DELRAY BEACH – Obstacles abound when launching a stand-up comedy career.
For Kevin Hart, a chicken wing proved to be one such obstacle
During one of his early shows, an audience member who didn’t like a joke fired a chicken wing at Hart. The bone itself didn’t hurt, but getting spicy wing sauce in the eye prompted Hart to cut short his set.
It wasn’t a fairy tale start to a career in showbiz, but Hart eventually found his voice. Most would agree it’s worked out pretty well for him.
The story serves as a reminder to young comics that performances won’t always be pleasant. But those down shows aren’t wasted if they serve as learning experiences.
Today’s Stand-Up Spotlight includes a story about how Chris Rock convinced Donald Glover to get back into comedy; a program to help veterans deal with their issues by learning to perform stand-up comedy; and Whitney Cummings’ not-so-elevated view of stand-up comedians.
Hey, if it’s funny, give it a shot.
STAND-UP SPOTLIGHT – April 5, 2023
“I did get hit with a piece of chicken”: Before Earning $450 Million Through Comedy, Kevin Hart Had a Demoralizing Experience in His First Stand-up
Kevin Hart has always been pretty exceptional with his mic skills and is widely known for being one of the funniest guys in modern Hollywood. But apart from his success in the field of comedy, the actor alongside his pal Dwayne Johnson is responsible for bringing a whole new level to the Buddy genre in movies. Following their chemistry, the duo is responsible for delivering some exceptional comedies over the last decade.
However, it wasn’t always the case for Kevin hart, as he had to wait for a long while before eventually finding his footing in the industry. And the wait wasn’t easy for the actor and brought alongside its fair share of half-eaten chicken wings.
Donald Glover Says Chris Rock Convinced Him To Get Back To Stand-Up Comedy
As a multihyphenate entertainer, Donald Glover’s reach surpasses many of his peers. The rapper, singer, actor, and filmmaker has his hands in all facets of the industry. His work as Childish Gambino remains praiseworthy—and in the same breath, fans can enjoy his comedies, including Community, as well as his more controversial works, like Atlanta. Glover is known for his roles that highlight comedic value, and in a recent GQ feature, he revealed the advice he received from a standup legend.
Stand-Up For Your Mental Health: The Pioneers Using Humor As A Healer
The west wing of St Pancras Hospital isn’t an obvious location for a Friday night comedy show. A swing board outside reception bearing The Comedy School’s colourful logo is the only indication that you’re in the right place.
This part of the hospital houses the Veterans’ Mental Health Transition, Intervention and Liaison Service, an NHS support system for former members of the armed forces. But tonight – for one night only – the centre has been transformed into a makeshift comedy club, with a stage, microphone and rows of seats, plus an expectant audience, mingling by a buffet of sandwiches and cakes.
Whitney Cummings says comedians feel pressure ‘to be perfect’ in 2023. She’d like to remind audiences that ‘we’re kinda scumbags.’
Whitney Cummings has been a stand-up comedian for almost 20 years, having appeared on multiple Comedy Central Roasts, created and starred in her own sitcom, created the hit TV show 2 Broke Girls and executive produced the Roseanne revival, The Conners, for starters. But she’s been feeling a different vibe lately.
“Remember the last couple of years, it turned into like comedians had to be on a moral high ground all of the sudden?” Cummings asks Yahoo Entertainment. “It’s like we went from, you know, idolizing Richard Pryor, who, onstage went into like hitting his wife and doing crack, and now we’re like, this comedian didn’t post a black square at the right time and should be canceled. It’s like, wait a second. Hold on, hold on. So I think comedians right now, we’re having so much pressure put on us to be perfect, and I think we just kinda want to remind everyone, like, we’re kinda scumbags. Don’t put us on pedestals. We’re just here for entertainment.”
