Thinking of Boston Categories: Latest News Posted: April 18, 2013 |
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This week started on a horrifying note. I am still in shock that two bombs killed three people and injured dozens at the Boston Marathon finish line. What a sad and terrifying event. Of course, there were heroic stories coming out of the tragedy — runners who ran to hospitals to donate blood, people who ran toward the explosion to help others instead of heading the other way. Amazing. Inspiring.
As someone who has completed marathons, I know what a joyous accomplishment finishing it can be. Those last few steps as you cross the finish line bring a tidal wave of emotion. Usually positive emotion. Monday it was not the same. And the Boston Marathon will never be the same again. But, like most of the country, we can continue to stand in solidarity with Beantown and support them.
My Yankees — whose ugly rivalry with Boston’s Red Sox is well noted — are doing something pretty special. They are playing Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline” during their home games as a tribute to the Red Sox, who play the song during their home games. As we know, some things transcend sports. We found that out on 9/11, and we know that now. It’s a funny thing that a Neil Diamond song brings us together. And, if you know my show Ted Greenberg’s The Complete Performer, you know I have a fondness for the tune too. This week I dedicate it to Boston, the marathoners and anyone affected by the tragedy.
Tags: boston, red sox, sweet caroline, yankees
| R.I.P. Jonathan Winters Categories: Comedians,Latest News Posted: April 15, 2013 |
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The comedy world lost a legend last week: Jonathan Winters. As this terrific NPR story points out, Winters was hailed a “genius” by Robin Williams (who called Winters his “Comic Buddha”), Steve Martin and many others who were influenced by his amazing work.
Winters illustrious career spanned comedy albums (11 were nominated for Grammys) to his Emmy Award-winning performance in Davis Rules to voicing Papa Smurf in the cartoon hit TV show and film. What Winters will be most remembered for his uncanny mimicry, quick wit and beyond-this-world improvisation skills. For decades, he entertained millions and inspired future comics with his facile impersonations of both famous and regular folks and appearances on late night talk shows. Here’s a lovely example of one of those — his 1986 appearance on Late Night with David Letterman. Watch how much Winters cracks Letterman up.
I am also wowed by this clip from The Dean Martin Show. I love the commentary about how Winters and Don Rickles were the only two performers on that show that were never given scripted material. They brought the magic — the spontaneity, the hilarity — on their own. Watching this clip you can see why Winters didn’t need anyone to write for him. From his words to his gesture, eye movements, he delivers comic gold, and he’s a great foil for Dean Martin.
Thank you Mr. Winters for your brilliance and your ability to make us all laugh. You will be missed, but we are forever grateful that we were able to enjoy your work.
Tags: comedy, jonathan winters
| My Favorite Interview This Week Categories: Comedians,Comedy Shows,Latest News Posted: April 11, 2013 |
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Marc Maron is one of the most influential names in comedy. His WTF Podcast is nothing short of amazing. Take a listen and you’ll know what I mean. In less than a month, he has a new show — Maron — premiering on IFC. The trailer is already up.
As excited as I am to check out his show, which follows in a long line of comedian-created show (Think Louis C.K.), I absolutely loved that biting interview Michael Ian Black conducted with Maron for Gothamist. You can read or listen to the interview here. Since Ian Black and Maron had just taken to Twitter to continue their tense exchanges, the interview has an authentic feel that most in a TV press junket lack.
The interview is so deliciously uneasy, I hope there is a round two or that Michael Ian Black appears on an episode of Maron, which is based on Marc Maron’s life and podcast. That would be genius. IFC, please take note.
Tags: interview, Marc Maron, Michael Ian Black, TV show
| Is Melissa McCarthy The Funniest Woman in America? Categories: Comedy Shows,Latest News Posted: April 8, 2013 |
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Melissa McCarthy rules the big screen and the boob tube. This past weekend, she hosted Saturday Night Live for the second time, and the rave reviews are rolling in. Gothamist hailed the episode the “best” of the season so far. The Los Angeles Times raves that her performance is a “slam dunk” while Entertainment Weekly raved that Melissa “brought the heat”.
