“Ever read a book that changed your life?—me neither.” Jim Gaffigan
When I heard this joke from Gaffigan at the time, it struck me as funny not only because I just flat out enjoy the guy; but I was having similar thoughts right around the time I watched his special. I had never been able to relate to people that talked about a book having such a huge effect on them; but recently I was recommended one that is having a profound impact on the way I look at my approach to the creative process, it is, “the War of Art” by Steven Pressfield.
Pressfield’s take on the creative process and the internal struggles that always accompany the endeavor is filtered through one primary battle against an intangible entity called: “Resistance”. I’m not going to give a review of the book, only a stern recommendation that I’m finding it to be a useful tool to help get me over or through inner creative blocks. With Pressfield’s granted permission, (he responds quickly to emails) I just wanted to throw out a couple of passages that I think would have been beneficial to some of the discourse that has been conducted on this website,
“A pro views her work as craft, not art. Not because she believes art is devoid of a mystical dimension. On the contrary. She understands that all creative endeavor is holy, but doesn’t dwell on it. She knows if she thinks too much, it will paralyze her. So she concentrates on technique. The professional masters how, and leaves what and why to the gods…the sign of the amateur is over-glorification of and preoccupation with mystery. The professional shuts up. She doesn’t talk about it. She does her work” (pg. 78)
“If you find yourself criticizing other people, you’re probably doing it out of Resistance. When we see others beginning to live their authentic selves, it drives us crazy if we have not lived our own”. (pg. 38)
Check it out, take what you like, and leave what you don’t like, or if you are luckily moving along without any obstacles, keep on plugging away.
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Thursday, June 19, 2008
Got Stuck?
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Jason Saenz Finds Apartment, Fires Willie Randolph
Randolph who played most of his career in New York as a member of the Yankees while serving as a bench coach for a 11 seasons, leaves the Mets after little over 2 full seasons with a .544 winning percentage. The real buzz around the Randolph firing has been the 3am fax that was sent out to the press revealing the news. Apparently it came just an hour after Saenz had contacted Randolph. The ex-manager relayed his version to the press, “I got a phone call at around 2am—it was hard to hear at first, because I think Mr. Saenz was playing Madden 08…after he put the game on pause and told his buddies to “shut-the-hell-up”, he gave me the news”. It was after Randolph retold this aspect of the story that he had to leave the press conference for 5-10 minutes to compose himself. “F**k him, I would of done the same thing to Isaiah Thomas (former President of the New York Knicks) if I had arrived in town in time, said a very relaxed Saenz who was found in a laundry room that he was given permission to use by “a-friend-of-a-friend”. Saenz who hasn’t made his mind up about Eli Manning, said the release of Randolph came right after he checked off “get a post-office box” on his to-do list that he made prior to arriving to New York. “I got a sublet; I’ve signed up for some improv classes; and the other night after doing Rory’s (Scovel) show, I was digging out money to chip in for pizza and there it was on my list, and I was like—‘Shit! I forgot about Willie!’ Saenz explained. Saenz who has been asked to possibly help out Tatum O’Neil with her drug charges, shrugged at the idea. “You know I saw ‘Paper Moon’ and it was the only time I ever wanted to punch a kid…who knows…but I got laundry to do ya know?”
Aspiring comedian Jason Saenz fired New York Met's manager Willie Randolph early Tuesday morning during a recent string of personal moves as he starts to get acclimated to New York City.
Though the firing of Randolph wasn’t a surprise by those around town as the Mets entered tonight’s play at 34-35, what was surprising was that Saenz, a native of Fairfax VA, is the one that brought the hammer down on Randolph.
“I’m surprised, I loved this organization and though my relationship with Mr. Saenz has been non-existent until this point, I respect him and his decision”, said a befuddled and emotional Randolph.
Perfection finally raises it's standards. Top Shelf is Tonight!
Come on down to Solly's Tavern tonight where we have everyone that is worth a damn and also people who are worth more. I can't even tell you how excited I am to have the lineup we do and you'd just be downright foolish to miss it. It's free and it's the only thing that won't make you hate yourself.
