Splitsider

 
Tragedy Plus Time
2

Fighting – or at Least Responding to – War and Terrorism with Comedy

by | May 14th, 2013

Welcome to the latest installment of Tragedy Plus Time. Each segment will focus on a particular ‘life crisis’ — sometimes globally tragic, sometimes more of a personal affair — and we’ll explore how many of the comedians we know and love have dealt with it.

If you were following any social media during the Boston bombings last month, you would have observed the global dialogue quickly shift from mundane chatter to the somber details of the attack. Concerns for safety, information about what had transpired, and speculation on the culprits behind it dominated the national conversation. Remarks about any other topic were deemed callous and inappropriate. Especially jokes, on or off topic.

Comedians are in a precarious position during times like these. A good comic has to know when levity is appropriate, and what’s within the realm of good taste. Of course, nothing says they actually have to be funny. After the bombing, Patton Oswalt wrote a serious, powerful message on his Facebook wall that resonated strongly with people. But there will come a time when everyone will want to laugh again.

Laughter literally began in our species as a gesture of shared relief at the passing of danger. And after a tragic event like a terrorist attack, or the threat of an oncoming war, our lives haven’t returned to normal until we’re able laugh again. So we turn our attention away from the misery of the 24/7 news cycle and we look for a reason to smile. Enter the comedian – formerly powerless in the face of despair, now an invaluable resource on the road to recovery.

We’re going to look at how five artists handled themselves in the aftermath (or in a few cases, the currentmath) of a globally tragic event. While wars and terrorist attacks are obviously less personal than the topics we’ve tackled before, the reactions from each of the artists touched upon today are still very much in line with their specific comedic style. READ MORE

Tragedy Plus Time
1

Divorce Is Hilarious… Sometimes

by | April 16th, 2013

Welcome to the latest installment of Tragedy Plus Time. Each segment will focus on a particular ‘life crisis’ — sometimes globally tragic, sometimes more of a personal affair — and we’ll explore how many of the comedians we know and love have dealt with it.

Comedians having been talking about the chaotic state of their marriages since the dawn of time, or at least since Henny Youngman got into the game. Marriage is an unavoidable topic for performers that want to use their personal lives in their material. And they know the audience doesn’t want to hear about how happy or in love they are — they want to be entertained. “Sure, sure, you’ll always love each other. BUT…?” Poking fun at your most intimate relationship is one of the cornerstones of comedy.

Everything changes when a comedian’s marriage ends, and it becomes clear there was a lot more truth to their routine then perhaps they’d hoped for.

Comedians who’ve been through a divorce are at an interesting crossroads with their material. Being able to discuss the break up or trash the ex-spouse is every comedian’s god-given right (This man in the UK went through a legal battle just for the right to do it). They all know the audience is silently asking them: “so what happened?” from their chairs, hungry for new jokes and juicy stories, all served with a side of schadenfreude. This is especially true for celebrity comics whose high profile splits make headlines.

You can get a sense of how the end of a relationship has affected a comic by seeing how they work the event into their material. How is the ex-spouse being portrayed? Will there be bitterness towards the person, or will they turn the focus towards their own flaws? There are certainly comedians who bring up the intimate details of their lives more than others, but no matter who it is, if there’s truth to be found in their work, rest assured it will be addressed in some form or another.

We’re going to take a look at some high profile examples and find out how each comedian’s divorce affected his or her material. READ MORE

Tragedy Plus Time
5

Using Comedy to Help Overcome Addiction

by | March 5th, 2013

Welcome to the latest installment of Tragedy Plus Time. Each segment will focus on a particular ‘life crisis’ — sometimes globally tragic, sometimes more of a personal affair — and we’ll explore how many of the comedians we know and love have dealt with it.

Though no one has proved it scientifically, there’s plenty of anecdotal evidence to support the connection between creative types and recreational drug use. Whether it’s an openness to new experiences, a desire to numb the pain, or just the absence of a reason to get up early the next morning, many artists find themselves indulging at some point in their life. What starts as experimentation can slowly lead to regular use, which can, and often does, lead to addiction.

Comedians are especially susceptible to this behavior, if for nothing other than the fact that bad decisions can often lead to some great material. And while there’s no shortage of hilarious or fascinating stories about all night benders, bad LSD trips or stoner misadventures, there’s an obvious dark side for anyone who doesn’t know when enough is enough.

We’re going to look at five comedians who’ve all dealt with the struggle of addiction in their own unique way, and have come out of it changed for the better. READ MORE

Tragedy Plus Time
0

When Comedians Come Out

by | February 19th, 2013

Welcome to the latest installment of Tragedy Plus Time. Each segment will focus on a particular ‘life crisis’ — sometimes globally tragic, sometimes more of a personal affair — and we’ll explore how many of the comedians we know and love have dealt with it.