With her bright smile and game attitude, McCarthy made sketches about an abusive coach and dancing ham must watch TV. In fact, she’s memorable in anything she does. Audiences aren’t the only ones championing her talent. She’s received an Emmy for her work on the CBS comedy “Mike and Molly” and and Oscar nomination for her wildly funny turn in the film Bridesmaids.
Not bad for someone who played the charming, yet often overlooked Sookie St. James on “Gilmore Girls” for eight seasons and got her start on her cousin Jenny McCarthy’s show in the late ’90s.
Melissa, whom I called one of the funniest mothers, is currently one of the hottest names in a comedy. She joins a long lineage of funny women — Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett, Gilda Radner, Jane Curtain, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler and Kristen Wiig. Melissa matches these hilarious women in her ability to make fun of herself, yet she also possesses a genuine likeability — a warmth that very few actors or actresses have. She is relatable, yet still funny. Now is the time to ask, “Is Melissa McCarthy the funniest woman in America?
Perhaps the answer will come this summer when Melissa re-teams with Bridesmaids director Paul Feig for The Heat, a buddy comedy also starring Sandra Bullock. The film comes out at the height of summer blockbuster season, opening on June 28th. Here’s the NSFW international trailer:
Tags: funniest woman in america, melissa mccarthy, snl
| It’s Official! The Tonight Show Comes Home Categories: Comedians,Comedy Shows,Latest News Posted: April 4, 2013 |
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A couple weeks ago, I made a list of the top five guests I’d love to see on The Tonight Show if it moved back to New York City. Yesterday, the official news broke, confirming the rumors. After 40 years in Los Angeles, The Tonight Show will return to 30 Rock, and Jimmy Fallon, former Saturday Night Live star and current host of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, will serve as host, replacing Jay Leno.
I guess good guys do finish first after all. The very likeable Fallon will takeover the top-rated late night talk show and ostensibly compete for guests with its rival, Late Show with David Letterman, which films only a few blocks away from 30 Rock.
The big question is who will be the final guest on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Who will help him say good-bye to the show he’s hosted the past five years and hello to his biggest job ever? Here are my top three candidates.
#3 Joan Rivers — She was at one time a stand in for Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show. She’s also been a New York stalwart — performing at big and small clubs alike for decades, er, generations. She would make a great transition guest for the show.
#2 Seth Myers – The comedian is rumored to be next in line for Jimmy’s job. The finale would be a great way to pass the baton between the SNLers.
#1 Brigitte Nielsen & Flavor Flav — They are due for a reunion, right?
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| Is Opening Day an April Fools Joke in New York City? Categories: Latest News Posted: April 1, 2013 |
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Nearly thirty years ago, one of the biggest hoaxes in sports history involved the Mets and a to-good-to-be-true pitching prospect, Sidd Finch. Essentially the creation of the late great writer George Plimpton, Finch was equal parts early Barry Zito and Ebby Calvin “Nuke” LaLoosh. He could toss the heat with a fastball clocking in at 168 mph. In 1985 (before the advent of the internet and smartphones), Sports Illustrated ran Plimpton’s article about the improbable pitcher, and Mets fans were gaga for the kid with the live arm. And scouts were shaking in their boots, though Finch only wore one on the mound while pitching.
Clearly the Mets had a sense of humor back then. They were in on the April Fools joke. But, as Opening Day is just a few hours away for the Amazins’, the team brass must feel that starting the 2013 season on April Fools Day is an omen. They start the year without their best pitcher, the only one to throw a no-hitter in team history, Johan Santana. He’s headed back under the knife on Tuesday, April 2nd. It looks like a sense of humor will serve the Mets well again this year. They haven’t sniffed the playoffs in years, and quite possibly won’t get any closer this season. On the bright side, a year after the Finch story ran, the Mets were World Champions with luck on their side. Maybe 2014 will be a better year for the denizens of Citi Field.
