as the same as an ugly woman hitting on me. I would never act on it, but it’s good to know that someone finds me attractive.
I dont want to be accuse anyone of joke stealing or anything, but I’m watching the Ralphie May special, girth of a nation, and just heard a joke I swear I’ve heard before. The set up is talking about midgets, and how the word midget is like the N word. and then how 400 years ago they never took the midgets from oompa loompa land. It had a different punchline altogether, but the entire structure seems really familiar. anyone remember hearing something similar from a different comic?
Very classy of you Mike, so I’ll do the dirty work for you. Ralphie May is a hack. Even if he doesn’t steal directly from comics, he does the lamest fat/racial stereotype jokes I’ve ever heard. He is easily my least favorite well known comic.
Hi Mike,
doug stanhope does a bit about talking to his two midget buddies about when he fucked a midget and got chastised by them. That might be we’re your etting it from….although I do agree with Brian that its a pretty easy premise to get.
N
Ok something for the comics,
I was listening to the Organising Episode and probably one thign that I don’t think has ever been discussed is….
How do you start your set? What’s a good opener? Usually I see comics talk about the loal town? Or do you give some shit to the emcee, or talk about how you look like the illegitimate child of Kelsey Grammer and Catwoman?
a good starting gag must be worth its wait in gold..
Nick
- mike, that setup sounds almost exactly like a joke christopher titus does. it’s on his cd “the 5th anuual end of the world tour”. i think its under the track “im whitey”.
- as far as alternative comics go rick i also have a hard time defineing them. the best way i can descripe it as a comic who will tell jokes not caring about what peoples reactions will be(Bill Hicks, Sam Kinison, ext). but it could also be described as a comic who tells jokes in an unconventional style(Demitri martin). So there my two cents.
Okay, thanks guys. I think Smiley’s right, I heard it on the Titus CD. Ralphie May’s delivery seemed really weird too. Like his voice seemed really annoyingly high.
To nick: I think I’ve heard people say to start with strong material, and end with strong material. Something I’ve seen a decent amount of comics do, is talk about the city they are in, to make it seem fresh, and then go on from there. It also probably depends if you are touring or you are just doing a regular gig at the local comedy club. But mostly, it depends on your act, and what works for you.
There’s a long Slate article on Rick Shapiro. The author also apparently hates Seinfeld.
http://www.slate.com/id/2177380/nav/tap3/
I don’t know enough about comedy to comment, so I thought I’d just throw this out there.
Thanks for the link asterion. I think it’s interesting that the author of this article references Dickens, because just like Chuck, this piece was way to long.
I’ve never been a big fan of Shapiro, but I have a lot of respect for his brutal honesty. I mean, there’s honesty and then there’s admitting to “sucking dick for smack”.
RE: Mike (Not Really)
Ralphie May called Sean Rouse on the day his special aired to tell him that there would be some of his material in it. Sean watched the special to hear a couple of his bits making Ralphie a nice little chunk of change and was more than just a little pissed about it. Sean apparently never did anything about it but I’m sure it bugged him.
The bit that I recognized was the one about if you’re retarded then you can’t be offended by retard jokes. Ironically the same bit that Sean did a year earlier on the Insomniac Special with Dave Attell. I think Sean said there were a few of his bits in there so the one you’re talking about could be his.
Loved the podcast Brian. Great job as always.
Hugs,
Sina.
Hey Sina. Great to hear from you again. Sorry I haven’t been in touch, but as I’m sure you’re heard on the show, my life recently came to an end. I both can/can’t believe that story. On the one hand, he’s a thief, but on the other he actually admitted it. Not sure what to think.
Artie Lange does a similar midget bit…
-Rick Shapiro had a big run in w/ Jay Mohr in 1994 when Jay turned a shapiro bit into an snl sketch, and rick ended up suing the show. Jay Mohr created the show last comic standing, which made ralphie may a star, and allowed him to rip off other comics easily and make tons of money. the cirlcle of life i guess.
I already can’t wait for this week show. I feel like a heroine junkie, waiting for his next fix. Not that I would know what that feels like. But I guess, sure appropriate parallel.
Has anyone listened to Cringe Radio? On their sunday show, Lunatic Radio, there are some awesome interviews with people like Bill Burr and Lisa Lamapnelli. website is lunaticradio.com.
Some of the past interviews are at: http://www.lunaticradio.com/vault.htm
good stuff.
I’m a weird al fan myself, but I let my dad buy the CDs. I never thought of him in the same genre of musical comedy persay, as he is (at least I think he is) most well known for his parodies, rather than original songs. So I’m not sure, if you would describe it as standup, rather than parody. I’m not really quite sure what to call it for that matter.
DANE COOK ALERT!
I feel I should warn our American cousins that Dane Cook has finally spread his oily hair-gel covered tentacles across the Pond to the UK.
Not by his piss-poor stand-up comedy stylings, but through the movie posters featuring his big fat smug mug for the movie Good Luck Chuck, which seem to be plastered on every bloody phone box and bus shelter in my neighbourhood right now.
(is it just me, or does Cook sound and look uncannily like a younger version of the actor Dennis Quaid..?)
Glad to be back in touch. I’ve been listening all along but my life has gone to shit in the opposite way (losing family rather than building one) so I haven’t been too active online.
So thanks for the show…it’s been a great escape once a week to listen for an hour and not have to think about stuff.
I’m also working a day job again too and kinda hating it. *sigh*
Big hugs to everyone,
Sina.
I saw this and had to share: http://carbolicsmokeblog.blogspot.com/2007/11/hollywood-writers-on-strike.html
Too funny. Subtle, but funny.
Welcome back, Sina -.I too have started a Xmas temp job for some extra cash over the festivities and already hate it. Let’s hope this week’s BTB shines some light into our dark souls..
)
(no pressure to do a truly exceptional show this week, Brian..