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One comedian writes his jokes from a point of pure joy, the other from a point of low cynicism — but when they take off the blindfolds, it’s all good times on Long Time No See: The Podcast! This week, Michael Turner (Don’t Tell Comedy special, Netflix Is a Joke Festival) and the fearless Alex Hooper (known for roasting the judges on America’s Got Talent and his No. 1 comedy album, Hugs. Drugs. Pugs.) reconnect to delve deep into their careers, lives, and opinions. Watch or listen to the episode above, or hear it wherever you get your podcasts.
A major highlight of the conversation revolves around their experiences with “bombing” on stage. Alex shares a memorable, albeit painful, story from a Dallas show where an audience member demanded a refund, leading him to extend his set for an additional 30 minutes in an attempt to win over the tough crowd. Michael, on the other hand, recounts a particularly brutal 12-minute set at Hotel Cafe in Los Angeles, where an ill-fated opening joke about the audience’s sexual orientation alienated nearly everyone from the get-go. Both comedians offer fascinating insights into the art of navigating a difficult crowd, showcasing their resilience and dedication to their craft.
Beyond the shared war stories of tough audiences, Michael and Alex dive into their distinct approaches to comedy and performance. They discuss the varying degrees of preparation they undertake for sets, from meticulously crafted jokes to more improvisational and conversational styles. “I also say to artists all the time, when they’re like, ‘I have this idea’,” offers Hooper. “I’m going, ‘Great, create it, release, and stop giving a fuck…’ I tell people that all the time ’cause they’re like, ‘Well, I want it to be better. I wanna do this, I wanna do this.’ It’s like, okay, if it’s some major big idea that you are trying to formulate, that’s one thing. But if you just have an idea and just do it, drop — just fucking do it”
Though his personal approach is different, Turner agrees with the advice: “Stop holding onto it — release it. Take the feedback, be better the next time. Art is meant to be shipped. Shut up and do better.”
Don’t miss this engaging episode of Long Time No See to hear these hilarious and often insightful stories, offering a peek behind the curtain of a comedian’s life. Be sure to support the show by following and/or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or your preferred platform.
Long Time No See: The Podcast comes from Wes Brumbaugh and Jack Fink’s Long Time No See Comedy showcase series. The podcast was created in partnership with and is presented by Consequence Podcast Network and Los Angeles’ Gold-Diggers, which recently launched the Gold-Diggers Media production entity.
