What’s funny right now? Some circumstances, surely. Some television shows and movies, yes. But can a stand-up deliver a solid set to viewers separated from them by thousands of miles and amorphous amounts of digital space? Even when we’re allowed to go back to comedy clubs, will half-capacity rooms feel the same, and will jokes land as heartily? It’s impossible to really know, but if anyone might, it could be Patton Oswalt. The longtime stand-up has a new special, Patton Oswalt: I Love Everything, coming to Netflix on May 19, and as part of a larger interview we did with him—coming next week!—we asked the comedian about trying to do jokes for an audience of basically no one. His thoughtful, kind response is above.
12 Comments
Speaking respectfully, I recall after the events of 9-11 there was talk about ‘the death of irony’ in America. People couldn’t imagine how things could ever continue they way had before. Then, if I remember correctly, it was within 2 years that we saw the first CGI skyscraper collapse in a ‘blockbuster’ film. And eventually things continued the way they had been before, excepting airport security lines and the Iraq war.
Life, uh, finds a way.
I said back then, the people who believe that irony “died” on 9-11 are the same people who believe that it was invented in the 80s by Spy magazine.
i abhor how you have to begin that with “speaking respectfully” when your words were all inherently respectful.
It’s gotten to the point where action films have mined the twin towers falling for emotional resonance to such an extent, that people stumbling through dust and ashes has become a cliche.
So when do you predict that killer viral pandemics will again be an acceptable SF trope and not viewed as insensitive to victims of the current one? 2022? 2023?
I’d say for the xmas season of 2024
Things most definitely did NOT continue the way they were before 9/11. 9/11 was a psychological and subconscious event that really did shift life in America into a different plane than, say 1997. I’m a pediatric ER RN and I was in my early 30’s when 9/11 came and now in my early 50’s for COVID. These events are eerily similar except COVID seems far worse as it is going to affect the daily mundane aspects of our lives.
I remember that idiot reviewer at Slate was pushing that hard luckily I’ve forgotten his name.
Patton Oswalt is considered a stand-up comedian? Since when? All I’ve seen him do on a stage with a mike is just stand there and bitch.
Respectfully, what would Patton Oswalt know about thriving comedy. He’s had the same schtick since forever, and it’s unlikely to ever change. Nor will he be out of work until they stop making movies with cartoon animals that need voicing.
Autoplay video is a moral failing.