The Yankees also open their season at home this afternoon. Scan the line-up and you may be a bit confused. No Derek Jeter. No Alex Rodriguez. Thank goodness CC Sabathia will be on the mound; he ensures that the Yanks have at least a shot at Opening Day victory. But with the team captain (Jeter) on the Disabled List and many new faces, I’ve got to wonder how this season will shape up for the most storied team in baseball history.
The Sidd Finch story was one of SI’s most popular, generating over 2,000 letters. Finch supposedly spent some time at Harvard before hightailing it to Tibet. A yoga devotee, he took his first name from “Siddhartha.” Right now, the Mets and Yankees could use a Sidd Finch or at least some of the philosophy he reportedly studied.
Tags: april fools day, george plimpton, Mets, opening day, sidd finch, yankees
| Eating It Up at Westville Categories: Latest News Posted: March 28, 2013 |
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One of the great things about performing a weekly late comedy show in Soho is the neighborhood’s vibrancy. There are terrific places to eat, grab a drink, listen to live music or go clubbing within a five minute walk of Soho Playhouse. And, one of the newer additions to the neighborhood is the latest outpost of Westville. Roomy, airy and inviting, this version of the delicious restaurant is perfect for meetings or a pre-show meal. And it’s a two block walk to the theater.
I’m not the only one crowing about the place. Westville at 333 Hudson rates 4.5 stars on Yelp.com. It is perfect for carnivores, omnivores and vegetarians alike. The market sides are always fresh and cooked to perfection. I’m particularly a huge fan of the brussels sprouts and bok choy. The tofu is also a winner. The burgers and chicken are pretty great too.
If you’re looking for a place to grab a bite before Ted Greenberg’s The Complete Performer, consider Westville. Or if you’re just in the neighborhood, stop by. I promise you’ll be delighted. And your wallet will be too.
Tags: places to eat, things to do in nyc, westville
| Tilda Swinton Slept Here Categories: Latest News Posted: March 25, 2013 |
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The hottest news in New York is that the Big Apple has its own Sleeping Beauty. This is no Disney princess, but rather ethereal Scottish actress Tilda Swinton sleeping in a glass box — and not in pajamas btw — at one of the most revered art museums in the world, The Museum of Modern Art. The Oscar-winning Swinton’s turn at performance art, entitled The Maybe, is drawing notoriety from nearly every news outlet ranging from Gothamist.com to People Magazine.
Photo Credit: Ming Chen Liao
Performance art is a popular form of artistic expression in big cities — where living and doing can be seen as having entertainment value and/or the opportunity to wow audiences. In some cases, like illusionist David Blaine, performance artists can dream up fantastical feats to overcome — being buried alive, or frozen in a block of ice or surrounded by Tesla coils. In others, it’s a different kind of endurance, think Marina Abramović and her The Artist Is Present where she spent over 700 hours staring intently at one person at a time in 2010. Also, at MoMA. Or take the late comedian Andy Kaufman, who took on pro wrestler Jerry the King Lawler in the ring and was the king of other grand stunts.
With all this excitement over Swinton at MoMA, I thought about the top five things I — as a New York based comedian — could do as a performance art piece.
(5) Drive a cab — I already do this AFTER my late night Saturday show, Ted Greenberg’s The Complete Performer. Is there anything more New York than a yellow cab?
(4) Eat a slice of pizza. Or a lot of slices of pizza. The Village is known for its pies — pizza pies. Chowing on a slice of tomato sauce and mozzarella is the Big Apple to the core.
(3) Read the New York Post or New York Daily News. The New York Times owns the cultural currency of this town, but the Post and Daily News are great for gossip and sports, respectively. And every New Yorker I know loves gossip and sports. The life blood of this city.
(2) Sitting courtside with Spike and Woody at Madison Square Garden. Gotta love the Knicks, and how much fun would it be to watch Melo and the guys play from the front row. This seems like the easiest performance art gig in the world.
