What’s The Deal With Sitcoms?
October 11, 2007 · Print This Article
For those of you who grew up in the era of Jerry Seinfeld, Tim Allen, Rosanne Barr, and Drew Carey on television, it may come as a surprise that comics still don’t inspire sitcoms as they once did, but remember for every success there are a dozen failures, and eventually the bottom drops out. Brian discusses this phenomenon and highlights the best and wost comics to ever grace the small screen.
Listener topics include performing stand up for church goers, why there aren’t anymore comedy duos, does improv help stand up, stock heckler lines, and a frantic phone call from Hawaii’s newest comic. It’s ever so American.
Email: brianmcomedy@gmail.com and give us a call on 206-203-4692
Being very American - ok, I’ll have a stab at this.
It could be a simple as the names of the comics you talk about, most of them will be unknown to a UK audience. So in that respect it is quite American-centric.
If it helps, I like the show because it introduces me to comics I don’t know.
Hey Brian,
I am in also in the midst of making my debut. When I decided to get into stand up I wanted to take an improv class at the Second City. I just finished my first 8 week session and feel that it has definitely helped me feel comfortable getting up in front of people in an environment where it’s ok to fail. It may not necessarily help with material but I feel more confident and ready for my debut then when I first started out. I also met other people who are getting into stand up comedy and we get together write and go check out live comedy to get a better feel which helps a lot.
I would definitely recommend it as a confidence builder and I’ll know if it has had a positive effect on my comedy in the next few weeks. Who knows, I also could be coming back saying Improv is bullshit if I bomb!!
Good point Ryan. There is definitely a sense of community in improv (depending on who you work with of course), and again, every time you set foot on a stage you gain confidence and presence, but I still believe that as far as dealing with hecklers, it’s a different world. Unless of course the heckler yells out an occupation and a relationship between 2 people.
Hey Congrats mike, lookin forward to next week when you tell us about it in more detail
oh B-mo one other thing, The other night i was performing and i noticed something. I do not translate well to a older audiance, except for this one really cool old guy. should i be doing anything diffrent or keep going with the college crowd?
Hey Brian
Thanks for the charming mention on the latest BTB!
My opinion on Subs ” ever so American ” quote about the BTB podcast wasn’t that it was a negative remark about the USA, but refered to cultural differences instead. I can empathise with this a tad, as even though as a Brit a lot of my favourite stand-ups are American and I enjoy and totally dig 80% of the BTB’s podcasts, there are a few grey areas I either don’t understand or can refer to. (Not that this is even your problem !) But for instance, unless you own a hi-tech satellite dish, most Brits don’t get to most of important American comedy, whether it’s stuff like Comedy Central, or those Comedy Roasts, and even classic shows like SNL which were never shown properly over here the way you could see an equivalent UK show like Monty Python in the US on PBS. I’ve also checked out US stand-ups you’ve mentioned on the show that you like - and with someone like Patton Oswalt, I laughed like a hyena at half his set, but the rest sadly passed me by due to obscure US popular cultural references i was never going to get.
However, the main reason I love BTB is all your discussion about the heaven and hell of being a stand-up resonates and speaks the truth 100% ,whatever side of the pond you’re on.,whether it’s hack comedy and comedians, playing shitty clubs, developing new material, hell gigs, and the genral madness and frustration of trying to be a full time comedian. I love the show so much, so don’t go a changin’ !
( I’ve also sent an e-mail to Subs asking him to explain his orignal quote of BTB being too American, so hopefully we’ll hear from the horse’s mouth soon.)
best wishes
Rick.
Thanks Rick. I’m completely on board with that explanation and I certainly don’t plan on changing (although it would be fun to start using an accent). In the end this show is just about experiences and I certainly can’t comment on what I don’t know. Thanks for spreading the word. Cheers! (and they say I’m too American)
LOL. You’re also spot-on when you mention that Brits love to use the “c” word all the time…some parts of the UK even use it as a term of endearment!
So stay lucky Brian, me old cunt.
Hey Brian, I think Rick is right, the ever so American thing just meant the cultural references and the choices of comics… even Brit invasion month would have been REALLY different had Chortlers been choosing them (opinions on Mr Carr, anyone?)
