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If you get a chance, check out "Talking Funny", a very nerdy but informative DVD of conversations between Jerry Seinfeld, Louis CK, Chris Rock, and Ricky Gervai
by jgroome 15y ago
If you get a chance, check out "Talking Funny", a very nerdy but informative DVD of conversations between Jerry Seinfeld, Louis CK, Chris Rock, and Ricky Gervais. In it they discuss this very subject.
Seinfeld says his method is to repeat material for years before throwing it out. Chris Rock sees his comedy specials schedule as the equivalent of an album ("like Prince"), so every tour he does completely new material. Gervais lands in the middle - enough freshness to keep things interesting but also enough old stuff to keep the crowds happy. Louis CK is constantly changing his act - if I remember correctly he says he rarely keeps a joke for more than a few shows.
- charlieok 15y agoCool, thanks for that. I realize that this isn't going to be a new subject for anyone in an entertainment business. But as a programmer, it's not something I've thought about nearly as much. Tolerance for old material probably varies by audience, too. Those catchphrase comedians get amazing mileage out of unbelievably scant material; enough to become fodder for other comedians. ( http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/comedy-tour/1313758 http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/comedy-tour/131... ) I wonder if these big-splash events where a comedian sells a clip DRM-free for a simple payment might be better suited to comedy than to music, given the more time-sensitive nature of the value of a comedy bit.