(1) Have my own Mascot! I already do. Check out how handsome he is.
What would you do for performance art in this city?
Tags: comedy, performance art, Tilda Swinton
| The Top Five Guests for The Tonight Show’s Return to New York Categories: Comedians,Comedy Shows,Latest News Posted: March 21, 2013 |
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Yesterday, news leaked that The Tonight Show may move back to New York after four decades in Los Angeles. The New York Times, among other outlets, reported that Jimmy Fallon is expected to take over hosting duties by fall 2014, and one of the most storied shows in television history will return to 30 Rockefeller Center.
If Fallon shifts to The Tonight Show, his gig at Late Night will be up for grabs. Gothamist has already weighed in about the top 20 possible Fallon replacements. My favorite is Pat Kiernan, the NY1 host. He already has game show host and news anchor experience behind him, and his eternal geniality would make a great replacement for Fallon’s brand of nice-guy comedy. My second choice from Gothamist’s list is, of course, Jeffrey Tambor. But, that’s because I would watch him do just about anything.
The real scintillating question is who will be Fallon’s first guest(s) on the New York-based The Tonight Show? I offer my top five choices:
(5) Mayor of New York — At this point, it’s hard to know who will lead the Big Apple in fall 2014, but with the return of the show to NYC, the current mayor would be a great guest. With the recent passing of the always colorful Ed Koch and with Bloomberg out of office by the beginning of the year, that leaves whichever contender rises to the top.
(4) Jay-Z — Does anyone else in the Big Apple have the cool factor to match Jay-Z? The musician and businessman has made The Barclays Center and Brooklyn the place to be. He’s rocked audiences nationwide and is married to one of the most beautiful women in the world. And, he’s a New Yorker, through and through.
(3) Drew Barrymore — Sure the new mama is known for her appearances on David Letterman’s show (who can forget her dancing on his desk?), but she’s got strong ties to Fallon, her co-star in the romantic comedy, Fever Pitch. He’s also married to her co-producer friend, Nancy Juvonen. I’m sure Barrymore and Fallon would have lots to talk about.
(2) Conan O’Brien – Talk about a ratings bonanza. Conan returns to The Tonight Show after the debacle surrounding his unceremonious dumping as host just a few years prior. Sure, Coco has recovered nicely — thanks to a documentary, Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop, and his TBS late night talk show, simply titled Conan.
(1) Lorne Michaels — He’s the kingmaker, the producer who has launched and shaped careers by the dozens. Since Fallon got his start on Michaels’ Saturday Night Live, it would be a fitting tribute to interview Michaels for the first episode.
Tags: jimmy fallon, New York, the tonight show, top five guests
| March Madness Is Here Categories: Latest News Posted: March 18, 2013 |
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The most important day in March was yesterday. Not St. Patrick’s Day (though that’s up there), but the NCAA basketball bracket reveal. If you thought the bars were packed over the weekend, wait until this Thursday when the fans of various teams hit the scene to root for the Tigers, the Spartans and every other Mascot under the sun. As a performer with my own Mascot, I totally understand. But, as a Harvard grad, much of March Madness escapes me. It’s not like the Crimson will hoist the trophy any time soon. But at least we’re in the tournament this year. You’ve got to be in it to win it, right?
It’s amazing how many articles are written about March Madness and how to pick your bracket. There’s The Sweet Science of March Madness. Or 10 Teams to Kill Your Bracket. Or March Madness Bracket 2013. More ink and brain power are spent on the NCAA basketball tournament than on world problems. Analysts break down which No. 12 seed is going to upset a No. 5 seed this year, what players are hot right now and how you can win your pool. Seriously, if we put our minds and money together — like we do for March Madness — we could solve world hunger and many other ills.
But, until we do that, I’m rooting for The Crimson. At least until they bust out in the first round. Or the second.
Who are you rooting for?
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