So here’s how it went. As a kid I liked Fat Albert and bought Bill Cosby albums. (who knew?) If I could talk mom and dad into it, I’d stay up for Carson’s monologue. And that was it, no other comedy until cable.
In my teens, I’d stay up for all of the Tonight Show and see who was on. Joan Rivers, David Brenner, David Steinberg, Richard Belzer, Robert Klein, Phyllis Diller, Steven Wright, Elaine Boosler, and so many more. When cable came out we didn’t get it. But other friends did. I remember a party, I’m 16 or 17, and someone has a little black and white TV on top of their fridge. While my friends were trying to get laid, I’m watching Evening at the Improv and asking people to turn down the music so I could hear Bud Friedman introduce the next comic.
In my 20s I occasionally went to a comedy show but it never seemed like something real people might do. Comics were on TV, or up on stage. It never occurred to me that I could do that. In my 30s I’d think, if only… In my 40s I would try and write some bit, but never think how, or where?
Finally at 50, I did it, small showcases, then open mics and bar shows. I always remembered that brick wall from the Improv, and in my first comedy class I got to stand in front of it. I could have tried to do a show their sooner, but waited, not sure why.
I’m 54 and this week I performed in on that stage for a real audience, with the brick wall and the Improv logo behind me.
Keep dreaming. Set some goals.
More to come.
In my teens, I’d stay up for all of the Tonight Show and see who was on. Joan Rivers, David Brenner, David Steinberg, Richard Belzer, Robert Klein, Phyllis Diller, Steven Wright, Elaine Boosler, and so many more. When cable came out we didn’t get it. But other friends did. I remember a party, I’m 16 or 17, and someone has a little black and white TV on top of their fridge. While my friends were trying to get laid, I’m watching Evening at the Improv and asking people to turn down the music so I could hear Bud Friedman introduce the next comic.
In my 20s I occasionally went to a comedy show but it never seemed like something real people might do. Comics were on TV, or up on stage. It never occurred to me that I could do that. In my 30s I’d think, if only… In my 40s I would try and write some bit, but never think how, or where?
Finally at 50, I did it, small showcases, then open mics and bar shows. I always remembered that brick wall from the Improv, and in my first comedy class I got to stand in front of it. I could have tried to do a show their sooner, but waited, not sure why.
I’m 54 and this week I performed in on that stage for a real audience, with the brick wall and the Improv logo behind me.
Keep dreaming. Set some goals.
More to come.
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