REGURGITATIONS

     So tonight a friendly, kind, likable young man sidled up to me prior to the comedy contest beginning at our local comedy club.   He had performed the prior night in the competition and failed to advance.   I had witnessed his performance first hand.   This young man had seen me perform once and evidently this garnered his respect.   In fact prior to going on the previous night he had asked me for last minute advice and I simply told him, “Forget it’s a competition.   Simply have fun and enjoy the experience.”   I knew he was new to comedy so he had little chance of advancing.   This was his first time under the lights on the big stage.   His set could not have gone much worse.   He was energetic and projected confidence yet his five minutes did not produce a single genuine laugh.   It was one of those performances which was painful to watch.   As I scanned the audience from the back of the room you co...

     July of 2012, Daniel Tosh was performing at the venerable Laugh Factory when he responded to a heckler with the retort "Wouldn't that be funny if that girl got raped by like, five guys right now?"  As a comedian, I find the most offensive aspect of this remark is... it was not funny.  Tosh's response was that of a three month veterans of open mic.  I was very disappointed as I find Tosh and his show funny.  More importantly, I found his response to the heckler mean-spirited and cruel.  I do not believe it is the role of the comedian to bully audience members.  I also do not believe every joke will sit well with every audience member nor do I expect each audience member to rise and voice their displeasure with every single joke.  It is a comedy show.  From time to time someone may get offended, just like in life.      Since this episode there has been much discussion in the comedy community about rape joke...

     I have often heard, in my three short years in comedy, the key to being a professional comedian is getting on stage and "not giving a shit."  Often this philosophy is attributed to Bill Hicks or George Carlin.  I know neither Hicks or Carlin personally but I can assure you... they gave a shit.  This is why they are not only professional comedians, they are legends.      For those who may have misunderstood this philosophy or simply be too stupid to understand, let me attempt to clarify.  The philosophy of "not giving a shit" refers to a comedian's failure to accept the the conventions, standards and collective perspective of society.  This "don't give a shit" mantra was advanced to encourage comedians to fight the "power" or "the man" with disdain and without fear of retaliation much like Dick Gregory, Lenny Bruce, George Carlin, Bill Hicks, Dave Chappelle and Chris Rock.  It is my understanding they were imp...