Jordan Birnbaum

Host

An Aristocrat Walks Into A Green Room...

Jun 12, 2013·38 visitors

Paul Provenza

Cohost

Stage· 225 messages

Jun 12, 2013

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:00 AM

Mr. Provenza, I presume?

Paul Provenza · 1:00 AM

Much to my chagrin, yes.

Paul Provenza · 1:00 AM

Wish I was more interesting than I am.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:01 AM

Look at you - self deprecating before we get out of the gate. Is that your secret to why everyone loves you so much?

Paul Provenza · 1:01 AM

Dammit, I'm going to make all 17 of you people joining us here glad you did.

Paul Provenza · 1:01 AM

I also wish I typed faster.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:02 AM

at least there are more people watching online - these are the juust the ohnes who actually want to talk to us

Paul Provenza · 1:02 AM

They're our people

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:02 AM

So Provenz - I have a long list of topics I want to cover

Paul Provenza · 1:02 AM

I will do my best to fake it through them all.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:02 AM

Your career, news and politics, the comedy world, but I suppose the most obvious place to start is this:

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:03 AM

Paul, what does the NSA know about you that we don't?

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:03 AM

★ Spotlighted from Lucy Dyer

“oh my god!! its really him!! :-O Jordan is here!!!...i'm kidding...an honour to have Mr Provenza in the house :-)”

Paul Provenza · 1:03 AM

I hope they are sifting through every penis enlargement ad and every Dylan Brody newsletter I get,

Paul Provenza · 1:03 AM

That will teach 'em.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:03 AM

I love the shout to Dylan - I think...

Paul Provenza · 1:04 AM

OMYGOD is it really Lucy Dyer??

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:04 AM

OK - so you're actually an Ivy-league educated comedian Does that help or hurt your street cred?

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:04 AM

★ Spotlighted from Blake Ian

“Haha, I wonder how JB feels that excitement about his presence is good material”

Paul Provenza · 1:05 AM

I don't think there's a street cred in comedy. it's rather inclusive, really.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:05 AM

OK. Were you already in college?

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:05 AM

funny I mean

Paul Provenza · 1:05 AM

Also- I believe Robert Klein deserves some thanks for this - he made middle class college educated a decent place for stand up comedy to come from.

Paul Provenza · 1:06 AM

My generation, into the early comedy boom - were ALL influenced by Klein, who made transitioned standup into a college educated vein.sensibility

Paul Provenza · 1:07 AM

wtf happened there? sorry

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:07 AM

Robert Klein deserves the praise

Paul Provenza · 1:07 AM

I started performing in college. HAd a weekly gig in a Rathskellar at U of Penn (when drinking age was 18). Got so much stage time there, I was ready for the Improv in NY when I showed up.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:08 AM

So you eventually got big and opened for Diana Ross regularly, right?

Paul Provenza · 1:09 AM

I was doing a cross between Klein & Carlin at the time. So many of us when we started were doing Klein and/or Carlin. It was amazing, actually how everyone found their own voice ultimately.

Paul Provenza · 1:09 AM

Yeah, I toured with MISS ROSS for about 3 years, off & on. That was an amazing experience.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:10 AM

So we're all assuming that over that time you schemed about how to make a move on her. Is that fair?

Paul Provenza · 1:10 AM

ANd she was great to me - really supportive. I ws meant to do 12 minutes opening. AS time went on, she'd have to cut back songs because of strain - so I ended up doing almost 40 minutes at the top of her shows.

Paul Provenza · 1:11 AM

She had just married shipping magnate Arne Naess. I had zero shot. Hung out with her kids a lot though. They were a blast.

Paul Provenza · 1:11 AM

Now I wish you typed faster.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:12 AM

All right - so eventually we get to The Aristocrats -what was the lead in to that project?

Paul Provenza · 1:12 AM

That was a wacky idea Penn Jillette and I had for ages before actually doing anything.

Paul Provenza · 1:12 AM

We always thought it would be funny to have some friends do versions one right after another, just to do it and have something funny to show friends.

Paul Provenza · 1:14 AM

One night in Vegas, we talked and laughed so much about it, we just decided to do it - Penn committed us to a 'proof of concept' shoot which we set up at the Improv and we just shot Bobby Slayton, Cathy Ladman, Emo Phillips and a couple others. We kn

Paul Provenza · 1:14 AM

knew we had something cause it was so funny - but didn't know what. So we just kept going &

Paul Provenza · 1:14 AM

asking friends to do it. After 4 1/2 years we decided to stop and see if there was anything there.

