I am on the red eye from NY after a whirlwind of the life of a stand up comedian. My plane has Wi-Fi but I am not able to log onto it, of course.
Since Ashley and I got married we’ve spent some family and friends time in Maui but I wanted to “go off the grid” for a real honeymoon so we headed to Shanghai. And by “real honeymoon” I mean an eye opening, romantic tour of a far off land paid for by Asia Uncut, the finest English speaking talk show allowed to be watched by a billion viewers. We shopped, and it is crowded there.
Ashley surprised me with the only quiet dinner for two to mark my 20th sober B-Day Dec 10. A private restaurant on top of a bell tower that seats 2 and has the view of Shanghai’s massive skyscrapers and 1000 year old castles that we’d seen on TV. Also, the best meal of my life and that’s a life of too many good meals. Twitter, Facebook and You Tube are illegal there but TMZ plays every night on HBO Asia. No wonder people pointed and laughed at me. [click to continue…]
Just back from The Denver Comedy Works. Lots of future in-laws and old friends. The crowds and openers were great but the highlight was talking with the GM Jeff about the 80’s and my “performances” there. One of the reasons I booked this comedy club tour was to retrace those drunken steps. My worse fears were confirmed about my behavior but he was kind about it, “that was the 80’s.”
I’m off to the Chicago Improv this week. I assumed the Cubs would be in the Championship Series when I booked it because, as a Cubs fan, I’m either stupid or eternally optimistic…I prefer the latter. Ashley is going with me – it’s pretty lonely out there after the shows – but I suspect me getting her Oprah tickets had a lot to do with it (she wept…I’m serious).
I’ve developed a new respect for the traveling comic and am trying to appreciate the opportunity to do this. I really do like speaking to people in person instead of walking to and from a trailer in the incredibly unglamorous world of TV and Film but when I watch a Zach Efron movie alone in my hotel and weep, I know it’s time to figure a better way. I owe NBC a script and I am writing this as a commitment to get it done this week. I’m also vowing to get more involved in my wedding planning…right after I finish the script.
I have to thank everybody involved in my Wed Night Comedy Shows at LA’s Laugh Factory (8-10PM – unemployed people get in free). And by everybody I mean the great comics that take the time for no money to perform. We consistently have the best, most diverse groups in town. As well as the hard working staff at the club. The truth is, I didn’t want to do the show. I was scared, humbled, it was a hassle BUT because of these folks and the GREAT CROWDS we’ve been getting…it’s been one of the smartest choice’s I’ve made in my career. I’ve that I love performing. That I love watching the new comics doing new kinds of comedy and instead of a step backwards. The old rule was first Stand Up then TV then Film and maybe I’m kidding myself but the rules have changed. Everything good in my career has come because of those shows.
And the strangest thing I noticed is that they have fun struggling together even though all the stereotypes about absent agents, creepy club owners and even “the casting couch” are true, these kids keep plugging away and I guarantee, some of them will make it, in fact, I think they think you’ve already made it because they love what they do. I know it sounds crazy but there’s not a sociopath in the bunch. They just appreciate things and it makes me want to work harder. I watch them celebrating the little victories and laughing at the usual BS. It’s been inspiring. I want to be more like them….have more friends. Friends are good in any business. I had a lot of friends when I worked at Hormel and McDonald’s…what happened? [click to continue…]
Hey, Tom here. Crazy week. First, my buddy Steve O. is NOT GAY! (anymore, anyway:) Went to his wedding last Monday in sunny Atlanta. He’s come a long way from the crack head that stumbled into my house 7 years ago. Miraculous.
Just got back from The Global Comedy Fest in Vancouver. You know how everyone says “I love….”? Well, I do love Vancouver. Been there a total of 3 years in the last 16 working but it’s been a couple and even Joel, my assistant who hates everything, liked it. I did a “surprise” set Thurs at Yuk Yuk’s, which was as much fun as I’ve had since I started touring..which was amazing since I barely slept the night before. (Note to anyone considering a tattoo: NEVER get a partners name tattooed on your body. It hurts like hell to get them removed and if, hypothetically, you’re getting married in 75 days and you rush to Dr Tattoff, do NOT say “Turn the laser to 11. Gotta get this stuff off my arm cause I’m getting married to a beautiful woman with another name…in Maui where people tend to take their shirts off, in 75 days.” Because you could forget to ice it down, develop giant blood blisters, a 103 degree temp and writhe in pain the night before flying out of the country…too embarrassed to see a Doctor because they might say you can’t fly which would mess up the schedule at a super fun comedy festival…especially if you’re the host of “The Best Of” show on Friday night. Hypothetically. [click to continue…]
