One of the cool things about PJ Media is that we’re more “political comedy” than any other right-leaning site this side of The Babylon Bee. Don’t get me wrong — we’re still rubbing coal beneath our eyes, lacing up our workboots, and tackling deadly serious, vitally important issues. Robert Spencer, for example, is collecting fatwas like I used to collect baseball cards.
That takes courage. Real, undeniable courage.
But sometimes, humor helps.
The great Rush Limbaugh was the best at it. He called it “illustrating absurdity by being absurd.” (Lord, I miss him.) The power of ridicule is a remarkable weapon; in the right hands, it can jumpstart political movements and end careers.
Democrats used it to destroy Dan Quayle.
In the current political cycle, the top funnyman is undeniably Donald Trump. He’s hysterical! You kiddin’ me? Working at McDonald’s, driving a garbage truck, doing his dance, and sending salutations to Governor Trudeau?! He’s Groucho Marx, Johnny Carson, and Don Rickles, all rolled into one.
Some of the top-rated writers at PJ Media work in comedy, performing standup throughout the country. (I’ve never been fortunate enough to watch ‘em live, but I’ve heard they’re AMAZING.) The internal messages they send in the work chat are always hilarious.
Furthermore, as a publicist, I can tell you that comedians are (usually) awesome to work with. Musicians and athletes are hit-or-miss: some are fascinating people, but many are empty vessels with a singular skill set. But comedians tend to be intelligent, creative guys and enjoyable conversationalists. I think it’s because they write their own material, whereas many musicians rely on songwriters (and lots of athletes are more akin to automatons).
So, since folks here seem to enjoy comedy, I thought y’all might get a giggle or two out of some of the comedians I’ve worked with in PR:
Famous Comedians Who’ve Passed Away
Norm Crosby: He was known as “The Master of the Malaprop” and was big in the 1960s and 1970s (before my time). He had hearing issues from being in a World War II submarine, which made communication a little rocky. Nice fellow. Very grandfatherly. His show was pretty short. (‘Course, he was in his 80s by then.)
Richard Lewis: That “neurotic” schtick wasn’t a schtick. He was a deeply nervous, high-strung guy. (Had a weird rider, too.) Not mean or unpleasant, but he was just as neurotic behind the scenes as he was on stage.
Robert Klein: Very professional, very focused. His career wasn’t as hot when I worked with him, and I think that weighed heavily on his mind. But he truly loved to perform. His work didn’t connect with me (I don’t know why), but you could tell how carefully he tended to his craft. I admired him.
Buddy Hackett (sort of): This one is mostly a lie, because I never met Buddy. Not even once! But his son, Sandy, did a big Rat Pack show that paid tribute to Buddy Hackett, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., and so forth. According to Sandy, his dad and the Rat Pack were close friends. Growing up, he called Frank Sinatra his “Uncle Frank.” When I worked with him, Sandy Hackett looked uncannily like Buddy Hackett. Before one of his shows, I told him that I watched his Pops perform on HBO when I was a little kid… and Sandy proceeded to perform the exact same jokes — the exact same way — as Buddy did. It was wild! It truly felt like I was in a room with Buddy Hackett, getting a private show.
“Saturday Night Live” Alums
Joe Piscopo: It’s absolutely ridiculous how nice Piscopo is. Like, he’s legitimately one of the nicest, kindest, sweetest people I’ve ever met. He’s also an excellent singer with a deep love for Rat Pack music, especially Sinatra. (He’s a Republican, too.)
Kevin Nealon: Another very nice person. In my opinion, he’s an insanely underrated comedian. (He can be a little pushy about hawking his wares after a show, however.) The media really loves him, which made my work a piece of cake. He’s proactive about engaging TV/radio personalities on his own. Very funny, very likeable. He talked trash about a certain (female) SNL alum, who performed on the show for four seasons in the 1990s, which surprised me: I kinda thought Nealon liked everyone. That was the vibe he gave.
Colin Quinn: He’s absolutely, 100%, bar none, the single funniest comic I’ve EVER seen perform live — period, end of story. My face actually hurt the following day because I laughed so hard. Great, phenomenal dude! I normally accompany these comedians when we do media appearances, so we always hire a driver. Well, a few weeks after Quinn had come and gone, I was with the same driver and she was laughing like a loon at her phone: It turned out that Quinn was still texting her jokes. But that’s who he was: he was the “everyman” who made friends wherever he went.
Related: PR Idea: Trump Should Rename It the AMERICAN Canal. (Panama Didn’t Build It!)
Random Folks from TV Shows
Wayne Brady and Greg Proops: Both guys performed on “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” Brady did an improv-based comedy show, if I remember right, whereas Proops was more of a straightforward comedian. Brady is very nice and even visited a children’s hospital before he performed. (To the delight of the kids and doctors. And yes, he knows you’re gonna shout his lines from “Chapelle’s Show” at him.) Very handsome, too — Brady could’ve been a movie star. Proops has some cool stories as well: He voiced an alien in the first “Star Wars” prequel (he was the voice of one of the heads of the two-headed announcer-alien from Anakin’s pod race) and was telling me how Star Wars collectors try to get a signature from everyone who’s ever had a speaking role, no matter how small. He’s signed quite a few posters that were crawling in autographs, to satisfy the vast galaxy of Star Wars nerds.
Paul Reiser: Another highly professional, very polished performer. I don’t really understand why his career crashed, because he was big in the 1980s and 1990s, and then he sort of fell off the map. “Mad About You” was a major hit on NBC’s “must see TV” Thursday lineup, and now it’s mostly forgotten. But folks still love him. Like a lot of older comics, he devotes a lot of material to the aging process. But he’s still very funny.
David Alan Grier: A moody, unpleasant performer. Not at all fun to work with.
Ben Bailey: He was the star/host/driver of “Cash Cab.” He’s also a lot bigger than you think — and he has hair! (Turns out he shaved his head before he auditioned for the gameshow and then had to keep it that way.) But he later grew his hair out, and before a TV appearance, I felt one of the producers mic’ing me up from behind. (Guess she figured all bald guys look alike and mic’ed the wrong guy.) Bailey actually got a legit taxi license for the TV show, swears it’s all on the level, and even bought the cab. He’s one of the comedians who doesn’t like to watch others perform because he doesn’t want their work to bleed into his. (I’ve always been fascinated by the comedy process because all comics do it slightly differently.) He does lose points for being a New York Giants fan.
Biggest Jerk
Kevin Pollak: He’s a talented impressionist, but hands down the nastiest comedian (and one of the most unpleasant people) I’ve ever worked with. I’ll never work with that assclown again.
Guys I Wish I Had Worked With
George Carlin: To me, he’s the all-time GOAT of standup. Never got to work with him, but did watch him perform live a few years before he passed away. (Actually, the show wasn’t very good.) But his HBO specials were just so amazing. Love the guy.
Norm Macdonald: One of the truly original voices in comedy. Miss his insights. Never even got to see him in person, which is a huge regret. So sad that he “tied” with cancer.
Sam Kinison: He was like a comet: One minute he’s the biggest thing in the sky… and the next, he’s gone. Kinison’s career was short-lived, but it would’ve been a thrill to ride in his entourage. (For a little while, at least.)
So now, dear reader, which comedians successfully tickle your funnybone? And this New Year’s Eve, if you could ring in the New Year with any comedian — living or dead, current or retro, famous or otherwise — who would you pick?