Paul Provenza · 1:15 AM

Turns out there was SOMETHING, whatever the hell it is.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:15 AM

All - we'll continue on this in a second - but we have to address some audience confusion.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:15 AM

People didn't understand that a comic could open for a music concert.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:15 AM

★ Spotlighted from Bruce Hauptman

“Paul Opened as a comic for Diana Ross. Not unusual”

Paul Provenza · 1:15 AM

I'm confused about the confusion.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:16 AM

but that was pretty common back then, right?

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:16 AM

rarely happens today, as far as I know

Paul Provenza · 1:16 AM

Ah, yes things have changed a bit. Singers, crooners, used to always have an opening act. Usually a comic - way cheaper and easier to put on a show.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:16 AM

★ Spotlighted from Bruce Hauptman

“I think its an age thing. Hands up....who was here in 1977?????”

Paul Provenza · 1:16 AM

It was more than common, it was a typical format.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:17 AM

★ Spotlighted from Lucy Dyer

“audience confusion? thats not surprising”

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:17 AM

OK -so back to The Aristocrats. I don't know the formula, but it seems to me that it has achieved cult status. Agree?

Paul Provenza · 1:17 AM

Loads of my generation guys toured with people like that - George Wallace, Jerry Seinfeld, Bill Maher, Larry Miller opened for Sinatra... list goes on and on.

Paul Provenza · 1:18 AM

Cult is a good word for it.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:18 AM

Yeah Belzer opened for Warren Zevon

Paul Provenza · 1:18 AM

We figured we can't be the only ones who found it funny. And in ways, substantive. Turns out we weren't all wrong.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:19 AM

So what's the best thing about being a cult leader?

Paul Provenza · 1:19 AM

Even the NYTimes and New Yorker Mag wrote about it very intellectually - which shocked us.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:19 AM

★ Spotlighted from Rick Rosner

“I saw Jim Croce opening for Woody Allen.”

Paul Provenza · 1:19 AM

Lots of sub text and conceptual ideas came through for people - though we didnt see that coming,

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:19 AM

★ Spotlighted from Lucy Dyer

“Trailer: The Aristocrats http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xvkgwz_trailer-the-aristocrats-by-paul-provenza-vo_shortfilms#.UbfMVOc3t8E”

Paul Provenza · 1:20 AM

I saw Gabe Kaplan open for John Sebastian.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:20 AM

Seriously, though - is there a cult that follows you around and gives you all their worldly possessions?

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:21 AM

cause there should be.

Paul Provenza · 1:21 AM

And Keenen Wayans open for Prince. That was trippy - I had never heard of Prince, and met him backstage. He was in a loincloth and leg warmers.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:21 AM

adam and eve meets flashdance

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:21 AM

★ Spotlighted from Blake Ian

“I did NOT see Carrot Top open for Phish... but I bet he did!!”

Paul Provenza · 1:21 AM

No, the folks who take any interest in me are far too smart. They tend to open conversations with political ideological comments.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:22 AM

Too good a transition to pass up - why are the overwhelming majority of comedians progressive politically?

Paul Provenza · 1:22 AM

I have to say this - and it's one of my great and few prides: I once heard the adage that you can judge a performer by their crowd.

Paul Provenza · 1:23 AM

The people who know me and ever come up to me are the fucking best. They are cool, smart people generally. Maybe that's why it's such a small crowd?

Paul Provenza · 1:23 AM

In the puppetshow in my head, that's it.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:24 AM

I mean - I have personally seen very large amounts of people gather to celebrate you, so I'm not buying...

Paul Provenza · 1:24 AM

Good question - got that alot after SATIRISTAS. I think it's not that they're progressive per se - but that they are CRITICAL THINKERS and suspicious of authority.

Paul Provenza · 1:24 AM

That ends up looking like progressivism most of the time I think.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:24 AM

yeah - suspicious of authority is more of a conservative trait, I think...

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:25 AM

Progs are too naive

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:25 AM

like me

Paul Provenza · 1:25 AM

It's tough to define the politics of many who seem progressive, actually. Bill Maher's is inconsistent; in many ways most are. They don't tend to collect along party lines.

Paul Provenza · 1:26 AM

They just call bullshit when they see it - and the values of 'progressivism' tend to be pretty basic for anyone who thinks critically. Not about policy, but about humanity.

