What could be a better format for a show for two busy comedy guys than to have other busy comedy people as guests and share what they've been so busy doing? Somehow writer/comedians Matt Goldich (Late Night) and Andrew Goldstein (MTV) manage to find the time to not only work on their shows but to get some great guests for their Sorry I've Been So Busy podcast.
This week they hosted busy writer/comedian/podcaster Neal Brennan. Podcast listeners know him from the late, great podcast The Champs, which he co-hosted with Moshe Kasher. Most recently he's been appearing in his one-man show (a term he detests) called "Three Mics" at the Lynn Redgrave Theatre in New York.
In addition to explaining the premise of the hit show -- Brennan has three microphones on stage and he moves between them, applying a different style of delivery at each mic: traditional standup, one-liners and confessional-style monologues -- their guest regales them with the things that tend to keep him busy between showtimes.
Explaining that he could never hold down a real sit-at-a-desk-eight-hours-a-day type job, Brennan's life seems to be constantly on the move, either writing for TV shows, performing comedy, or directing TV commercials (one of which led him to be able to get some free socks.)
Brennan has no qualms about talking about his bouts of depression, which the hosts try to solve by suggesting he get a puppy because no one can stay down when they have a cute puppy waiting to play with them.
The attempt by the hosts to introduce a new segment -- Who Did You Blow Off Recently? -- is hilariously disingenuous because Brennan had overslept and blown off his interview with Sorry I've Been So Busy just the week before.
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Michael Ian Black, host of How To Be Amazing, often has writers on as guests. And episode 28 is no different -- guest Jim Gaffigan has written two books (Dad Is Fat and Food: A Love Story), not to mention over 20 years of kickass comedy material.
He's also known Black for at least that long.
As he relates to the host, Gaffigan took quite a while for his comedy career to get traction. In his mid-20's when he started, he confesses to being very angry to see his peers getting shots on TV and playing the bigger clubs before he could get there.
At the same time, he has a life of family stability that most comics must surely envy, to one degree of another. Married to wife Jeanie, who is also his writing partner, and the father of five children, Gaffigan has a terrific family support system that often hits the road with him when he's touring.
Michael Ian Black & Jim Gaffigan
Getting from the early days of often mics and hell gigs to where he is today -- playing big theaters and venues -- took a real desire to push through the noise of everyone else in comedy trying to get ahead. Renowned for being a "clean comic", on a par with someone like Brian Regan, helped to set his voice above the rabble.
There's a nice rapport between Black and Gaffigan in this conversation and we get to hear details of the comedian's life and his thoughts on some topics that haven't gotten too much exposure before.
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Podcasts I'm also listening to this week: Making Dad with Chip and Zach -- Episode 50, and The Jody and Scott Show -- Grilled Cheese Etiquette
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The Sorry I've Been So Busy, How To Be Amazing reviews and other podcasts mentioned originally posted as part of This Week In Comedy Podcasts on Splitsider.com.
Marc Hershon is the host and executive producer of Succotash, The Comedy Podcast Podcast, featuring clips from comedy podcasts from across the Internet as well as interviews with podcasters, comedians, and assorted show biz folk.