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Wisdom

The Nine Commandments of South Park

by | September 27th, 2011

This is really great: Vulture's Nine Commandments of South Park brings together a bunch of lessons Parker and Stone have learned about storytelling, their audience, taking themselves too seriously, and how to justify a talking piece of shit.

With the huge success of Book of Mormon, they're taking a bit of a talking-about-themselves victory lap, between this, their 60 Minutes piece and their talk to an NYU class for an MTV show. But if anyone's earned it, it's them. Few people can speak with authority about comedy writing, and specifically finding the balance between heart and filth in comedy writing, than they can, and it's [...]

Wisdom

You Should Probably Listen to Thomas Lennon's Comedy Career Advice

by | June 22nd, 2011

Blackbook did a interview with the wonderful Thomas Lennon in advance of the release of Bad Teacher, in which he has a small role. He gives some advice to young writers and comedians looking to get their break, and it's very good. First, on being a full-time comedy writer: If you have to force yourself to find time to write, it’s not going to work out. If you don’t feel like writing, it’s never going to work out, I guarantee it. Hemingway did a lot of crazy shit. He was catching marlins, and punching people, and going to bull-fights. He still wrote like a motherfucker. So you should [...]

Wisdom

Fred Armisen's Commencement Speech at Oregon Episcopal High School

by | June 13th, 2011

You know, Conan wasn't the only comedian giving a commencement speech this past weekend. Fred Armisen also donned the ceremonial robes to impart some wisdom. Sure, it was for the Oregon Episcopal High School in Portland, not at Dartmouth, but did Coco get to give his speech from a podium that looks like an eagle? And did those Dartmouth grads get individual joke shoutouts from their speaker? I didn't think so. OEHS 1, Dartmouth, well, I was going to say 0, but I guess also 1. Nice work, everyone. [via]

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