Paul Provenza · 1:27 AM

Is it progressive to believe the wars we're in are making us less secure rather than more? I don't even know anymore what the spectrum acually is.

Paul Provenza · 1:27 AM

★ Spotlighted from Eric Schwartz

“Do some comics end up going for the theatre crowd because they're older and smarter? (and richer)”

Paul Provenza · 1:27 AM

And they have more money.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:27 AM

★ Spotlighted from Seth Hochman

“Critical thinking--not a quality often associated with the Tea Party”

Paul Provenza · 1:28 AM

That's what I'm talking about. Yes. Given the right is so damened Jesus-y, that leaves thinkers out in the cold automatically, don't it?

Paul Provenza · 1:28 AM

★ Spotlighted from Bruce Hauptman

“Good point...maybe we should think right versus wrong not rep vs democrat or lib vs conservative....”

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:28 AM

College profs are overwhelmingly progressive too. I think the more interesting question - is the Democratic Party?

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:29 AM

actually progressive, I mean

Paul Provenza · 1:29 AM

I hate the whole red/blue state dichotomy - I think that's falling for divide and conquer. What we really have

Paul Provenza · 1:29 AM

is 50 purple states.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:29 AM

whcih conjures an upsetting visual somehow

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:29 AM

like, bruise meets herpes

Paul Provenza · 1:30 AM

It's small majorities that make it red or blue in media. That's all part of the way things operate to keep us from all getting together.

Paul Provenza · 1:30 AM

The real division is class - it's rich vs poor, always has been, always will be. But keep all the non-rich fighting over bullshit, and the magic tricks continue unnoticed.

Paul Provenza · 1:31 AM

Alabama is somehow bruise-like.

Paul Provenza · 1:31 AM

★ Spotlighted from Eric Schwartz

“Where would Penn fall into the political spectrum? Pure Libertarian?”

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:31 AM

So has it gotten worse over the course of your life - political corrutpion, rich vs. poor - or has it always been horrible?

Paul Provenza · 1:32 AM

I can't speak for him, but he's often said he's libertarian - in that he's liberal on social issues, conservative on fiscal ones.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:32 AM

★ Spotlighted from Blake Ian

“Penn and Teller's Bullshit on Showtime ruled!”

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:32 AM

(shout out to Penn)

Paul Provenza · 1:33 AM

I'm of an age where I seem to have some perspective. I mean, my age group remembers Walter Cronkite and news dissemination before it became infotainment. So even though

Paul Provenza · 1:34 AM

nothing's really changed, what hs changed is culture around it all. That makes it feel worse to me. Like there is no one that can or will be taken seriously.

Paul Provenza · 1:34 AM

Everyone is a clown in the circus now. There's no non-clowns in the show at all it seems.

Paul Provenza · 1:34 AM

And politics is more of a sham than it was before, I believe.

Paul Provenza · 1:34 AM

And those things are not unconnected.

Paul Provenza · 1:35 AM

★ Spotlighted from Seth Hochman

“It should be divided by rich and poor, like in most countries; however all the religiousness in this country throws that off, plus the people who are poor who think they're millionaires”

Paul Provenza · 1:35 AM

CAn;t remember who said it - maybe Napoleon? - that religion was invented to keep the poor from turning on the rich.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:35 AM

So you spend alot of time in different countries - I wanted to ask you something but our audience did it better

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:35 AM

★ Spotlighted from Lucy Dyer

“i think thats why american political comics are successful more in the UK than in the US. WE "get" the humour they are trying to get across,and they dont have to explain the joke in minute detail”

Paul Provenza · 1:35 AM

★ Spotlighted from Seth Hochman

“John Steinbeck once said, "“Socialism never took root in America because the poor see themselves not as an exploited proletariat but as temporarily embarrassed millionaires.””

Paul Provenza · 1:36 AM

Yeah - that's why people with nothing bitch about repealing estate tax. "SOMEDAY, I will not want to pay that!"

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:36 AM

★ Spotlighted from Lucy Dyer

“if the world is a stage,where do the audience sit?”

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:36 AM

★ Spotlighted from Rick Rosner

“In the pits”

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:36 AM

we have a funny audience!

Paul Provenza · 1:37 AM

Loev that question. I'm trying very hard to do comedy that puts the audience into the equation rather than passive observers.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:37 AM

The Green Room was exactly that

Paul Provenza · 1:37 AM

It's what Andy Kaufman did - and also what I noticed public screenings of Aristocrats did. The reaction was part of the punchline.