HERE'S WHO WE WORKIN' WIT
Mike Way
Kojo Mante
Jake Young
Eli Sairs
Travis Irvine
Keith Irvin
and of course, Assface Turner holdin' down hosting duties
It's @ 9
It's @ Solly's Tavern
That's @ 1942 11th St. NW (11th & U St.)
It's still free, guy
It's not just TV, It's Not TV
Monday, June 16, 2008
DC Comedy Festival Updates
We're excited to welcome TODD BARRY to our line up of headliners. He'll be joined by the super fun TIG NOTARO. And don't miss ROB CANTRELL with Jewish reggae band LIONIZE.
VISIT dccomedyfest.com for this and other programming updates!
JB SMOOVE Joined by Owen Smith
Join us for RUCKUS, the all energy show starring JB SMOOVE joinged by OWEN SMITH of "Everybody Loves Chris." And don't miss our other headliners including TJ MILLER ("Cloverfield," "Carpoolers"), LIZZ WINSTEAD (Co-creator of THE DAILY SHOW), 4 SHADES OF BLACK and more!
NEW INDUSTRY JUDGES!
We're excited to announce the following INDUSTRY JUDGES* for our SCREENPLAY, TV PILOT and SHORT FILM CONTESTS AND our FRESH VOICES INDUSTRY AUDITION:
Daphne Zuniga (actress, SPACEBALLS, A SURE THING)
Nick Weidenfeld (head of development, ADULT SWIM)
Jonathan Baruch (Partner, Rain Management Group LA)
JoAnn Grigioni (Director of Talent, COMEDY CENTRAL)
Ali Bell (VP of Production/Development, THE MONTECITO PICTURE COMPANY)
Amee McNaughton (Creative Executive, FOX 2000)
Paul Getto (Creative Executive,ROGUE PICTURES)
Michael/Goldwyn, Lorne Michaels and John Golywyn's production company (BABY MAMA, etc)
Angela Bowers (Celebrity Talent Coordinator, VH1)
Michael Cox ("Chelsea Lately")
* scheduled to participate - and more expected to be announced from Rogue Pictures, Spyglass and Fox!
Deadline July 3rd
Funny writer? Prove it!
Enter your comedy FILM SCREENPLAY or TV PILOT teleplay in our Comedy Screenplay Contest. The entries will be reviewed by a panel of renowned industry judges representing some of the most respected talent agencies, management and production companies in the world of entertainment.
The winning screenplay and teleplay will receive staged reading of sample scenes for industry and general public audience at dccomedyfest, trip to dccomedyfest 2008 and 3 month representation of the project by Rain Management Group.
Rules and details available at the dccf website:http://www.dccomedyfest.com/dccf/submissions.htm
Deadline July 3rdWe want your short video films!!
dccomedyfest is accepting video submissions for the Comedy Short Competition. Finalists will have their short films reviewed by a panel of renowned industry judges representing some of the most respected talent agencies, management and production companies in the world of entertainment.
The winning video will be aired on the dccomedyfest website, in high profile position on an industry leading video portal, and before select shows as dccf venues. The winner will also receive $250.
