Writer's Block: Lenny Bruce

[Error: unknown template qotd]I think there's tons of brilliant, culture-shaping stuff going on in comedy these days. I just don't think as much of it comes from stand-up comedy these days. I'm actually not that comfortable watching many stand-up commedians because of the unpleasant air of desperation that comes from them. The reason I loved George Carlin was because he never had that. I think Eddie Izzard has become wildly successful to the same reason and if there's anything truly worthy of rememberance coming from today's stand-up quarter, it's him. I would say the same for Mitch Hedburg, had his star not burned out almost before it finished rising.

Incidentally what made Carlin's use of the seven words so great was not that he used them but that he knew how to use them *correctly.* Timing and application are everything in comedy. It's a message that can't be emphasized enough.