Paul Provenza · 1:38 AM

That was a conscious effort to whatever degree it succeeded. Thanks for noticing!

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:38 AM

I was at a public screening with you and I could not believe the glee on people's faces

Paul Provenza · 1:39 AM

I think that's because the film gave people permission. Permission to laugh without judging. I'm trying to infuse the notion of 'permission' into projects lately. Set List picks up on that too - for both comedians & audiences.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:39 AM

tell the Joe Franklin lawsuit story

Paul Provenza · 1:39 AM

It's what Carlin did for me - he gave me permission to think differently. To believe that maybe in fact everyone else is fucked up, not me.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:40 AM

you're pretty articulate dude - you should be a writer / comedian

Paul Provenza · 1:40 AM

That was life changing. He was to me what Jimi Hendrix would have been if I wanted to play guitar. Total revelation.

Paul Provenza · 1:40 AM

It's the typing part I hate

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:40 AM

get one of those speech to text doo-hickies

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:40 AM

★ Spotlighted from Seth Hochman

“Carlin was brilliant and if you listen to some of his predictions, they came true”

Paul Provenza · 1:41 AM

So I think giving permission is kinda my new manifesto - I just want people to be moved in ways that they're not comfortable with, and know that it's ok. To think & feel whatever is true for you. Then deal with it, y know?

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:41 AM

So -you're pretty chaos, right?

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:41 AM

into

Paul Provenza · 1:41 AM

Yes -Carlin's material from the late 70's is as pertinent today as then. Same thing w Hicks' stiff from the early 80's. Stll current.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:42 AM

★ Spotlighted from Lucy Dyer

“i would say Carlin and Hicks both had alot to say,and alot of they said still rings today as it did back then”

Paul Provenza · 1:42 AM

Yeah, I have grown to LOVE chaos. LOVE LOVE LOVE it. Linear is overrated bullshit. It is too confining to me.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:43 AM

Yeah - your shows are so organic, that the laughs hit so hard

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:43 AM

at a deep level, I think

Paul Provenza · 1:43 AM

As an artist, chaos is from whence epiphanies can emerge. I've found that thrilling. I used to need al the answers before I could do a damned thing. Now, I get off on embracing the mystery of what I don't yet know.

Paul Provenza · 1:44 AM

I'm working on a SATIRISTAS live show for The Amazing Meeting in Vegas right now - it's coming up mid July - but the show is emerging

Paul Provenza · 1:44 AM

as a bigger concept than just a performance show. It's gonna be really cool and oddball.

Paul Provenza · 1:45 AM

Really to be felt and appreciated inutitively rather than literally.

Paul Provenza · 1:46 AM

★ Spotlighted from Lucy Dyer

“if a comic can make me laugh,i'm not too bothered what they are talking about. and not many comics make me laugh,and only a few make me belly laugh”

Paul Provenza · 1:46 AM

The ones who really make me belly laugh usually have no point whatsoever. That's genius to me.

Paul Provenza · 1:47 AM

I just got a text from Jordan who's running this thing that his internet is crapping out. This is our chance to take over. Who's with me??

Paul Provenza · 1:47 AM

WE ARE THE 17 PEOPLE OF THE 1%!

Paul Provenza · 1:47 AM

★ Spotlighted from Eric Schwartz

“Actually at Setlist the audience are observers to the attempt to turn chaos into order.”

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:47 AM

I'm baaaaack

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:48 AM

Yeah - let's Tawk set list

Paul Provenza · 1:48 AM

See? It al kinda turns in on itself. Which is kinda cool, I think.

Paul Provenza · 1:48 AM

★ Spotlighted from Lucy Dyer

“hey Paul,any plans to come to the UK with SATIRISTAS ? *batter eyelashes* :-)”

Paul Provenza · 1:48 AM

Will be in Edbgh with Set List - it's gonna be nuts!

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:48 AM

★ Spotlighted from Rick Rosner

“Chaos on demand is order.”

Paul Provenza · 1:49 AM

Again, it starts to not make sense anymore. If that aint life, what is??

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:49 AM

So is set list on TV in England, Australia, both?

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:49 AM

I mean, I saw it live with Gilbert Gottfried and Janeane Garofalo and laughed my ass off

Paul Provenza · 1:50 AM

SHOUT out to the amazing artist Dan Dion, who did all the beautiful portraits for SATIRISTAS. He's on a mobile and can't write in himself.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:50 AM

Cool

Paul Provenza · 1:50 AM

It aired in OZ (long story as to how it got there first) and will begin airing on Sky Atlantic UK in November. 14 Episodes.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:51 AM

So when is it coming to the US? What don't we get the smart stuff?