Though we've made tremendous strides towards embracing homosexuality in the past few years, our society still has an incredibly long way to go. Being openly gay is still a very risky proposition in parts of the United States and the rest of the world. Even in places where we've achieved ‘acceptance,’ there are still numerous ignorant stereotypes to overcome.

Gay comics are in the unique position to publicly address (or not) the topic of their sexual orientation on stage or in their work. Being able to speak candidly about personal and taboo subjects allows them to address their struggles easier than many politicians or public figures. Even the boldest comics have to deal with the reality of public shaming and rejection as well as their own inner demons before they can fully embrace living their life out of the closet.

We’re going to look at four gay comedians who’ve powered through the pain, shame, and judgment of the world at large and have gone on to be loud, proud, and of course, hilarious. READ MORE

Tragedy Plus Time
3

Finding the Humor in Cancer

by | February 5th, 2013

Welcome to our new series Tragedy Plus Time. Each segment will focus on a particular ‘life crisis’ — sometimes globally tragic, sometimes more of a personal affair — and we’ll explore how many of the comedians we know and love have dealt with it.

Cancer is the disease that perpetually reminds us that we are all a bunch of vulnerable, fleshy meat sacks, and that everything we touch, eat, breathe or spend too much time standing near is eventually going to kill us. It affects millions of people every year. A late diagnosis is effectively a death sentence, and the variety show of pain it has provided humanity has torn apart countless lives, including those of some famous comedians.

While everyone has their own method of coping with something so devastating, comedians have one particularly refined coping mechanism that separates them from the rest of the population. How does someone with the ability to laugh at, over-analyze and make fun of anything react when they come into contact with one of the most humorless topics on the planet? The answer is a combination of anger and frustration, really dark, macabre jokes, and more often than not, some truly inspirational thoughts. READ MORE

Personas
3

Tim & Eric Meet Their Fans At The Corner Of Awkward And Cringe-Worthy

by | October 24th, 2012

Tim and Eric are the anti-establishment punks of the comedy world. They don’t care about wacky premises, the rule of three, or even the time-honored pattern of setup -> joke -> punchline. No, these two have their own comedic agenda. If you’ve never seen their act before, there’s an infamous Absolut Vodka ad they made with Zach Galifinakis that could effectively serve as their manifesto. The story goes that they were given full creative control over the ad, the only caveat being that they had to mention the product. This is what they made.

Interested in some Absolut Vodka now? More importantly (because it clearly was to them), did the piece make you laugh? If it did, you can safely yourself a fan, and you should probably head over to here when you have a chance. If it didn’t, don’t turn away just yet, because I contend that there is still something quite fascinating about the two of them, even if you’re not a fan of their style of humor. READ MORE

Patience
8

Louis CK, TJ & Dave, and the Power of Slow Comedy

by | August 29th, 2012

Somewhere in the middle of an episode of Louie, one of television’s most critically acclaimed comedies, I found myself sobbing uncontrollably. As Louis C.K. confessed his love to his very uninterested platonic friend Pamela, I found myself re-experiencing all the pain and rejection that came from my own dramatic failed attempt to win the girl I'd been infatuated with for over six years. This was the first time I'd cried since my cat Milhouse was put to sleep years ago. I honestly would have never thought an episode of a show like Louie could garner such a reaction from me, but the more I thought about it, the more it made sense. Louis C.K. practices a brand of 'slow comedy' on his show that is rarely seen on television or outside of the long-form improv scene in general.

I first discovered the concept of slow comedy while taking a level 3 class at the Upright Citizen’s Brigade Theater in New York City nine years ago. My instructor, Michael Delaney, was a long time veteran and one of the strongest performers at the theater. I desperately wanted to make a good impression in his first class. During one of my first scenes, which took place in a prison, I decided to make my character into a ridiculous prison caricature, threatening to rape my scene partner while sharpening a shiv. I’d even made the threat into a silly song, because I’d decided this prisoner was way into Disney movies. “What a bold character choice!” I thought to myself. A few minutes into the scene Delaney stopped everything and asked me, flat out, who I thought this character I was playing really was, and what he was all about – his name, why he was in prison, his hopes and dreams. I stammered and tried to explain that he was just some angry prisoner who probably also loved The Little Mermaid, but he wasn’t buying it. And right then he went into a speech on improv and comedy that I’ll never forget: READ MORE

Older posts »
-->