As hard as they try, comedians and writers rarely create the perfect joke.
There’s almost always something that can be added – or subtracted – to improve a joke.
A writer for Cracked thinks that a joke written by Alan Zweibel comes close to perfection. It’s a joke Zweibel wrote for Chevy Chase to tell on Saturday Night Live. Matt Solomon breaks the joke down in the lead story of today’s Stand-Up Spotlight.
The Spotlight concludes the week with two stories about upcoming Netflix comedy specials – one for Ralph Barbosa, the other for Neil Rubenstein. And John Mulaney announced dates for his upcoming tour, with one show being in South Florida.
Bring the funny for the weekend and enjoy.
STAND-UP SPOTLIGHT – September 29, 2023
How Alan Zweibel Wrote ‘Saturday Night Live’s Best Joke
Chevy Chase’s best-ever punchline on Weekend Update was also the joke that got writer Alan Zweibel a job on the first season of Saturday Night Live, he told Dana Carvey and David Spade this week on their Fly on the Wall podcast. The joke itself is a master class in simplicity, salaciousness and surprise: “The post office is about to issue a stamp commemorating prostitution in the United States. It’s a 10-cent stamp. If you want to lick it, it’s a quarter.”
Carvey was delighted by Zweibel’s very specific use of language and rhythm in that punchline. “If you want to lick it, it’s a quarter,” Carvey emphasized, “not twenty-five cents.”
Click here to view original web page at How Alan Zweibel Wrote ‘Saturday Night Live’s Best Joke
Comedian Ralph Barbosa Sets Fall Launch For First Netflix Special ‘Cowabunga’
Netflix has set a Halloween global premiere for Ralph Barbosa: Cowabunga, its first special from rising star comic Barbosa, which was shot in August as part of his ongoing North American tour. The hour-long special, taped at The Kessler Theater in Barbosa’s hometown of Dallas, TX, premieres globally on Tuesday, October 31st.
At Netflix, Barbosa joins the likes of Matt Rife, Jamie Demetriou and Luenell, comics who have likewise closed deals for forthcoming specials with the streamer. The latter’s special, Chappelle’s Home Team- Luenell: Town Business, exec produced by Dave Chappelle as part of an ongoing series, is slated to premiere September 26th.
Neil Rubenstein: Long Island Hardcore OG on His New Stand-Up Comedy Special for Equal Vision
Neil Rubenstein is a subculture lifer. From his time as vocalist in Irony of Lightfoot, Sons of Abraham, This Year’s Model, and These Enzymes to tour managing lots of bands to even cutting his teeth at umpire camp, Neil loves the unusual life. I mean, this isn’t even his first feature at No Echo.
But these days, Neil seems to have found his groove as a touring comedian. He brings a deadpan sarcastic vibe to his comedy, offering up jokes that are layered and really fucking funny. And he recently released his first full-length comedy special, Have Some Dignity, via Equal Vision Records.
John Mulaney Sets 18-Stop U.S. Headlining Standup Comedy Tour for 2023: See the Dates
John Mulaney In Concert — which features a brand new show from the award-winning star — kicks off on Nov. 2 at the Ulster Performing Arts Center in Kingston, N.Y., and will make stops across the U.S. in Savannah, Ga.; New Orleans, La.; Hollywood, Fla. and more before wrapping up in Phoenix, Ariz. at Arizona Financial Theatre on New Years Eve (Dec. 31).