Rules and details on the dccf website at: http://www.dccomedyfest.com/dccf/submissions.htm
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My Two and a Half Cents
I have a soft spot for Jon Cryer. I had a professor in college that railed against Cryer one day during my Mass Media Theory class. Jon “F-ing” Cryer. As far as this 'Dr.' was concerned, Cryer should have taken his body of work and made millions producing fertilizer. We had about a 40 minute discussion (with tangents into both Judge Reinhold and Nelson, Allen Sheedy and Andrew McCarthy) about his past work and whether we would be behind a project with him involved. I even got caught up in the anti-Cryer fervor and was like, “Noooooo, no way, everything that guy is in drops like a lead turd!” Though afterwards, I thought it was a silly discussion. I felt silly. When I got back to my apartment, my roommate said, “How was class?” and I was like, “Man, we just ripped Ducky a new one…” I was ashamed that I could get caught up so easily in the mob mentality. Since then, I’ve pulled for Cryer in any of his projects because I do naturally pull for the underdog. And I was sort of ashamed of how I jumped on the “Let’s kill or at least blackball Jon Cryer from the middle of no-where Maryland because he is just trying to make a living” bandwagon. So to that degree, it is the only reason I could say that I like the show “Two and A Half Men”--John Cryer is finally apart of something successful. And, who couldn't be happy for Charlie Sheen? I like him because, like me, he isn’t welcomed into most bars anymore. But also I have as much admiration as I do starry-eyed bewilderment that Sheen was able to marry and impregnate Denise Richard’s after having a history with substance abuse, a very public scandal that involved Hollywood madam Heidi Fleiss (with it’s revelation of Sheen spending thousands and thousands of dollars on hookers) and with Sheen also had having broken relationships with porn-stars Ginger Lynn and Heather Hunter. Can you imagine setting someone up with Sheen and having to pull out that track record when the prospective girl asked, “So why is he still single?” Either Richards was researching a role for a Valtrex commercial when she got hooked up with Sheen and just fell in love with him, a passive and steamy sort of reverse-Stockholm Syndrome, or Richards is, well naïve. I imagine the later. I’ve sort of imagined some point early in their relationship, 3rd or 4th date, this exchange took place: Charlie: Denise there is something I think I should tell you… I think that was a slight digression. Anyway, “Two and a Half Men”…I think it might be the last true sitcom on major network television, I’m not sure, but it’s got to be the most popular at the moment. I’ve heard this theory of its absolute hilarity more than a couple of times. This guy at the reception just went on and on about how the show’s comedic timing was “just, just, just outstanding” and apparently the little boy is something to behold. Anyway, it made me sad in a way, thinking about the demise of the situational comedy with the advent of so many channels on cable and the rise of reality TV. I really hope it’s not the end--that this is just the ebb and flow of a trend; but it very well could be and I’ll just have the Thursday night memories from my childhood and whatever else they’re throwing up late at night these days.
“You like comedy, well then you must watch “Two and a Half Men”, I had someone say to me this past Saturday night at a wedding reception. Believe it or not, I've been hearing this from people with some startling regularity.
No, I don’t really catch the show, or even when I have seen it, really liked it all that much; my mom loves it, sometimes when I’m over and in the other room, I can hear her snorting up laughter at the wacky hijinks of a single father and his crazy brother. However, my mother would also prefer me to not use the “F” word, shop for clothes at Montgomery Ward and watch Joel Osteen if I get the chance—our sensibilities have drifted apart.
Though I don’t watch “Two and a Half Men”, I do like it for one particular reason.
Denise: Charlie, ‘hat’ rhymes with ‘bat’.
Charlie: I know Denise…my God, I know…Sweetheart, in the past, there was a time that whenever I would get emotional my eyes would well up with Smirnoff…
Denise: I keep forgetting to breathe…
Charlie:… and there were days and nights where I used to snort lines of cocaine from the toes all the way up to the necks of various porn-stars and then lie on my back like if I were to make a snow-angel and use each of my appendages, hands, feet, “Lil’Chuck”, even my head, you name it, and stick them into every available orifice of anyone who was there…until we all formed one giant collective human snowflake.
Denise: I think I swallowed my spoon.
Charlie: Alright, no one can’t say that I didn’t warn ya...
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For the Kids...
These secretive comics are brought to you by Jake Young who is behind the "Awesome Room".
The next show is JUNE 25th, 9pmNEW LOCATION: We're now going to be rocking the mainland at Solly's U Street Tavern. (1942 11st. NW) http://www.sollystavern.com/
The two principles of "The Awesome Room"
1) Comics should perform things they sincerely think are funny and interesting.
2) Audiences should have a fun, hassle-free experience seeing a live show.
For more information contact jake@theawesomeroom.com and checkout, theawesomeroom.
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Messhah Foh Pleessshaah
If you are interested in expanding your comedic knowledge and arsenal, there are few better places around to do so than catching a show at Woolly Mammoth Theater, located on D Street a few blocks down from the Verizon Center. "Measure for Pleasure" has been described as an "overtly vulgar... sex farce"...thats all I need...well along with this ashtray, paddle game and remote control.
I've seen shows at Woolly before and these people are at the top of their craft; comedic timing in these productions is always so polished and sharp. They have been doing some of the best contemporary theater in the country going on three decades. An evening at the theater can be pricey but its worth it; logic says you sacrifice a bar tab for the sake of comedic enrichment. For more information check out Woolly Mammoth's site here.
