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Next up is Skyler Higley.
I got sent directly to the principals office after, but I also won.
Pretty clear trajectory there, Id say.
Ive decided my cartoon would just be me as the Jim Crow caricature.
Everyone will be like What the fuck!?
But the jokes on you, because then I get to be in history textbooks.
Being a part of the end ofConanon TBS was very special.
Getting to know and work for a comedy legend that you grew up a fan of is really exciting.
Ever since I sawConan OBrien Cant Stopwhen I was 14, Ive been a huge fan of Jay Leno.
But then you get to say you were on theTitanic, which is legendary.
And I got a nice little trophy, which is what its all about.
That said, I do intend to get all the trophies.
Also, yo dont tell Conan I compared working on his show to being on theTitanic.
Which comedians career trajectory would you most like to follow?This is a trick question.
Stop yelling at me.
Tell us everything about your worst show ever.
(This can involve venue, audience, other acts on the lineup, anything!
)The venue was somewhere in the South, where I probably just shouldnt have been booked.
The post on the website said SKYLAR HIGLEY: Seen as Ringleader at UniverSoul Circus and on BETsComic View.
Hughley and Cedric the Entertainer that also started in the 90s.)
I was supposed to do five shows that weekend.
I had only sold 15 tickets total, but of course there would be some walk-ins.
The first show went a lot better than I thought pretty good, in fact.
I bombed for 40 minutes straight.
They wanted Bruce Bruce, and unfortunately I am not Bruce Bruce.
(To the people at Vulture, pleasedo notmake my blurb headline Skyler Higley Is Not Bruce Bruce.
Im so serious I will be upset.)
I could write a whole essay on that show alone, but Im cutting myself off.
Is this making any sense, or is it abstract to the point of self-indulgence?
Sometimes Ill think of jokes in dreams.
One I remember is: Why do we even have moments of silence?
Theyre staying dead whether were quiet or not.
In my dream, that killed.
That was one of the few times throughout my early 20s where I played that gameRent or Food?
First is the amount of creative latitude white comedians and writers receive off grip.
Second is when a comedian is really hot, because,Why are you that hot?
Which is why I want to see what everyone else wrote.
Who on this list has secret rich parents?
When the nepo children make it on this list, do they answer this question?
Im a very easy target for roasts.
Everything is really on the surface.
But so is everyones.
Heres a list within a list (meta!
):
The majority of older, famous stand-up comedians should retire.
Theyre not offering anything that insightful or well written.
Material should be memorable and not only functional.
This industry is absurdly exploitative and psychologically damaging.
Comedy is simultaneously better and worse than its ever been.
Comedy can be a liberating force, but isnt inherently moral or liberating.
New Yorkisbetter than L.A.
Comedians coming up now have to work a lot harder than they ever have before.
There are a lot of amazingly talented people who could be making some great stuff given more opportunity.
Obviously dontjusthave fun; its work.
As comedians, we are turning fun into work (or working to create fun?
I dont know).
Now, heres the thing: I love riffing.
I do it a fair amount.
So yeah, you should also write fucking jokes.