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:51 AM

Why

Paul Provenza · 1:51 AM

I made Gilbert fly to LA to do Set List for the first time ever - without ever even having seen it before - on camera. He came alive like he hasn't been for a while. It was beautiful.

Paul Provenza · 1:52 AM

We're working on getting a US broadcaster.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:52 AM

OK - we're heading into the home strecth - ready for some rapid fire questions?

Paul Provenza · 1:52 AM

Sure. Is this like the lightining round?

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:52 AM

Yes - here we go

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:53 AM

what comedian doesn't get enough respect?

Paul Provenza · 1:53 AM

Menudo.

Paul Provenza · 1:53 AM

sorry I jumoed the gun there.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:53 AM

good answer

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:53 AM

I'd say you're a tad premature

Paul Provenza · 1:53 AM

ROBERT KLEIN. Deserves way more than he gets.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:53 AM

What comedian should we all youtube after this?

Paul Provenza · 1:54 AM

BRIAN REGAN. Flat out hilarious. About almost nothing meaningful - and one of the funniest EVER.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:54 AM

should people go into comedy as a career?

Paul Provenza · 1:54 AM

TREVOR NOAH. From South Africa. Very young, amazingly smart and sexy and deft. Talks about race very differently from most black comedians.

Paul Provenza · 1:55 AM

Very different perspective, as you can imagine.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:55 AM

so what about a comedy career? do you advise for or against?

Paul Provenza · 1:55 AM

Only if there i bsolutely nothing else on earth you can be happy doing. That keeps the standards up.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:56 AM

should people be required to get a license to perform stand up? and if so, should you be the DMV?

Paul Provenza · 1:56 AM

If it's not the be all and end all for you, stay away.

Paul Provenza · 1:56 AM

I don;t believe we should need licenses to drive.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:56 AM

has anyone cooler than you ever graduated from Penn or Bronx Science?

Paul Provenza · 1:57 AM

"It's not a right, it's a privelege." FUCK THAT. I hate government.

Paul Provenza · 1:57 AM

Loads. Especially all those Nobel prize winners. They're cool as shit.

Paul Provenza · 1:58 AM

★ Spotlighted from Rick Rosner

“Is it over? "I've had a perfectly wonderful evening, but this wasn't it." Groucho (just needed to include this gem.)”

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:58 AM

Whose life story documentary would you love to direct? Whose would you refuse?

Paul Provenza · 1:58 AM

Hooray Hooray Hooray!

Paul Provenza · 1:58 AM

I want to act the role of Mussolini in a bio pic of him.

Paul Provenza · 1:59 AM

Mussolini:Hitler::Black people:Elvis

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:59 AM

You want to live out your facist fantasies?

Paul Provenza · 1:59 AM

I'll submit a headshot upside down.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:59 AM

★ Spotlighted from Lucy Dyer

“btw,Jordan - you should definetly get Paul back. this was awesome”

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:59 AM

So before we go - you just kicked off the first ever comedy week on Tawkers.

Paul Provenza · 1:59 AM

I think it would be hilarious to be the ruthless dictator who ends up as number two to the guy that stle his act. It's a show biz parble.

Paul Provenza · 2:00 AM

parable. not parble. parble is a good name for a pet though.

Paul Provenza · 2:00 AM

I am honored to have popped your comed week cherries. All 17 of you!

Jordan Birnbaum · 2:00 AM

Tomorrow night Bonnie MacFarlane and Rich Voss are doing a Tawk, and on Thursday, I'm Tawking with Mark Malkoff, who's hilarious

Jordan Birnbaum · 2:01 AM

Provenz what do you want people to check out?

Paul Provenza · 2:01 AM

Oh man, I gotta try to be here for that one. Voss is insanely funny.

Jordan Birnbaum · 2:01 AM

yeah - come tmrw night, please - we'll play in the audience - it's more fun in there

Paul Provenza · 2:01 AM

Please check out the NerdistChannel webseries of Set List: Youtube.com/nerdist - set list has a playlist.

Jordan Birnbaum · 2:02 AM

I HIGHLY recommend it, everyone.

Paul Provenza · 2:02 AM

I'd just like to tell everyone here that this whole time, I've not been wearing any pants.