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Friday, June 13, 2008
WIT Offering Discount for Foundation's Class
Washington Improv Theater classes focus on creativity, communications and teamwork and have enthusiastic instructors that establish a fun and trusting atmosphere.
Former students have said:
"I loved this class"
"Great opportunity for expression, meet cool people and build confidence."
"I started taking WIT classes to help me get over my stage fright and to think on my feet better. I've taken many drama classes and other things over the years, but this has helped the most".
"Personally, the classes have taught me to listen more effectively, feel free to explore my creative side...and I have met some really cool people as well".
"The skills you learn in improv are really life skills - they are transferable to so many situations. I am always seeking to get outside of my comfort zone and the classes help me do that."
"Foundations of Improv" starts next week:
Monday June 16 w/ Marquis
Tuesday June 17 w/ Karen Lange
Thursday June 19 w/ Anna Marie Trester
All classes at 7pm.
If you have any questions that aren't on the FAQ give Managing Director Topher Bellavia a call at 202-315-1314 or email: topher@washingtonimprovtheater.com
Location: The Children's Studio School at 1301 V St NW
Enter: 4NOW as the coupon code when registering.
Chicago's TJ Jagodowski
I thought this blog was about the DC comedy scene?
It is...but sometimes enthusiasm trumps logic.
At the bottom of the page is the link to the article the Chicago Reader did about Jagodowski last week during their coverage of the Chicago Improv Festival. Its not DC related and that is sort of what this blog needs right now but this is a good comedy/human story; it's got perseverance, overcoming adversity, the character finding his way, loss, failure, success and so far a happy ending--from what I can remember it’s been a week since I've really read the article. But Jagodowski is someone you should know.
[Hit the Jump!]
In the same way a stand-up comic would want to wax poetic about Bill Hicks to the normie on the street all the while getting the same confused look that Andy Rooney would give a Nintendo Wii ; Jagodowski is that guy to people in improvisation—even to others in comedy. And if you are as much of a fan of Hick's philosophy, Jagodowski embodies it--he does what he truly loves and finds a way to make it work as his livelihood despite what life as thrown at him.
If you are ever in Chicago and stroll around the area of the Improv Oylmpic, you'll probably see him, usually hanging out, having a few drinks, a smoke and a round or two of Golden Tee in one of the many pubs on North Clark Street. He is unassuming and approachable but prefers to blend into the background. I had one comic tell me once that seeing Jagodowski on the subway set off his own internal alarm bell--being that the road to stardom or a decent income wasn't via improvisation.
"There I was sitting on the subway and right across from me is the best improviser in Chicago, in the country, in the world for that matter, and he was riding the subway just like me--and nobody knew or cared who the fuck he was".
I saw Jagodowski perform last week in Chicago, I went out early to the Chicago Improv Festival to see him specifically. He performed with his troupe, "Carl and the Passions" but the real experience started with his two man show, TJ and Dave. However, Dave Pasquesi wasn't there that night and taking Pasquesi's place that night was “30 Rock's” John Lutz, who synced perfectly into place.
As I get older, more and more I lament that nothing is ever “as advertised”. This show was--Jagodowski was and is that good. I've seen other comedians come close in the past; but even when I was 17 and I saw George Carlin on my birthday, it was "eh"--I'd heard most of it already. (No disrespect to Don Carlin but I was still a kid and it was the equivalent of getting to see Santa Clause).
Go see TJ and Dave either in Chicago or New York. Anyone who performs can respect a good show, a good performance, and can learn from a dedicated artist.
Well, anyway, read the article here. I think I just came up for air off Jagodowski's existential cock; though if you think I’m parched with sore knees, check out the quote from New City Chicago on Jagodowski’s Wikipedia entry.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
A Rambling Plea
So, Jason Saenz left town for L.A. and then while on the way to L.A. decided to go to New York where he says he fell in love with Chinatown. Chinatown has a fledgling comedy community and Jason is sort of an overgrown gold fish in a small meditation pond; people are already referring to him by his own material, "Cum Dumpster"—of course it’s in Mandarin. Even in China they know you can call a hungry comic anything and they will bask in the attention like the lotus underneath sun.
