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By the time an audience sees a joke in a special, it feels inevitable.
But most jokes start with a comedian just trying something for the first time.
And sometimes that first attempt bombs, but something or someone tells them to keep going.
That was the case with Moses Storms story about dumpster diving and throwing up at a country-club pool.
Below, you’re able to read an excerpt from the transcript or listen to the full episode.
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Someone who deserves it got it, and now he gets to bask in it.
Im like a weird older cousin or some shit.
Moses Storm:Thats great to hear.
In 2008 we were making …
I wouldnt sayqualityvideos, I would say topical videos?
Moses:It had some viral success, but it was very burnable content.
Like Susan Boyles in the news!
and we would do a bit about that.
And secretly, I was always too embarrassed and insecure to ever do stand-up.
And now its ten years later, and now were here.
Roy:I am very curious about you finding [your voice] at a younger age.
Moses:Is that when I met you?
Roy:No, no.
Id say maybe 28-ish, 30-ish?
Im 43 now, so you do the math.
Roy:[Laughs.]
Its funnier if we dothis.
It just felt like a story.
And then, lo and behold, its connected to everything in the world.
So walk me through this bit in how you made the decision like,This story.
This is the one.
Team Coco was doing shows …
Roy:That was right before COVID!
Moses:We got COVID there.
Like, COVID was spreadatthe shows that you and I were doing.
Roy:Valentines weekend 2020.
So we were the last irresponsible event.
Thank you for those free tickets, Conan.
And I was talking to you about, I dont like theaws that I hear from the audience.
Its worse than Fuck you idiot!
or complete silence is when you hear Awww!
That means I fundamentally have not done my job as a comedian.
Roy:Because they feel sorry for you.
You said, Do not cut that.
If youre uncomfortable with it, thats exactly what you should be leaning into.
Theres enough jokes in there.
Just say that this is you.
So youre the reason that thats in that special.
Thats why I chose it for this.
Well, Im honored.
Ill say that, as a comedian, Ive always felt a bit of respectful envy of you.
I wish I was that courageous that early.
Give them more pain!
Roy:But you want them to feel.
Thats the differentiation between the comedians that we remember in our lives.
Its the feeling that also comes along with the joke, especially if youre talking about stuff thats introspective.
Moses:Honestly, I wish I could reshoot the special.
The biggest thing that I have to address is the phrase TED Talk special.
Then I literally pull out a PowerPoint remote and start doing, essentially, a TED Talk.
We grew up grifting.
Then that was the way that the radio station or people would call in and provide for her.
So, the whole special is about forgiveness.
What if I did that?
What if it worked to my advantage?
The whole special is a grift.
I used everything you taught me, all the mistakes.
Thats what I dont know comes across, but thats at least what Im trying to do.
You had a lot of great choices in terms of the camera angles.
Moses:Okay, because when youre holding a remote, it can feel like a TED Talk.
Roy:And youre wearing a lav mic, too.
And its just the opposite.Nanettewasgreat.
Its not stand-up who gives a shit?
Its better than stand-up.
What Im saying when I say Ted Talk is theresponsetoNanette.
Roy:People liked that!?
Moses:She pulled it off, and it was authentic to her.
Then men tried to do this thing of, like, Nanette, but for boys!
Like, Heres how she should have done it.
And then it was not authentic.
This is a very weird, aggro move.
So when I say TED Talk, it was referencing the response to that.
The problem was that I had to cut the longer part of that joke.
So I go, Im not doing a TED Talk special thats more important than it is funny.
This was the part that was cut: You know those comedians that come onstage?
You know, those guys?
In the process of editing, in those two months, woke had become an alt-right dog whistle.
But now its just reading like Im shitting on any special that has an authentic moment.
Thats why I wish I could reshoot.