Jordan Birnbaum · 2:02 AM

Provenz will you come back? (No pressure - it's only in writing)

Jordan Birnbaum · 2:02 AM

underwear?

Paul Provenza · 2:02 AM

Anytime. I have no life. No, wait... I mean...

Jordan Birnbaum · 2:02 AM

too late

Paul Provenza · 2:03 AM

Never.

Jordan Birnbaum · 2:03 AM

OK - thank you everyone so much - it was a blast

Paul Provenza · 2:03 AM

Too late, I mean

Paul Provenza · 2:03 AM

Thanks al!

Jordan Birnbaum · 2:03 AM

lol - thank you so much, pal

Jordan Birnbaum · 2:03 AM

you're the best

Paul Provenza · 2:03 AM

GOtta go find a carpet. Gotta pee.

Jordan Birnbaum · 2:04 AM

And that's a story for our next Tawk - when Paul peed on my carpet...

Paul Provenza · 2:04 AM

Now THAT's a cliff hanger.

Jordan Birnbaum · 2:04 AM

(and steam-cleaned it the next day)

Paul Provenza · 2:04 AM

Spoiler!

Jordan Birnbaum · 2:05 AM

(had to retain a shred of integrity in all this)

Paul Provenza · 2:05 AM

Lightweight.

Paul Provenza · 2:05 AM

Free yourself.

Jordan Birnbaum · 2:05 AM

That's why you're a pro and I'm an amateur

Paul Provenza · 2:05 AM

Semantics.

Jordan Birnbaum · 2:06 AM

Without semantics there'd be nothing to argue about

Jordan Birnbaum · 2:06 AM

★ Spotlighted from Lucy Dyer

“well thank you to both of you for a most enjoyable evening of fun frivolity!”

Jordan Birnbaum · 2:06 AM

★ Spotlighted from Rick Rosner

“Thanks, guys!”

Jordan Birnbaum · 2:06 AM

★ Spotlighted from Tawkers Admin

“Remember - if you are just joining us to hit the TOP button in the TOP left of your screen, to start from the, well, TOP!”

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Rick RosnerJun 12, 2013, 12:58 AM

For all of us of the NY/Jewish persuasion:nAn Orthodox Jew with long pais, beard and the usual garb walks into a Manhattan bar, with a huge frog on his shoulder. Sits down at the bar. The bartender looks them up and down and says:

Rick RosnerJun 12, 2013, 12:58 AM

: “Say, where do you find something like that?” The frog answers: “Brooklyn. They’re all over the place.”

Blake IanJun 12, 2013, 1:01 AM

I wish I were more interesting than Rick Rosner

Lucy DyerJun 12, 2013, 1:02 AM

hello all you lovely people you!!!

Rick RosnerJun 12, 2013, 1:02 AM

I barely know me, but am bored already.

Lucy DyerJun 12, 2013, 1:03 AM★ Spotlighted

oh my god!! its really him!! :-O Jordan is here!!!...i'm kidding...an honour to have Mr Provenza in the house :-)

Blake IanJun 12, 2013, 1:03 AM★ Spotlighted

Haha, I wonder how JB feels that excitement about his presence is good material

Lucy DyerJun 12, 2013, 1:06 AM

i think if you funny,it dont matter where you come from

Blake IanJun 12, 2013, 1:08 AM

Robert Klein on College http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDBDJV1VF5U

Lucy DyerJun 12, 2013, 1:08 AM

*goes to look up robert klein*

Seth HochmanJun 12, 2013, 1:08 AM

enough worshiping Robert Klein

Rick RosnerJun 12, 2013, 1:09 AM

opened what?

Lucy DyerJun 12, 2013, 1:10 AM

Provenza was Miss Ross's fluffer? :-O

Seth HochmanJun 12, 2013, 1:11 AM

Maybe I'm missing the thread: what does a Diana Ross concert have to do with comedy?

Rick RosnerJun 12, 2013, 1:11 AM

She's gotten funny over the years

Lucy DyerJun 12, 2013, 1:12 AM

paul,JB can only type with one finger....

Tawkers AdminJun 12, 2013, 1:12 AM

@Seth - Paul was the opening act for her for a few years

Bruce HauptmanJun 12, 2013, 1:12 AM★ Spotlighted

Paul Opened as a comic for Diana Ross. Not unusual

Rick RosnerJun 12, 2013, 1:13 AM

A great great great joke and and a great great great flick.