Then there is Nick Turner, a comedic energy giant that has a departure date set for sometime...soon. From what I heard, his bags are packed and his conscience is wracked with guilt, which means he'll be looking to split very soon.
With Jason and Nick’s departure, so goes with them their enthusiasm for the DC comedy community and this website; which has left this blog barely pulsating.
I hope I'm not the only one with defibrillators because I really don't know how to use them, except for what I have seen on TV, especially in that movie, "The Abyss", with Ed Harris and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio--specifically when Harris slaps her around and calls her a "bitch" a couple of times before she is revived. I heard Harris allegedly said that it was the only time he ever felt like he wasn’t acting.
This is the exact treatment DCComedy4Now needs at this very moment. We need Ed Harris kneeling over top of our bare breasted porcelain like creamy soft angelic milky colored skin, barking and slapping the Bah Jesus out of us, and we need to continue to rewind back to the beginning of that part until we come back to life or until someone starts walking down the basement stairs. And we all know what the sound of footsteps atop of the basement stairs feels like…awkward panic, the most uncomfortable feeling on the planet.
So what does it all mean? It means either we zap DCComedy4Now back to life or this website may soon have to come to a close.
(Cue: Battle Hymn of the Republic)
However, I would like to keep it going. I've grown fond of it...I like the wallpaper for some reason.
(Nah fuck the Battle Hymn of the Republic, opt for loop of AC/DC’s Intro for “Those about to Rock”…just turn all this shit off I can’t concentrate.
Anyway, DCComedy4Now has earned a place in my itinerary when I log on; hotmail, Gmail, check my mob, search Wikipedia or YouTube for whatever. Then when I come out of that wormhole, sometimes in a rather damp state, I arrive here or lately...not, which has had an enormous effect. The dormant state of this website has truly been a catalyst for some change in my life.
[Hit the jump!]
I actually logged off the other day, when normally I would peruse dccomedy4now, and accomplished things I hadn’t thought about for months. I got a lot done. Recently I just paid my car insurance, turned off the oven, matched up some socks--the stuff I've done off the computer is only what I’ve read about on many a blog. Ran some errands, the smell of the post-office was like a heavy dose of ammonia nitrate, I think I scared some people in there with my spasmodic reactions while waiting in line. I looked like Bob Goldthwait trying to clear his nasal passages with his eyebrows.
Another revelation was that I realized I'm living with someone, this extremely bad ass chic who I thought I remembered as being heavily tatted up(they’re just birthmarks), and she was really kind enough to let me come out of my own electronical Abyss unaided and didn't hold my 9 month web induced "walk about" against me. Yet I will say the outside world hasn’t been an easily intuitive web program.
The weather is much warmer than I remembered or prefer and I am starting to recall that I'm not particularly fond of people in DC, especially my neighbor who didn't recognize by my beard nor my soiled and mildewed clothing that had by then fused to my skin. The people at the walk-in medical center who peeled off my old clothing were a bit snarky which I think was uncalled for considering the severity of the Wikiwarp I had been trapped inside of and its duration; and especially when a couple of the orderlies and nurses furtively acknowledged having had their own similar experience . Also, the phrase, "Welcome back to the land of the living", I can swear to you, is used by the same people who refer to others as "Boss" or "Chief".
What am I saying...what is my point...I want to go back. I belong on the computer, and in my own warped reality; I belong inside the computer. And I want DCComedy4Now.com to be a part of that experience. In between Jenna, watching old episodes of Different Strokes, and looking at pictures of accidents on the Autobahn; I need this website to be my Mos Eisley Cantina—I need to know where my freaks are.
In order for that to happen, hopefully I can get some help. And if no help is provided then hopefully you can provide some patience. After Nick leaves, I am Solo. If I can move away from Star Wars and transition unracially (neither a word nor necessary) to Dr. King, if I had a dream for this community in DC, it would be that, it would not be looked at as just a comedy scene—but an identifiable artist community. How would you identify it? Maybe with a laser pointer.
There needs to be an artist collective, a supportive community. We are all not just stand-up comics, improvisers, actors, but we are also writers, film makers, producers, managers and audience members. In some way we have all worn different hats at some point in pursuing whatever we have set out for ourselves to accomplish. Some of us do certain things better than others. The more I go along with my own endeavors I realize that being a part of the process is really what I want to continue to be a part of in some shape or form. No one can do anything alone.
