Why So Blue?

Working blue. I’m not talking about the collar, but the humor. Almost every comic is guilty of it. Even if your act isn’t dirty, there’s usually a “shit” or “fuck” thrown in there for extra emphasis or at least slipped in as an alternative to “umm”. So when someone wants you to do a clean set, is that cramping the creative process or just forcing the comic to work a little harder on broadening their material/ audience?

Blue’s clues: I once saw a female comic go on stage and just start screaming “fuck” over and over...is that your act? Shock value is like a verbal pratfall - it gets real old, real fast. But when a foul-mouthed friend of mine was forced to get clean, he had some of his funniest bits because they were based on more than the profane…the pen was mightier than the swear.

But there’s times when you can’t run from a “fuck you”. When Tony Soprano is beating the shit out of someone, cursing-like-a-sailor is crucial, otherwise, it’s completely inauthentic. Same with going on stage and trying to turn a dirty joke clean, it has the possibility of sounding stilted with the awkward sentiment of an Orbit gum commercial.

Dirty Bird Shuffle: But even when f-bombs seem essential, the comics that remain timeless go deeper than the shallow end of the shock value pool. Compare the two dirty birds, Andrew Dice Clay and Red Foxx.

Andrew Dice Clay: How many times can you be amazed that “cock” rhymes with “clock”? Still, he had a good gimmick with his dirty nursery rhymes, but that narrow niche was where his talent tapped out (two words – Ford Fairlaine).

Red Foxx on the other hand, was a dirty, old coot (seriously, Ol’ Dirty Bastard could learn a thing or two from Red), but he was able to turn his crass ass into a brand that was relatable to everyone. We’re still humming the Sanford and Son tune and laughing at Red's relevance today.

Range is a key component. If you can only cook one type of food, are you truly a chef? Isn’t versatility the sign of a true professional?

But if you’re known for a particular variety of cuisine and hone your skills in that one specific arena, doesn’t that make you a true professional?

It’s a conundrum that I still can’t figure out. I guess in the end it’s what hits home with the audience and that always comes down to the comic being comfortable. Sometimes it’s worth tweaking your shit and forcing your brain to go in a different direction. Like math homework, it’s frustrating and hard, but once you figure it out, it’s oddly satisfying. In the end, it all comes down to one thing. Why did the chicken cross the road?

Fuck you.

The Death of a Joke

“We are here today to mourn the loss of someone very special to us, someone we love. Someone we’ve watched grow and develop before our eyes. We've had our laughs together. We’ve cried tears of joy together. But those times are gone now and we must put them to rest.”

***************************

I stopped by my buddy’s house to make sure I had myself in check before I hit the stage. I was headed to Winston’s that evening for my first round of the Ocean Beach Comedy Contest and I didn’t like what I was hearing.

“Do you think that’s still relevant?”

Tiff was my go-to girl when it came to constructive criticism, so when she posed this question after I finished my Jersey Shore joke, I was concerned.

“Well, it got big laughs a few months ago!” I shouted defiantly, defending my baby...and it was a birthing process. The hardest part of comedy is coming up with good material, but it’s even harder to get rid of said material once it goes stale. The “Old Joke” is like Old Yeller, the necessary death of a dear friend.

I’d been forced to let go of a few before. I’d said my goodbyes to the “Bumper sticker with Calvin peeing” and “Truth anti-smoking group” jokes. But it never stung like this, so when Tiff told me to get rid of my Jersey Shore bit, I fought for it, “But there’s a new season coming up!”

She just shook her head and said, “It’s old.”

I knew she was right. Media moved at the speed of light and any topical content was bound to have a short shelf life. Thank goodness I had some steadfast stuff (marriage, religion, sex) in my back pocket for when my topical became too typical.

First round of contest: second place…I guess Tiff was right.

*********************

“As we lay you down to rest, know you served your time here to the best of your ability. You will be remembered well and thought of fondly. As Neil Young said, ‘It’s better to burn out, than to fade away’ and we appreciate your graceful exit.”

Rule #2: Keep everything fresh and relevant. Let it go before it lets you down.