Talking Funny - HBO

One of the best things I've ever watched. Another very compelling thing to watch in this vein is that HBO special where Carlin, Seinfeld, Chris Rock and Ricky Gervais discuss their craft: [VIDEO]

In "Talking Funny"[0] Seinfeld tells a Louis CK joke and its an amazing example of how the two comedians differ. I feel like, at least for me, comedy isn't something I consciously analyze. To see its differences and techniques dissected is amazing. [0] [VIDEO]

You don't have to go that far. Consider this insight from Chris Rock, who said: Joke about what people do, not what they are. That came up in this discussion where he, Jerry Seinfeld, Ricky Gervais and Louis CK talk about comedy and their techniques, etc. It's really interesting. [VIDEO]

Yeah, and the two are linked. Seinfeld's focus on the process and craft meant he got exceptionally good at it. The money was a byproduct, not the goal. The motivation was intrinsic and about improving his craft. To which there is no end. So he continues. This discussion with Seinfeld, Chris Rock, Louis CK and Ricky Gervais is worth watching for anyone interested in that aspect of comedy: [VIDEO]

I know you're specifying amateur comedy, but it's not so clear what's up or down. A lot of people think Dave Chappelle punches down, but is he really?[1] "Comedy is subjective, and it's offensive, it really is. And people are making these imaginary rules, like, 'Comedy can punch up, but it can't punch down.' No, comedy punches down too sometimes, sorry. You don't make up the rules for my business without consulting a few of us. This is just people deciding these random rules about my business, and they're not even the funny people at their office, probably." - Jerry Seinfeld "Who decides what’s punching up and punching down? I have a routine about these comedians writing articles in the Guardian, trying to set the rules of comedy, insisting that we should never punch down. And I say sometimes you’ve got to punch down." - Ricky Gervais Also, it's important to understand what the actual target of the joke is. Chris Rock sums it up as, "Talk about what they do, not what they are"[2]. I think that's a useful rule of thumb. 1. [LINK] 2. [VIDEO]

Yes, and both have my sympathy. Sometimes, a musician revisits their earlier work and finds new things to explore. Joni Mitchell and Ryuchi Sakamoto come to mind. But other times, a musician feels that although their earlier work may be new and exciting to you, they are finding other things more engaging today and tire of answering questions about the old work with the same rote, trite answers. Over and over again. For someone constantly seeking fresh ground to cover, this attitude is an asset. p.s. In this discussion about comedy, Louis CK talks about a tip he got from George Carlin, namely to throw the old material out after a year and start over again, forcing yourself to find new things to say about the Universe. In the same discussion, Jerry Seinfeld explains that some of his material is ten years old, and he is still finding ways to sharpen and refine it. There is clearly no one right way about this. [VIDEO]

The truth is, he hasn't written (or at least presented) that much new material in his standup act in the decades after he finished the TV show. And that's OK, as a millionaire, I'd probably achieve far less than he has since the show (it's not not just standup he's been doing). But in an article praising his productive habbits, this strikes as a bit ironic. In HBO's Talking Funny [1] (from 2011) there's a discussion (around 1:00–2:00), where it's pretty clear how his habbit of replacing old material in the act is far more infrequent and little-by-little compared to the other comedians around the table, who generally throw away their entire hour almost every year after a special. [1] [VIDEO]