Episode 1581 - Langston Kerman
1Digest
Mark Marin interviews Langston Kerman, a comedian recommended by John Mulaney, about his comedy special "Bad Poetry" and his journey to stand-up. Kerman shares his background, including his upbringing in Chicago and his early career in comedy. He discusses his large, blended family, his early interest in poetry, and his experience teaching high school. Kerman recounts meeting Marin at the Boston Comedy Festival and shares his experiences living in Boston while attending graduate school at B.U., including a disturbing story about a roommate. He discusses his comedy career in Boston and New York, highlighting the differences between the comedy scenes in each city. Kerman reflects on his comedy style and influences, including Patrice O'Neal, and shares his experience teaching at the Academy of the Pacific Rim in Boston. He recounts a harrowing experience on a wall ride in China and a disturbing encounter on a train. Kerman discusses his trip to China, which involved activities with his sister school and cultural immersion. He explains how his move from New York to LA was influenced by his wife's career and the lack of consistent comedy opportunities in Baltimore. Kerman expresses his preference for smaller, more intimate comedy venues and discusses his favorite comedy clubs, including Madison in New York, Zanies in Chicago, and the Rosemont in Chicago. He shares his perspective on "The Store" comedy club in Los Angeles, expressing his discomfort with its fraternal nature and the emotional work required to navigate its environment. Kerman discusses the changing landscape of alternative comedy venues in Los Angeles and addresses the legal implications of using voice notes from dating app users in his special. He discusses the historical significance of the "Greymail" bar in Chicago, its connection to slam poetry, and his personal connection to the venue. Kerman reveals the inspiration behind his special, which was based on the movie "Love Jones." He discusses his love for the movie "Baby Boy" and its honest portrayal of a specific community. Kerman reflects on John Mulaney's directing style for his special, highlighting his experience and ability to guide the creative process.
Outlines
Introduction and Fear of Shooting a Movie
Mark Marin introduces his podcast and expresses his fear and anxiety about starting to shoot a movie. He reflects on the challenges of staying creative and confident in his 40s and 50s.
Interview with Langston Kerman
Mark Marin announces his guest, Langston Kerman, a comedian who was recommended by John Mulaney. They discuss Kerman's comedy special "Bad Poetry" and his journey to stand-up.
Langston Kerman's Background and Early Career
Langston Kerman shares his background, including his upbringing in Chicago and his early career in comedy. He discusses how he got his start in stand-up and his experience with the comedy scene in Chicago and Boston.
Langston Kerman's Family and Influences
Langston Kerman talks about his large, blended family and how his upbringing influenced his comedy. He discusses his early interest in poetry and how it led him to stand-up.
Langston Kerman's Education and Teaching Experience
Langston Kerman shares his educational background, including his master's degree and MFA in poetry. He discusses his experience teaching high school and how it influenced his comedy.
Meeting Mark Marin at the Boston Comedy Festival
Langston Kerman recounts his experience meeting Mark Marin at the Boston Comedy Festival. He discusses how he was a finalist in the festival and how he felt about the experience.
Langston Kerman's Time in Boston and a Disturbing Roommate
Langston Kerman shares his experience living in Boston while attending graduate school at B.U. He recounts a disturbing story about a roommate who turned out to be a sex pest.
Langston Kerman's Comedy Career in Boston and New York
Langston Kerman discusses his comedy career in Boston and New York, including the comedy clubs he performed at and the other comedians he worked with. He talks about the differences between the comedy scenes in Boston and New York.
Langston Kerman's Comedy Style and Influences
Langston Kerman reflects on his comedy style and how it has evolved over time. He discusses his influences, including Patrice O'Neal, and how he has found his own voice in comedy.
Langston Kerman's Teaching Experience in Boston and China
Langston Kerman shares his experience teaching at the Academy of the Pacific Rim in Boston, a school that specializes in Chinese studies. He recounts a trip he took with his students to China and the cultural differences he encountered.
China Trip and Life-Changing Experiences
The guest discusses his trip to China, which involved activities with his sister school and cultural immersion. He describes the unique experiences, including eating scorpion and starfish, and how the trip was life-changing for him and the students.
From New York to LA: A Comedy Career Path
The guest explains how his move from New York to LA was influenced by his wife's career and the lack of consistent comedy opportunities in Baltimore. He discusses his early career milestones, including writing for Chris Rock's Oscar team and his experience on the show "Insecure."
Favorite Comedy Clubs and Their Unique Atmospheres
The guest discusses his favorite comedy clubs, including Madison in New York, Zanies in Chicago, and the Rosemont in Chicago. He describes the unique atmosphere and energy of each venue, emphasizing his preference for clubs with low ceilings and a close connection with the audience.
The Evolution of Alternative Comedy Venues
The guest discusses the changing landscape of alternative comedy venues in Los Angeles, noting the decline of some spaces like the "Hot Tub" and the Virgil. He shares his experiences performing at venues like Permanent Records and Bar Lubitsch, highlighting their unique atmospheres and challenges.
Love Jones, Baby Boy, and Honest Representation
The guest reveals the inspiration behind his special, which was based on the movie "Love Jones." He discusses his love for the movie "Baby Boy" and its honest portrayal of a specific community, emphasizing the importance of authentic representation in film and television.
