So Do I Try Stand-Up Comedy, Or Am I Just Sick In The Head?

Well, I doubt it would shock anyone, that after my last blog post about my obsession with Jerry Seinfield (it hasn’t gone away- thanks for asking), I continued following along in my OCD behavior down a comedic rabbit hole. Now, I’m looking for every and any way to learn more about comedy.

And, then I went to Santa Con in New York City. Now, I know you’re all asking, “Alex, what does Santa Con have to do with your obsession with comedy?” Well, it’s funny you should ask (pun intended). Just like the majority of 20 somethings who attended the Christmas -themed bar crawl (and maybe a few 30 something-year-olds, which btw I think it may be time to hang up the Santa hat), I ended up ruining the family holiday by bringing the dreaded disease who shall not be named (mainly because I’m so tired of hearing about it) home for the holidays.

I do want to note that I was also vaccinated as well as boosted and thankfully, did not get very sick at all so shoutout to the vaccine for working kinda but not really.

But when life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. Or, in my case, when you have to quarantine from the entire family, you binge-watch every television show somewhat related to stand-up comedy in history that you haven’t seen already. At least, that’s what I did.

So, now without further ado in no particular order, I will be ranking each TV/Movie/or Stand Up Special I watched during my time locked away from humanity, except for the fact that it will be listed in the order of which I liked best to worst.

1. Curb Your Enthusiasm - HBO MAX
Larry David playing Larry David. Great content. Need I say more? (To the left you can see the new sweatshirt I recently spent days negotiating to buy off eBay because it was a need not a want).

2. The Marvelous Miss Maisel - AMAZON PRIME
Phenomenal writing, quick wit, great costumes, and a female lead who is hilarious & honest? Say less.

3. Hacks - HBO MAX
Loosely based on the life of Joane Rivers, Jean Smart absolutely kills the role, fully deserving of her Emmy for Best Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.

4. Jonas Brothers Family Roast - NETFLIX The 12-year-old in me could not stop laughing, and apparently, neither could the clearly high Joe Jonas.

5. The Sex Life Of College Girls - HBO MAX
Mindy Kaling's new TV series based on her college experiences definitely were not similar to any of mine but were for sure entertaining.

6. Jerry Seinfeld: 23 Hours To Kill - NETFLIX
Similar to my statement before. It’s Jerry Seinfeld. Enough said. 

7. Between Two Ferns: The Movie - NETFLIX
Zach Galafinacs may not be everyone’s favorite comedian, and many may not get him. But I like to think I do <3

8. Ray Romano Right Here Around the Corner - NETFLIX
Everybody Loves Raymond but unfortunately, I did not love Ray in his most recent show. While it wasn’t bad, it was just when you’re up against Jerry. And that’s some tough competition.

So, after ingesting all of this information in a short period of time and watching it essentially non-stop for two weeks straight, my insane ego and I found my new destiny: stand-up comedy.

Off to Amazon, I went and looked up all the books I could find on stand-up comedy. I went from informational ones to those written by the greats like Steve Martin, to other ones less great, and many more.  Then, I looked at the check-out total and moved all the books from my cart to the wish list. But, there was one I ecstatically did order. It was, Sick In The Head by Judd Apatow (you can preorder his sequel Sicker In The Head now, and you can bet your bottom dollar I already did).

Why Judd? Well, my good friend Reese from college, who is a huge comedy fan like me and is actually crushing comedy performing in Chicago, read the book before and loved it. The overall concept of it is that Judd (I like to think he & I are friends at this point so that‘s why we call him by his first name), well, he was a huge nerd when it came to comedy he was at the point of transcribing Saturday Night Live tapes as a kid. While in high school, a mentor (and huge character inspiration in his phenomenal TV show Freaks and Geeks which in my opinion was canceled for no good reason but, whatever), helped him create a radio show since there was no internet then. And, being the genius that he was, he used that to schedule interviews with some of his favorite comedians. The book consists of interviews he conducted while in high school with comedy legends like Mel Brooks, Jerry Seinfeld, Jay Leno, and more.

Here is a young Jerry Seinfeld & younger Judd Apatow in Jerry’s West Hollywood apartment (1983), it is important to note the lack of decorations according to both of them.

So, Reese's idea and mine were to take a page from his book quite literally and try to do an interview with Judd for our film class documentary. Unfortunately, we were not as successful as Judd, as he did in fact ghost us, but the experience inspired me to buy his book.

And, let me tell you, the book quite seriously changed my life. And by changing my life, I really just mean it helped confirm that I am in fact sick in the head AKA I now know I have the brain for comedy.  If you have never met my Dad, he will tell you upon first meeting him that I was voted “class clown” in high school, which sounds way less braggy when he brings it up instead of me.

The book also confirmed my love for Adam Sandler even more than before who is the original inspiration behind my “hot or not” Instagram polls. (and I’m tired of everyone telling me he isn’t hot and that I have bad taste in men because I think he is) Maybe I just have bad taste in men and it has nothing to do with Adam Sandler? Also, yes this was a shameless plug to follow me on Instagram @lex_cove). Or My food blog, @CovellosCuisine on IG, Tik Tok & FB (extra shameless plug). 

So, after reading it, I was fully committed to my comedy dream!  And when in New York City, *read in Carrie Bradshaws voice* I couldn’t help but dream of visiting places like the Comedy Cellar and watching comedians grow and learn in front of my own eyes, in hopes that I too could learn from them, just like the others who came before me.

Now that I work as a Video Fellow for Buzzfeed for the next 6 months, an opportunity I am extremely grateful and excited for. Especially because not soon after accepting I saw they posted a recent video they had done with Judd Apatow…did someone say fate?

And now, I continue in my comedic journey. I have been working on my own bits and practicing them with my friends to see if they get a laugh. It lets me get over my own stage fright and my friends get to tell me if I sound stupid. And like the good friends they are, most of the time they tell me I sound stupid.

But, listening to the advice of Jerry & Judd, or as I like to call them “J&J, A Family Comedy”, bombing is 90% of it. It’s half the fun and where you learn the most. So even if I’m not quite on the stage at the Comedy Cellar yet, I’m just happy to be bombing, and laughing along the way