Digest

This episode of The Commercial Break podcast features a conversation with stand-up comedian Sam Maril, known for his bold and edgy humor. The episode delves into various aspects of Sam's comedic career, including his signature morning show pranks, his comedic style, and the challenges of touring and creating new material. The conversation begins with Ryan introducing Sam and highlighting his new special on Amazon Prime, "You've Changed." They discuss Sam's signature prank of making inappropriate jokes on local morning shows, which often catches the newscasters off guard. Sam shares his experiences with different comedy clubs and venues, highlighting the challenges of performing in less-than-ideal environments. He also emphasizes the importance of having a good booker who understands and appreciates his comedic style. The conversation then shifts to Sam's comedic style, where Ryan and Chris discuss his honesty, authenticity, and willingness to push boundaries. They also explore the challenges of finding new material and the importance of trusting one's comedic instincts. Sam discusses the "postpartum funk" he experiences after releasing a special, the pressure to constantly create new material, and his upcoming Euro tour. The episode also touches upon the challenges of being a stand-up comedian, including the pressure to constantly create new material, the uncertainty of audience reactions, and the difficulty of balancing their comedic career with other aspects of their lives. Sam discusses his future ambitions, including writing movies and TV shows, but emphasizes that stand-up will always be his primary focus. The conversation concludes with the hosts discussing their upcoming live shows in Florida and encouraging listeners to follow them on social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok. They also remind listeners to check out their website for audio and video content.

Outlines

00:00:00

Sam Maril's Comedy and Pranks

This chapter introduces Sam Maril, a stand-up comedian known for his bold and edgy humor. The conversation focuses on his signature morning show pranks, where he makes inappropriate jokes to unsuspecting newscasters, and his comedic style, which is characterized by honesty, authenticity, and a willingness to push boundaries.

00:00:59

The Challenges of Touring and Finding New Material

This chapter delves into the challenges of touring as a stand-up comedian, including performing in less-than-ideal environments and the importance of having a good booker who understands and appreciates one's comedic style. The conversation also explores the difficulty of consistently creating new material and the importance of trusting one's comedic instincts.

00:12:30

Sam's Postpartum Funk and Future Ambitions

This chapter discusses the "postpartum funk" that Sam experiences after releasing a special, the pressure to constantly create new material, and his upcoming Euro tour. Sam also shares his future ambitions, including writing movies and TV shows, but emphasizes that stand-up will always be his primary focus.

00:31:43

The Commercial Break Podcast: Show Announcements and Social Media

This chapter concludes the episode with the hosts discussing their upcoming live shows in Florida and encouraging listeners to follow them on social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok. They also remind listeners to check out their website for audio and video content.

00:52:57

The Making of Bonnie and Clyde and the Importance of Help

This chapter starts with a discussion about the movie "Bonnie and Clyde" and how it took five years to make. The speaker emphasizes the challenges of filmmaking and how even a great movie like "Bonnie and Clyde" required a lot of effort and perseverance. The conversation then shifts to the speaker's own experience in stand-up comedy and how he received help from other comedians like David Tell and Gary Goldman. He emphasizes the importance of capitalizing on opportunities and not being content with just receiving help.

00:55:36

The Transient Nature of Success and the Birth of a Podcast

This chapter reflects on the fleeting nature of success in the entertainment industry, using stand-up comedy and podcasting as examples. The speaker acknowledges that the current popularity of these mediums could change, and it's important to be aware of that possibility. The speaker then shares the origin story of his podcast, which started during the COVID-19 pandemic. He and his ex-partner decided to create a podcast where they would review movies they had never seen before.

Keywords

Q&A

• What is Sam Maril's comedic style?

  Sam Maril is known for his bold and edgy humor, often pushing boundaries and making inappropriate jokes. He is honest and authentic in his approach to comedy, and he doesn't shy away from controversial topics.

• What are some of Sam's signature morning show pranks?

  Sam is known for making inappropriate jokes on local morning shows, often catching the newscasters off guard. One of his most famous pranks involves him claiming that he got his sense of humor from being molested by his uncle.

• What are some of the challenges of being a stand-up comedian?

  Stand-up comedians face many challenges, including the pressure to constantly create new material, the uncertainty of audience reactions, and the difficulty of balancing their comedic career with other aspects of their lives.

• What are Sam's future ambitions?

  Sam's primary focus is stand-up comedy, but he also has ambitions to write movies and TV shows. He is currently working on a TV project with his friends Mike Lawrence and Mark Norman, and he has also written a movie with Noah Gordon-Schwarz and Esther Steinberg.

• What is Sam's advice for aspiring comedians?

  Sam advises aspiring comedians to trust their comedic instincts, be comfortable in their own skin, and not be afraid to push boundaries. He also emphasizes the importance of finding a good booker who understands and appreciates their comedic style.

• What are some of the challenges of making a successful movie?

  The speaker highlights the example of "Bonnie and Clyde," which took five years to make and went through many iterations. This demonstrates that even a great movie requires a lot of effort, perseverance, and overcoming obstacles.

• How important is it to capitalize on opportunities in the entertainment industry?

  The speaker emphasizes that while receiving help from others is valuable, it's crucial to take initiative and actively pursue opportunities. He believes that success requires both external support and internal drive.

• What are some of the challenges of being a stand-up comedian?

  The speaker discusses the constant struggle to improve and find a larger audience. He acknowledges that many talented comedians deserve more recognition and that the path to success is often challenging.

• What are some of the benefits of social media for comedians?

  The hosts highlight the ability to connect directly with audiences and build a following through platforms like Instagram and TikTok. This allows comedians to bypass traditional gatekeepers and reach a wider audience.

• What are some of the key elements of Sam Morril's comedic style?

  The hosts describe Morril's humor as observational and self-deprecating. They also praise his ability to work a room and keep the audience engaged with his sharp wit and comedic timing.

• What are some of the challenges of hosting a podcast?

  The hosts acknowledge the constant need to find interesting guests and create engaging content. They also discuss the importance of staying on top of current trends and adapting to the ever-changing landscape of the podcasting world.

Show Notes