Lucy DyerJun 12, 2013, 1:13 AM

bruce - wasnt that tom jones?

Lucy DyerJun 12, 2013, 1:15 AM★ Spotlighted

audience confusion? thats not surprising

Rick RosnerJun 12, 2013, 1:16 AM

I was just being lewd

Bruce HauptmanJun 12, 2013, 1:16 AM★ Spotlighted

I think its an age thing. Hands up....who was here in 1977?????

Bruce HauptmanJun 12, 2013, 1:18 AM

The Governor of Alabama was a comic????

Rick RosnerJun 12, 2013, 1:18 AM★ Spotlighted

I saw Jim Croce opening for Woody Allen.

Bruce HauptmanJun 12, 2013, 1:19 AM

Joan Rivers opened for Rudy Vallee( Look him up)

Lucy DyerJun 12, 2013, 1:19 AM★ Spotlighted

Trailer: The Aristocrats http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xvkgwz_trailer-the-aristocrats-by-paul-provenza-vo_shortfilms#.UbfMVOc3t8E

Blake IanJun 12, 2013, 1:21 AM★ Spotlighted

I did NOT see Carrot Top open for Phish... but I bet he did!!

Lucy DyerJun 12, 2013, 1:21 AM

gosh this is awesome shhhhh stuff....

Bruce HauptmanJun 12, 2013, 1:22 AM

Loincloth and leg warmers???? Just tuesday night for prince

Jordan SudyJun 12, 2013, 1:22 AM

game, blouses.

Bruce HauptmanJun 12, 2013, 1:23 AM

Actually I saw Phish open for Carrot Top

Lucy DyerJun 12, 2013, 1:23 AM

i would LOVE to see Paul perform live....(sighs)

Seth HochmanJun 12, 2013, 1:23 AM

Probably because being a comic involves a lot of thinking Jordan

Eric SchwartzJun 12, 2013, 1:24 AM★ Spotlighted

Do some comics end up going for the theatre crowd because they're older and smarter? (and richer)

Rick RosnerJun 12, 2013, 1:24 AM

I think, therefore I gag.

Seth HochmanJun 12, 2013, 1:25 AM★ Spotlighted

Critical thinking--not a quality often associated with the Tea Party

Bruce HauptmanJun 12, 2013, 1:25 AM

No, suspicious of authority is an american thing

Bruce HauptmanJun 12, 2013, 1:26 AM

The issues today are so vast and complicated its tough to define if you have a liberal stance or a consrvative stance

Bruce HauptmanJun 12, 2013, 1:28 AM★ Spotlighted

Good point...maybe we should think right versus wrong not rep vs democrat or lib vs conservative....

Lucy DyerJun 12, 2013, 1:28 AM★ Spotlighted

i think thats why american political comics are successful more in the UK than in the US. WE "get" the humour they are trying to get across,and they dont have to explain the joke in minute detail

Eric SchwartzJun 12, 2013, 1:29 AM★ Spotlighted

Where would Penn fall into the political spectrum? Pure Libertarian?

Bruce HauptmanJun 12, 2013, 1:29 AM

pragmatism should be the new ideology

Eric SchwartzJun 12, 2013, 1:30 AM

If it were 50 purple states Hillary would already be president.

Blake IanJun 12, 2013, 1:30 AM★ Spotlighted

Penn and Teller's Bullshit on Showtime ruled!

Blake IanJun 12, 2013, 1:30 AM

ideology is the new black!

Seth HochmanJun 12, 2013, 1:30 AM

50 purple states: clearly you've not been to Alabama or Mississippi

Lucy DyerJun 12, 2013, 1:31 AM

purple is my fav colour -i would do well there

Seth HochmanJun 12, 2013, 1:32 AM★ Spotlighted

It should be divided by rich and poor, like in most countries; however all the religiousness in this country throws that off, plus the people who are poor who think they're millionaires

Lucy DyerJun 12, 2013, 1:34 AM★ Spotlighted

if the world is a stage,where do the audience sit?

Rick RosnerJun 12, 2013, 1:35 AM★ Spotlighted

In the pits

Seth HochmanJun 12, 2013, 1:35 AM★ Spotlighted

John Steinbeck once said, "“Socialism never took root in America because the poor see themselves not as an exploited proletariat but as temporarily embarrassed millionaires.”