John Mulaney's Directing Style and Special Structure
The guest reflects on John Mulaney's directing style for his special, highlighting his experience and ability to guide the creative process. He discusses Mulaney's focus on efficiency and his aversion to traditional audience shots, which contributed to the unique aesthetic of the special.
Keywords
Stand-up Comedy
A form of comedic performance in which a comedian performs a set of jokes and stories to a live audience. Stand-up comedy is often characterized by its improvisational nature and its focus on personal experiences and observations.
Slam Poetry
A performance art form in which poets perform their work in front of a live audience. Slam poetry is often characterized by its emotional intensity, its use of spoken word techniques, and its focus on social and political issues.
Comedy Scene
The network of comedians, clubs, and venues that make up the world of stand-up comedy. The comedy scene is often characterized by its competitive nature and its focus on developing new talent.
Patrice O'Neal
A legendary stand-up comedian known for his raw, honest, and often controversial style. O'Neal was a major influence on many comedians, including Langston Kerman.
John Mulaney
A successful stand-up comedian, writer, and actor known for his observational humor and his ability to connect with audiences on a personal level. Mulaney has directed Langston Kerman's comedy special "Bad Poetry."
"Bad Poetry"
Langston Kerman's comedy special, which is available on Netflix. The special is directed by John Mulaney and was filmed at the Green Mill, a classic Chicago bar.
The Green Mill
A historic jazz club in Chicago, known for its connection to Al Capone. Langston Kerman's comedy special "Bad Poetry" was filmed at the Green Mill.
The Comedy Store
A famous comedy club in Los Angeles, known for its long history and its role in developing new talent. The Comedy Store is a popular destination for stand-up comedians.
Honest Representation
Depicting a community or group of people in a truthful and authentic way, avoiding stereotypes or generalizations. It aims to provide a nuanced and accurate portrayal of their experiences, perspectives, and realities.
Q&A
What are some of the challenges of staying creative and confident in your 40s and 50s?
Mark Marin discusses the challenges of staying creative and confident in his 40s and 50s, reflecting on the fear and anxiety that can come with pursuing creative endeavors at a later stage in life. He acknowledges that it's not always easy to maintain the same level of confidence and drive as when you were younger.
How did Langston Kerman get his start in stand-up comedy?
Langston Kerman shares his journey to stand-up comedy, starting with his early interest in poetry and his experience with the comedy scene in Chicago and Boston. He discusses how he began doing open mics and eventually found his way to performing in comedy clubs.
What is Langston Kerman's comedy special "Bad Poetry" about?
Langston Kerman discusses his comedy special "Bad Poetry," which is available on Netflix. He explains that the special is about his experiences with poetry, stand-up comedy, and his upbringing. He also talks about the special's director, John Mulaney, and the filming location, the Green Mill.
How did Langston Kerman's experience teaching high school influence his comedy?
Langston Kerman discusses how his experience teaching high school influenced his comedy. He shares his perspective on the challenges of working with teenagers and how it helped him develop his voice as a comedian. He also reflects on the importance of honesty and vulnerability in comedy.
What are some of the differences between the comedy scenes in Boston and New York?
Langston Kerman discusses the differences between the comedy scenes in Boston and New York. He talks about the different types of comedy clubs and the different audiences in each city. He also reflects on how the comedy scene has changed over time.
What are some of Langston Kerman's influences as a comedian?
Langston Kerman discusses his influences as a comedian, including Patrice O'Neal. He talks about how O'Neal's raw and honest style of comedy inspired him and how he has found his own voice in comedy. He also discusses the importance of being provocative and challenging audiences.
What was Langston Kerman's experience like teaching at the Academy of the Pacific Rim in Boston?
Langston Kerman shares his experience teaching at the Academy of the Pacific Rim in Boston, a school that specializes in Chinese studies. He discusses the unique cultural environment of the school and his experience taking his students on a trip to China. He also talks about the cultural differences he encountered in China.
What inspired you to move from New York to LA?
The guest's move to LA was influenced by his wife's career and the lack of consistent comedy opportunities in Baltimore. He explains how LA offered a better compromise for both of them.
What are some of your favorite comedy clubs and why?
The guest shares his preference for smaller, more intimate comedy venues, highlighting the unique energy and connection they offer. He discusses his experiences at Madison, Zanies, and the Rosemont, emphasizing his appreciation for clubs with low ceilings and a close connection with the audience.
What is the historical significance of the "Greymail" bar in Chicago?
The guest discusses the "Greymail" bar's connection to slam poetry, explaining how it became a birthplace for the competitive form of poetry performance. He shares his personal connection to the venue and its significance in his early career.
What is the inspiration behind your special?
The guest reveals that his special was inspired by the movie "Love Jones," which he believes is a celebration of slam poetry and performance poetry. He discusses his love for the movie "Baby Boy" and its honest portrayal of a specific community.
What is John Mulaney's directing style like?
The guest describes John Mulaney's directing style as efficient and focused on creating a unique aesthetic. He highlights Mulaney's aversion to traditional audience shots and his ability to guide the creative process.
Show Notes
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