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The history of comedy is a story of platforms, venues, and spaces.
(Comedy is a lot like the symbiote in that way.
Not sure if I actually followedVenom: Let There Be Carnage.)
AndUnCabaretis one of the great examples of this in stand-ups history.
Its an influence you might still see in comedy today.
On VulturesGood Onepodcast, Lapides discusses the history and legacy ofUnCabaretand her new audiobookSo you better Decide.
Below, you’re able to read an excerpt from the transcript or listen to the full episode.
Tune in toGood Oneevery Thursday onApple Podcasts,Spotify,Stitcher,Overcast, orwherever you get your podcasts.
I would say creatives.
There were definitely boldface names.
There was definitely a Quentin Tarantino, and there was definitely a John C. Reilly.
It was really happening.
It was a smart audience.
People definitely got stuff.
You never had to worry,Is this too smart for them?
It was definitely connected.
First of all, there was no backstage.
Some fans became friends.
Some fans became annoying.
Some fans were like the fan onFlight of the Conchords,since there was nowhere to go.
But it was friendly; there wasnt an adversarial relationship.
At a certain point, I was going to write a book calledHow I Revolutionized Comedy Without Being Funny.
Im not saying Im not funny, but I never got to really refine at the same level.
And then theyd come back and find a new thing and theyd go work on it.
But I spent so much time doingUnCabthat I didnt have the ability to work on material much beyond it.
I always felt I was the pace horse.
Every show, I roughed it up and opened it up, and my job was gessoing the canvas.
Sometimes people would come in with a set something they wanted to talk about and completely abandon it.
Something else was happening in the room that reminded them of something, and then thats their set.
The night would hold together in such a beautiful, magical way.
So I felt like it was my job to make that possible.
And thats what I did.
Thats the only thing that you have that no one else has.
I think of a rainbow and I think,Is yellow jealous of red?
I would say that, for the comedian: time onstage.
Dont hurry, love.
You just cant make it go faster than it goes.
And, you know what?
If youre someone whos in the box, be in the box.
The things that I have failed at have been like,Well, Ill try this.
I think I can sell this.And then it doesnt sell.