Seth HochmanJun 12, 2013, 1:37 AM

lol, Let's remember the hard right paid a person who specializes in naming things to rename the estate tax, the death tax to fool a lot of people who have less than a million dollar inheritance to believe that it would affect them

Lucy DyerJun 12, 2013, 1:38 AM★ Spotlighted

if a comic can make me laugh,i'm not too bothered what they are talking about. and not many comics make me laugh,and only a few make me belly laugh

Seth HochmanJun 12, 2013, 1:40 AM★ Spotlighted

Carlin was brilliant and if you listen to some of his predictions, they came true

Lucy DyerJun 12, 2013, 1:41 AM★ Spotlighted

i would say Carlin and Hicks both had alot to say,and alot of they said still rings today as it did back then

Eric SchwartzJun 12, 2013, 1:43 AM

Setlist is brilliant. We are observers to chaos.

Eric SchwartzJun 12, 2013, 1:43 AM★ Spotlighted

Actually at Setlist the audience are observers to the attempt to turn chaos into order.

Seth HochmanJun 12, 2013, 1:43 AM

What's nice about comedy is that it allows for so many different personality types and routines

Lucy DyerJun 12, 2013, 1:44 AM

the thing i hate is when you laugh out loud at something and then realize no-one else is laughing!

Rick RosnerJun 12, 2013, 1:45 AM★ Spotlighted

Chaos on demand is order.

Lucy DyerJun 12, 2013, 1:46 AM★ Spotlighted

hey Paul,any plans to come to the UK with SATIRISTAS ? *batter eyelashes* :-)

Rick RosnerJun 12, 2013, 1:47 AM

Lucy DyerJun 12, 2013, 1:47 AM

I'M IN!!!!

Lucy DyerJun 12, 2013, 1:47 AM

i'll nab jordan's pens and notepad....

Seth HochmanJun 12, 2013, 1:47 AM

lol, is there an imposter posing as Jordan? Who is the real Jordan Birnbaum?

Blake IanJun 12, 2013, 1:48 AM

I think JB lost his INTRANETS!

Lucy DyerJun 12, 2013, 1:48 AM

Blake,JB should get some cream then

Lucy DyerJun 12, 2013, 1:49 AM

dam it!! i'm at the other end of the UK!!! :-(

Rick RosnerJun 12, 2013, 1:49 AM

Life - Nothing reincarnation can't cure.

Lucy DyerJun 12, 2013, 1:49 AM

i wish setlist WAS on tv over here,sure would make tv worth watching

Lucy DyerJun 12, 2013, 1:51 AM

Dan's photos are really good. Big Up to Dan!!

Tawkers AdminJun 12, 2013, 1:52 AM

Hey all, don't forget to hit those 3 dots on each comment and vote it up if you like it so the hosts can see it! - Also, Seth Hochman, add a photo already! ;)

Lucy DyerJun 12, 2013, 1:53 AM

paul,theres a a uzzer under your seat..it gives off an electric charge if we dont like an answer

Lucy DyerJun 12, 2013, 1:53 AM

uzzer? lol

Rick RosnerJun 12, 2013, 1:54 AM★ Spotlighted

Is it over? "I've had a perfectly wonderful evening, but this wasn't it." Groucho (just needed to include this gem.)

Tawkers AdminJun 12, 2013, 1:56 AM

@ Seth Hochman - You've made us all very happy.

Lucy DyerJun 12, 2013, 1:56 AM

there are standards? dam that leaves me out then

Lucy DyerJun 12, 2013, 1:57 AM★ Spotlighted

btw,Jordan - you should definetly get Paul back. this was awesome

Lucy DyerJun 12, 2013, 2:00 AM

i'd go watch that film! hell i'd even bring my own mustache!

Tawkers AdminJun 12, 2013, 2:01 AM

BIG Thanks to Paul Provenza for kicking off Comedy Week on Tawkers! Tomorrow night Rich Vos and Bonnie Mcfarlane http://tawke.rs/1bpoyp9

Rick RosnerJun 12, 2013, 2:02 AM★ Spotlighted

Thanks, guys!

Lucy DyerJun 12, 2013, 2:03 AM★ Spotlighted

well thank you to both of you for a most enjoyable evening of fun frivolity!

Lucy DyerJun 12, 2013, 2:04 AM

oh no this is gonna turn into a case of "no you put the phone down.... no YOU put the phone down..."

Tawkers AdminJun 12, 2013, 2:04 AM★ Spotlighted

Remember - if you are just joining us to hit the TOP button in the TOP left of your screen, to start from the, well, TOP!