But I just wanted to say that I think the reason why so many people have started listening from the UK is just because this site is the antithesis of Chortle, you keep it really positive and friendly whereas Chortle can sometimes be a bear-pit of internet trolls and veiled bitchiness. I’m really enjoying the show so far!
Just to bring back an old topic, I was interested in what you and Scotty Goff were saying about crowd-work… you suggested the MC should do material, whereas in the UK it’s fairly standard that the MC do 99% crowd work to ‘warm up the crowd’ - just an interesting discrepancy.
Hi Brian,
That was me on Chortle. I guess what I meant was probably a mix of what Bob and Rick said PLUS a feeling of difference based on the level of enthusiasm that you show for comedy. We British, I don’t say English because I’m Scots, rarely show that level of enthusiasm tending to come over more cynical and world weary.
I’m not in the least anti-American. Indeed, I have said in my act that I would like to live in America so that I could be seen as average instead of fat!
You have given us many grteat comics down the years on film. on radio and TV andlive. Currently, we have Rich Hall, Reginald D Hunter and Andrew Lederer over here as examples of good American acts.
I do hope that I haven’t offended you accidentally - when I offend, I like it to be on purpose! ;o)
Here is a couple of jokes for you to make up for it.
1:
Why did the dinosaur keep running round and swearing?
..
It had T-Rex Syndrome!
2.
What did the crippled drunk do when his wheelchair broke?
He went on a pub crawl.
I’m not sure whether that one trranslates into American?
Anyway, I have been enjoying teh shows as I’m listening to them. Is there one that features Emo Philips as he is another guy I really enjoy.
Anyway, hope we’re still friends,
Mike/ subs
“But I just wanted to say that I think the reason why so many people have started listening from the UK is just because this site is the antithesis of Chortle, you keep it really positive and friendly ”
Amen to that, Brody.
Hey Mike. Welcome to the forum and certainly no offense taken. To echo your sentiment, I often wish I were British. That way I could use the word “cripple” on stage and not be judged so harshly. Glad to have you.
To Mike Fachtery: I really like the T-Rex joke. I didn’t get it at first, but once I did, it was really really funny. (I can’t really explain my reaction otherwise)
To the comedians: is it okay to use obvious (and maybe somewhat hacky) jokes, as an intermediate joke, sort of as a build up to the punchline?
So like, if the premise and punchline is original, is it okay if you have semi-obvious one liners worked inbetween?
For example, in my act this past weekend, I had a bit about being nervous. And what to do about the nervousness. And while explaing how I am nervous, I said “I’m more nervous than a dog in Michael Vick’s house right now.” However, my payoff has nothing to do with Michael Vick. (But its the joke that some people referenced)
So I basically have been worrying if it is considered hacky, to use jokes like that in one’s act. I’m not sure if it makes total sense, so tell me if it needs any clarification.
(by referenced, I mean what some people remembered about my act)
Oh, if me being 14 and listening to your show scares you. I was going through iTunes music store (gotta give it a plug) and I was looking at the album of one Lisa Lampanelli. Now, on one of the reviews, I’m not sure if he/she was joking or not, but one of the reviews said, and I quote, “I might be only 13… But I sure as hell know what comedy is when I see it! Your my role model and I strive too be like you.”
Now, I could have worse role models. You might not have the success, but you sure as hell are a lot cleaner than Lisa.
(But don’t get me wrong, I still like listening to Lisa Lampanelli, but as a role model? No wonder kids of America have issues).
Mike NR
Hello Brian, I was wanting to know about the family part of stand up. As im making my transition from wanting to be an actor to wanting to be more of a stand up comic, I was just wanting to know what your wife thinks? I am married and never want my wife to ever come see my act (if I ever start one) because she has made the joke that she would be my heckler. Saying things like, “Im the one that told him that joke!” Or “that didn’t happened to you.” Does your wife ever come see you on stage? If she does, did it feel awkward because she would really know the truth behind the jokes?
