Stop Working The Crowd
I was sad to read about the increasing number of standup comics who do crowd work in their sets. Most aren’t very good at it, but feel the need to constantly create content for TikTok. Here are several reasons it annoys me.
Dave Attell’s “Hot Cross Buns”
I’m a long time fan of veteran standup comedian Dave Attell. Here’s my review of his new Netflix special.
Richard Lewis
Here are a couple of stories about my encounters years ago with Richard Lewis, a one-of-a-kind comedian and actor who died this week at 76.
Tommy Smothers
I’m saddened to hear of the death of Tommy Smothers at the age of 86. Here’s a conversation I had with him in 2007 about his long career with brother Dick — and the time he taught John Lennon the right way to play a song.
Andy Kaufman, Over-Indulged Nut
On the 40th anniversary of Andy Kaufman’s death, here’s a piece I wrote about him in 2000 explaining why I was not a fan.
Movie Review: “Steve!”
I have a few thoughts about “Steve!”, Morgan Neville’s two-part documentary on Apple TV+ about Steve Martin.
David Bianculli on The Smothers Brothers
In the wake of the death of Tommy Smothers this week, I’m reposting my conversation with David Bianculli about his book, “Dangerously Funny,” a history of the Smothers Brothers’ TV show.
Albert Brooks Looks Back
Here are some of my thoughts after watching “Defending My Life,” the documentary about Albert Brooks made by his friend of sixty years, Rob Reiner (now streaming on Max).