When Eddie Murphy was on "Inside the Actor's Studio" with James Lipton, it was refreshing to hear his honesty about how many people it has taken to help him create his body of work. He continually mentioned the lasting relationships he has held onto over the years.
The goals are always lofty when it comes to this subject in DC but it would nice to keep this website afloat with the singleness of purpose of being a useful tool of networking and creativity in an artistically capricious environment.So if you have any ideas or contributions continue to send them our way.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Top Shelf Tonight!
Justin Cousson put together this video compilation of some of the magical memorable moments from the last show where we bid adieu to Jason Saenz, who is definitely now in Los Angeles and absolutely not in New York.
Tonight, we deliver the goods in a grenade of perfection. Pulling the pin tonight are stand up superstars:
Damone Miller
Jimmy Merritt
Kyle Martin
Jermaine Fowler
Jay Hastings
and your host as always, Assface Turner
Tuesday, June 3rd, 2008
8:30pm doors
Show starts at 9
Solly's Tavern
1942 11th St. NW (11th & U St.)
Monday, June 2, 2008
DC Comedy: 4 Now makes good on it's name
If you hadn't guessed already, the title of the blog is in reference to the fact that if you plan on really making a go of this whole comedy as a career thing, it's tough to stick around the District. Even our own comedy festival would have you believe that there is no local comedy scene. So eventually, your best bet is to fly the coop and try to make it work in a larger, comedy prepared city. Well our very own Jason Saenz leaves us today to give it the old college try and in honor of that, Mikael Johnson has written a farewell letter to DCC4N's MVP, Jason Saenz.
Dear Jason,
Wow, LA. Wow, driving out to LA, wow. But you're doing it, right now as I type this on an early Monday morning you ARE doing it! Probably right now, you're somewhere in Tennessee maybe, pushing on another 60 miles or so before you lay up in some rustic road side motel. An old southern gal, Ethel May, still working the front desk, watching reruns of the Golden Girls on NIC, when you show up in the parking lot. Yeah, she was still up just because she can't get enough of that Blanche, plus she had a feeling, "That some lonesome stranger was probably gonna mosey on up tonight, needing a place to rest that road weary head". In the morning she'll bring you biscuits, gravy, OJ and coffee with a little note that says,
Safe travels funny man.
Sincerely,
Your dog, "Cum Dumpster".
But how could she know that joke? No worries, you run to the front desk to ask her how she knew your material, or even remembered it? Why would she remember it? How could something like that even resonate with someone? Do you think I should open with that? Why isn't Cum Dumpster quite hitting? But when you get there, she's gone. The girl behind the counter isn't even old enough to take the prom and when you ask her about Ethel May, she says, "Ethel who? No Ethel May ever work here…hey mister, will you sign this permission slip from Planned Parenthood?"
There's no time to look for the late night hotel desk clerk with a penchant for dick and dog jokes. However, peace will settle in like the tread on the tires settle onto the road; there are going to be experiences all along this journey. How could there not be--you're going to Califuck'nfornia!
This is just the beginning. From Tennessee, you could go south then west or just keep on towards the setting sun. Its been written about so many times, Going to California, by Zepplin, Stienbeck with the Grapes of Wrath, and Hughes with the Griswold's, and now Life brough to you by Mr. Saenz. There is so much ahead, take your time and soak it all in like the moment sponge you are. 
Nope, no one ever talks, writes or even cares about when someone decides to pick up and go to New York. Michael J. Fox did once back in the 80's, a little film called "The Secret to My Success". You know what they call that film today in Hollywood? "Fox Turd". Whenever someone gets a script about going to New York or making it in New York, its always the same, "Uh, this looks like a Fox turd" or "That bin is for recyclables, that is reserved for Fox turds" or "Wasn't me, must be that Fox turd".
But you're not going to New York. You're going to California…nothing to worry about. California, where the weather is as pleasing as the women and the gangs are all bilingual.
Your jealous colleague and friend,
MJ
P.S. I will be out in LA next week, hope I could crash for a day or two. Hey, we'll have lunch!