Thanks
Gilley
Great question Gilley. I’ll talk about it a little more in depth on Thursday, but she definitely used to be like that, but once she learned my process she became my biggest fan. She comes to virtually every show I do (unless it’s on the road and she can’t make the trip with me). It was awkward at first when people would ask her if the jokes about her were true, but now she gets a kick out of it.
I thought Subs’ line about wanting to move to the US so he would be average and not fat was great.
So after the month of political humor and my realization that conservatives are underrepresented, I decided to take a crack at political satire/humor writing. I am going to try to post weekly installments and you all already know my politics, please take it for what it is, my biased ramblings, no offense intended.
Leonardo’s Thoughts:
When I was a kid,I used to smoke weed occasionally, so I’m no prude, but I’m 46 now and it’s been a while. Someone gave me 1/2 a joint recently and I smoked it. You know what I discovered? When I’m stoned, I’m totally liberal. “Hell yeah I’d vote for a woman..as long as it’s Scarlett Johansen…ha ha…Wow…you mean to tell me that John Cougar Mellenkamp doesn’t like George Bush? Then neither do I! ”
Think about it. In 2005, the Nobel Peace Prize went to the IAEA and it’s Director General Mohamed ElBaredei, stoners, for it’s work in Nuclear Disarmament!! How stoned would you have to be to give a NOBEL PRIZE to AL GORE!!??? For God’s sakes HE MADE A MOVIE!!!
I welcome any and all feedback.
Props to LL for taking a risk and testing his material in (what I imagine) is a majority liberal forum.
I like this joke a lot. I like that you got right to the meat of it, and the key is, regardless of where you fall on the issue, you can see the humor. I happen to believe in global warming, but to compare a guy who made a movie to a guy who is puting an end to nuclear warfare is funny to everyone. Nice job and I look forward to hearing more.
BTW, my wife thought Will Ferrell should have gotten it this year for Talladega Nights.
I know this is technically not a sports forum, but it’s okay for me to wish that Dane Cook and Frank Callendo would both get run over by a truck, right?
And I’m thinking of calling in a rant (it has to do with living in a college town) but considering I’ve been considering it off and on for months, it will probably never happen.
Lugnut! GREAT tag: “Will Ferrell should have gotten it for Talladega Nights”!
Thanks for sharing both the joke and your wife’s addition.
Oh, and Mike(NR),
I’m really looking forward to the post-mortem. I could smell the adrenaline in that quick after-action report you phoned in. So, are you hooked? Or cured? Also, did you record your set?
Brian: I just got my set list up to around four and a half minutes, depending on how much I rush and whether anyone actually laughs at any of it, so it’s now just a matter of picking a place and time for my first open mic experience. (If you can believe it, I actually workshopped one of the jokes with my ten- and 8-year-old sons, albeit with language tamed down so the monkey is pooping, not shitting…) Anyway, I think the idea of doing before and afters with new open mic-ers is a good one. I’d be happy to contribute, and I look forward to hearing the next one you’ve got lined up, too.
I am hooked. I haven’t smoked a joint ever (unlike Leonardo), and doing comedy is gonna be like my pot. My aunty (in hawaii everyone is aunty and uncle) taped part of my set. I will explain more on the show, but I actually was up for longer than 7 minutes. I think. The show was a little strange, and I think uncommon (not necessarily a good thing) for a first time peformance.
I’m trying to remember if we’ve discussed this on the show (so many topics, I tend to forget being almost 50 shows.) But does anyone else find watching comedy central specials help with their writing? Like I couldn’t write for a week after my open mic-of sorts. But after watching comedy central for like 3-4 hours, (my parents have Tivo) I’ve gotten my creative juices flowing, and have been writting material. Not necessarily good material, but material nonetheless.
Hmm… I think this is actually pretty good therapy for me as well. So, thanks for listening to the thoughts of an almost 15 year old.
Mike NR
Wicked show this week. In England at the moment we are having some sitcoms from comedians being shown. Jack Dee (I’m not sure if he has an american fanbase, does he?) He has a show Lead Balloon which is a British take on Curb Your Enthusiasm. Lee Mack is another comic with his own sitcom Not Going Out which has more gags in an episode than most have in 5.
