DELRAY BEACH – Those who recognize stand-up comedy as an art form will often go to great lengths to ensure others around them feel the same way.
One interesting development in that battle is occurring in Ireland.
Stand-up comedian Ailish McCarthy is petitioning the Irish government to recognize stand-up as art. Why does it matter so much? If the governing body declares stand-up to be an art form, stand-up comedians will become eligible for grants from the Arts Council.
Along with being a fairly well grounded petition, it’s an interesting idea. Will giving comedians money better allow them to develop their craft, or will the comfort that comes with not having to worry about paying rent alleviate the struggles that often lead to good art? Maybe we’ll see.
Also in today’s Stand-Up Spotlight, the comedy world lost another important figure, along with Q&As with a couple of comics.
Maybe those features will help some find the funny.
STAND-UP SPOTLIGHT – Feb. 23, 2023
Petition calls for stand-up comedy to be recognized as an art form
Anyone who’s ever tried to pursue a career in the arts knows the struggle of working a day job (or two) to balance out your income, and subsequently having no time for the work you originally got the day job to enable you to pursue.
It’s a vicious cycle countless artists are all too familiar with, and the reason many have been forced to abandon their creative pursuits altogether.
Rick Newman, founder of Catch a Rising Star comedy club, dies at 81
Rick Newman, the founder of Catch a Rising Star comedy club in New York City where a generation of stand-up comics — Billy Crystal, Richard Lewis, Jerry Seinfeld, Robin Williams, Richard Belzer and countless others — honed their craft in the 1970s, died Feb. 20 at his home in Los Angeles. He was 81.
The cause was pancreatic cancer, said his wife Krysi Newman, who like Crystal and Lewis noted with bewilderment and a twinge of wistfulness for a bygone era that Mr. Newman died the day after Belzer, the club’s longtime emcee.
“That’s where I draw the line”: David Cross has words for comics who moan about cancel culture
David Cross, the Emmy Award-winning comedian and “Arrested Development” actor, wants you to know that he’s the “Worst Daddy in the World.” That’s the name of his new national comedy tour that kicks off in March and spans the nation. As we discuss on our “Salon Talks” episode, Cross notes jokingly that he earned the title of “worst daddy” from a small subcommittee of experts who meet in Oslo, after being nominated for the award by his young daughter.
Catching up with comedian Reena Calm
Since dedicating her life to stand-up comedy in 2019, Reena Calm has performed in 48 of the 50 U.S. states — a feat that’s quite impressive when considering a global pandemic has also happened between now and then.
No stranger to Indianapolis, however, Calm will return to Indy’s Helium Comedy Club for shows from Feb. 10-11. Fresh off the release of her debut comedy album in 2022, Calm caught up with NUVO’s Seth Johnson for a quick phone interview, discussing the ups and downs of life on the road and much more. Read their conversation below.
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