Rob Delaney 05/15/2009
 
Picture
Next Saturday, comedian Rob Delaney swings on down to Boston for a show at the Calderwood Pavillion along with Renata Tutko. Rob was kind enough to allow me to interview him in the week leading up to the show. A Boston native, Rob now travels the country as a professional funnyman. We sat down and quickly shot the breeze about life, comedy, and dragons.

 

-How about a little about yourself: you’re from Massachusetts, correct?

Yes, I was born in Boston and grew up in Marblehead.  

-You went to school at NYU. When did you start doing stand up? Before you were in New York or after you had gotten there?

I actually started doing standup after college, in LA.  My first set was about five years ago in LA at the ImprovOlympic.

-What drove you back to do a show in Boston?

It's my home so I try to perform there as often as possible. 

-How did Renata Tutko get involved?

She hosted a show at the Comedy Studio that I did and I thought she was very funny.  So I asked her to do my show.   She is Polish.

 -Now you’ve pointed out on the Kvetch Board (the Comedy Studio message board used by Boston comedians to network and p that Spinal Tap will also be in town that night. Is there anything you would like to say to them? A challenge, as it were?

I would like to say thank you for the inspiration over the years.  The many, many years you've been alive.  Collectively it's about 260 years.  So you're very old and I hope you don't die soon. 

-Let’s jump for a moment. What is it like working the West Coast as compared to the East Coast? Is there any difference at all?

In my opinion, there is no difference between coasts, really. We all watch the same TV shows, have access to the same things, so a distinction based on coasts would be way too huge.

-How about the difference between something like the UCB and the Improv? Do you find that you have more freedom in alternative venues?

I am strongly of the opinion that funny is funny, be it at a big comedy club or a small venue that is considered alternative.  To use 2 Boston-bred comedians, I have seen Bill Burr & Louis CK murder audiences at the Improv & the UCB using essentially the same material.  Now each and every AUDIENCE is certainly unique and demands respect and consideration.  You have to listen to them because any good show is a transaction between you and them.  But I sure don't have alternative room material and then club material.  I just try to tell the truth.  It is funny that this is such a huge topic of conversation on message boards.  The people I truly admire work very hard and are funny in either environment.  A truly funny joke will earn laughs whether it's at the Laugh Factory or a fly by night show in the back of a hipster bar.

-We met through AST. How do you feel about the internet as a tool for comedians? Are there any down sides to the immediacy that the internet offers?

In 2009, the internet is just a part of the deal.  It's not good or bad, it just is.  I say that because people in 1974 or 1990 were just as funny, they just used telephones and their feet to generate work.  Downsides?  Sure; there's shit out there that I've done that is just shamefully, disgustingly bad that will be bouncing off satellites for eons that I wish did not exist.  But the good news is that it helps you learn to say "No" to things earlier in your career that will probably suck.  It keeps you humble though to know that there is just embarrassing shit trash that anyone can summon with the greatest ease.  That said, people I've never heard of have contacted me and offered me wonderful jobs and stuff that I have enjoyed tremendously.  So on the whole, I enjoy the internet for comedy and and also for jewish girl porn. 

 -Would you rather have a pet dragon that could fly you anywhere but could not talk or a pet dolphin that COULD talk but could only take you to any place with water?

I would rather have the dolphin and I would make it take me to the women's steamroom at the JCC. 

-Any last thoughts? Words of wisdom? Death threats? Random musings?

Thank you for talking to me.  My shows are at 7 & 9 pm at the Calderwood Pavilion on Saturday May 23.  You can get tickets here: http://www.bostontheatrescene.com/season/production.aspx?id=7265&src=t or by calling 617-933-8600  If you use the code BABIES, you can get tickets for half price
 
Create a free website with Weebly