On Al Gore winning a nobel prize for making a film I say give one to Martin Scorsese. After watching what happens to Nicky at the end of casino I don’t think anyone would want to be a gangster.
Anyways good show.
Thanks for the comments everyone. One of the best weeks we’ve had as far as discussions. Looking forward to chatting with you Mike. Sounds like you’ve got a lot to say, and I think everyone will enjoy hearing that “first time glow”.
I just want to first say that I think Mike (NR) is really cool for starting so young. Im 24 and am just now starting and I wish I would’ve when I was his age. Big props to you mike. I can’t wait to hear how it went. I guess as a 15 year old, you can’t really cuss in your set because it will make you look like an after school special. And the places you perform probably won’t enjoy that. But thats even better that you don’t have to use profanity as a crutch to get the laughs. Good for you. I would also like to say, even if people start talking shit about it, I just got my tickets to go see Dane Cook in Dallas and am really excited!! Feel free to start the hating.
Gilley
Speaking of Dane Cook: he’s got a new album coming out in November; anybody gonna grab it? B-Mo, I’m sure you’ll be getting it out of pure obligation since you get your hands on any stand-up CD you can. I might buy it.
New cook album, hmm. i probably wont buy it. not that i’m not interested but that im gonna hear it for free here at college. especially if i hang out with my freinds at the frat. and if theres one thing frat guys like, including Booze, girls and halo; its dane cook.
Thanks for the Ron White bit Brian. He’s one of my favorites as well. I’m not really sure how to describe why I find him so funny. I think it’s a combination of timing and funny but slightly strange comments. Kinda like the “I’m between 6′1″ and 6′6″, depending on which convenience store I’m walking out of” line. It’s not really funny until the convenience store part, and the slight pause before the “depending” makes it hit harder.
Anyway, I know I suck at describing what I’m trying to describe, but I think you get the picture.
Don’t think I’ll be getting the new Dane album, but you never know. I liked Retaliation quite a bit, but Harmful if Swallowed was only so so and I really wasn’t into Vicious Circle at all.
No hate Gilly. If you’re supporting live comedy then I’m supporting you. Besides, how else is Dane going to afford all those products he uses to make people think he’s 24 instead of 42?
I might be the only one who saw it (this doesn’t really strike me as a place where lots of people watch the Sunday morning talk shows) but Bill Cosby was on Meet the Press yesterday. I don’t want to say he was promoting a book, although he does have a new one out, as the topic of conversation pretty much the entire hour was problems in the black community. So, considering most people probably still think of Cosby as a comic, does his social values campaign of the last few years change what anyone thinks of Cosby?
Great question asterion. This is tough for me. Cosby is the single greatest comic influence in my life, and I respect the fact that he’s used his celebrity to take on social issues, but it drives me nuts that any comic would advocate censorship as he has done so many times. I guess it’s a part of being old and cranky. I do it at times and I’m only 29.
Thanks Brain for supporting! I do have a question about starting a comedy club. I have thought about it for awhile because my town doesn’t have a comedy club and the nearest one is an hour away. I have heard you say that clubs are going out of business and they are hard to maintain. But now my town brings in comics to the local Howard Johnson for a comedy night and people respond well to it. Im only 24 but I just thought that this would be a great way to bring comedy here and get me as much stage time as I wanted since I would own it. My town has around 100,000 people since we are a military town. Do you think it would be sucessful or a failure like so many? Thanks.
Gilley
I know we discussed ventriloquists last week. But has anyone seen Kevin Johnson perform live? (He was on America’s Got Talent. I know this because of Youtube) Anyone’s thoughts?
And good luck to gilley with the comedy club if you get it started.
Mike NR
Good point about duos!
I really like duos, but in a way do you not think they aren’t many because of the poor money in comedy. I’m sure most club owners won’t pay them a headlining fee EACH?
And by the way B-mo, while I welcome my countrymen following me in listening to BTB but I hope you and the rest of the board recognise that I’m the original British-G…..
Respect!
Lol, no doubt Nick. And you had to find BTB the old fashioned way, not from a quick link on chortle.
I know a couple of comedy teams that haven’t made it big and still struggle in small clubs, and you’re right, clubs pay for the spot, they don’t care how many of you there are.
Gilly, great question about opening a club. I’ll discuss it more on the show, but in short, the problem with comedy clubs around the country is they are drying up in large part to over saturation. It’s hard enough to get people out to watch comedy, but if they have 11 choices, no chance. Comedy seems to thrive in small town environments. Some of the best shows I’ve done have been in firehouses or Elk’s lodges where the whole town is starved for entertainment.
Thank you Brian. My town is considered a small town with nothing to do. I really think people would go out to one if we had one here. But so many business go down that its tough to even start it.
If you have any specific questions let me know and I’ll be happy to ask Scotty Goff for you. Of course you know that I’m going to demand a booking your opening weekend.
How’s this for a pitch?
Gilley’s family thought he was crazy when he went away to New York to try to be a comedian, and weren’t surprised when he came back a year later, a beaten young man. But John’s not giving up on his dream of a stand-up career. He looks around at his old stomping grounds and sees a small town with nothing to do, starving for entertainment. But when he and his two high school friends (stoner Dave and geek Ed) open up their comedy club, they discover that their folksy middle-America community isn’t completely ready for their big-city style dreams. Hillarity ensues, in “Gilley’s Last Stand”. Think Seinfeld meets Ed meets Cheers meets Northern Exposure.
Well, it woulda worked in the late eighties, anyway.
Brian, correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think Cosby advocates censorship, he advocates SELF-censorship. Big difference. If you recall, his show portrayed blacks as successful, well-educated, family oriented. I think his “beef” is that so many new comics perpetuate stereotypes we have of blacks on welfare, involved in the drug culture, being violent and using language he feels is beneath them. He doesn’t want to stop them, he wants them to see for themselves what he sees. For what it’s worth, I think he is overzealous but may have a point.
I’m not referring to his take on black culture. As someone who is not a member of the black community, I feel I have no place to comment on that. I specifically am bothered by his crusade to get comics to clean up their language. Perhaps censorship was too strong a word. If it was strictly a cultural beef, fine, but he has attacked Chris Rock and Eddie Murphy for their language and sexually explicit material. You and I may differ here, but there is nothing race specific here, and it’s not his place to be the “disappointed father” of comedy.
“Behind the Bics”….a new podcast about lighters, or a freudian slip about your new grooming habits?
Hey Mac that actually sounds pretty cool..I smell an emmy with that one! Brian will be that zany guy that lives on the couch with his catchy one liners.
Brilliant idea, Gilley! Maybe Lisa Kurdnow could play Brian’s neurotic girlfriend who has a phobia of cigarettes and lighters - and Brian also owns a cute dog called Zippo! It’s a laugh-fest!
For some reason, in my mind’s eye, the “Dave” and “Ed” are modeled after Jimmy Neutron’s two friends. Thus the stoner friend is also mildly insane. Also, I’m not sure why I called Gilley “John” in the second sentence.
Brian definitely gets a role. I’d give his character a pirate radio program that is constantly driving the local constable around in circles, trying to find it and shut it down.
In other news…
The next chance I’ll get to do my first open mic is week after next. I’m excited and nervous and impatient.
I’m also trying to work out how I’m going to deliver the set. I’ve fiddled with different rhythms and tones, trying to find “my” voice. I already have a public speaking style, but I’m not sure it suits this new application. The problem is, whenever I try out a different persona, it frequently ends up sounding in my head like I’m just impersonating another comic.
This did lead to an interesting experiment, though. I decided on a lark to try to do the material while quietly playing chords on a guitar, Demitri Martin style. It was fascinating to feel and hear what it did to my cadence and timing. Before, I wasn’t quite sure why DM did that with some of his material, but now I really get it. It doesn’t just change the mood, but it creates space for unusually long pauses and breaks that accentuate the punchlines in a way you can’t get away with using just silence. Very cool.
But no, I am not bringing my guitar on stage with me.
You bring up a great point Mac. Tons of young comics who re struggling to find a stage persona end up doing bad impressions of other comics. I can’t tell you how many open micers I’ve seen trying to imitate Dave Attel’s delivery. Really bad. Just start talking. However it comes out is how it’s supposed to sound.