"What is the role of the stand-up comedian in today's world?" I asked Kinane as he sat down in my living room. He took a deep breath before answering, "I'm split halfway between 'This is a necessary element' and 'You just fucking make fart jokes and expect to be a part of the world.'"
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"The way you look at the world is the way you look at the world. It usually takes a pretty monumental experience to change that." But he believes the comedian can in fact alter one's perspective. Mimicking an audience member, he says: "Oh, look at the way [the comedian] looks at things. I'm gonna do that. It might make me a little more open-minded by looking at things differently."
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As Kinane puts it: "It's people laughing, thinking 'I've thought that, but I could never tell my friends that.'" The comedian, however, can say whatever he wants because it's all framed with comedy. If the joke is set up correctly, the comedian can be offensive without fearing a backlash. Some comedians don't frame their jokes properly, and this is where they get into trouble. But, if done correctly, offensive thoughts can be not just a source of great comedy, but great democratic benefit, as well.
"If it sits in you, then you feel guilty," Kinane says. "Comedy's great because you say it and people laugh and it's as if it absolves you. Them laughing means it's okay because they thought it, too, and I hear them laugh, which means it's okay that I thought it." He adds: "It keeps balance in the world."
Turn to the Comedian: An Interview with Kyle Kinane / by Daniel Berkowitz / 10/28/2012 / slantmagazine.com
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Showing posts with label Kyle Kinane. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kyle Kinane. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Ari Shaffir's Skeptic Tank #35: The Jew, The Witch, and the Wardrobe (Moshe Kasher)
Ari Shaffir: I used to think about (Mitch) Hedberg and stuff… why didn’t anyone get him help? Because everyone was doing drugs. They’re like, we’re all doing it…
Moshe Kasher: And its helping Hedberg look cool. Its bad. That’s the bad nature of this beast.
AS: Somebody, that same year in Montreal, somebody they know from here was in the film part and they saw some older, not older older, but like a little older, respected stand up comic and a bunch of people doing coke with him in a bathroom. And just saying, ick, all these comics are trying to do coke with this guy. And he was just like, “Blech.” And just turned around and left.
MK: Yeah, that’s funny, “Dude, I did coke with this guy! Whoa!”
AS: Way to go man, you did it!
MK: Congrats. I see, I don’t know if you see this, with younger comics. I’ve seen this sort of, this thing where they’re trying to become like desperate alcoholics.
AS: Oh yeah, because its cool.
MK: On stage.
AS: Its like, “I want to be Bukowski.” But you’re not one.
MK: They want to affect the kind of…
AS: They’re bragging about pain they don’t have.
MK: The nihilistic blight relationship with society that like Stanhope or Kyle Kinane have.
AS: But they don’t really have it. They’re just sort of trying…
MK: But they will!
AS: Hopefully, if they keep going.
MK: They probably won’t be as funny as Doug and Kyle but they’ll get there. I mean, you can get there. You know, and the other thing is, by the way, Kyle and Stanhope are very successful because they work super hard. It’s a flawed concept. But I just hate when I see some like 24 year old comic like, “I mostly just drink, man, because life fucks…” Get out of here.
AS: You’re just drinking because you’re a fuck up. Or because you’re a frat guy.
MK: You’re angst is fake and you’re alcoholism is fake but soon neither will be fake but you’re career will be non-existent.
AS: Soon you’ll need 5 beers before you get on stage.
Moshe Kasher: And its helping Hedberg look cool. Its bad. That’s the bad nature of this beast.
AS: Somebody, that same year in Montreal, somebody they know from here was in the film part and they saw some older, not older older, but like a little older, respected stand up comic and a bunch of people doing coke with him in a bathroom. And just saying, ick, all these comics are trying to do coke with this guy. And he was just like, “Blech.” And just turned around and left.
MK: Yeah, that’s funny, “Dude, I did coke with this guy! Whoa!”
AS: Way to go man, you did it!
MK: Congrats. I see, I don’t know if you see this, with younger comics. I’ve seen this sort of, this thing where they’re trying to become like desperate alcoholics.
AS: Oh yeah, because its cool.
MK: On stage.
AS: Its like, “I want to be Bukowski.” But you’re not one.
MK: They want to affect the kind of…
AS: They’re bragging about pain they don’t have.
MK: The nihilistic blight relationship with society that like Stanhope or Kyle Kinane have.
AS: But they don’t really have it. They’re just sort of trying…
MK: But they will!
AS: Hopefully, if they keep going.
MK: They probably won’t be as funny as Doug and Kyle but they’ll get there. I mean, you can get there. You know, and the other thing is, by the way, Kyle and Stanhope are very successful because they work super hard. It’s a flawed concept. But I just hate when I see some like 24 year old comic like, “I mostly just drink, man, because life fucks…” Get out of here.
AS: You’re just drinking because you’re a fuck up. Or because you’re a frat guy.
MK: You’re angst is fake and you’re alcoholism is fake but soon neither will be fake but you’re career will be non-existent.
AS: Soon you’ll need 5 beers before you get on stage.
Friday, June 29, 2012
The A.V. Club Toronto Interview: Kyle Kinane
AVC: Do you find your act has changed dramatically since you started?
Kyle Kinane: Oh for sure, man. Everything’s got to grow if you’re a human being. I was doing one-liner stuff when I started, because when you start at an open mic you only have five minutes so you’ve got to get as many jokes as you can in there. Now, everybody’s like, “Oh, you’re a storyteller.” No, I ... just got thrown into headlining earlier than maybe I was ready. Suddenly, I had to do 45 minutes, so I was like, “All right, well I’m going to draw out some of these jokes into full stories.” I think they’re working, but with some of them it’s like, “Wow, you’re just talking out of your ass with that thing.” You definitely get to dive into stuff with the storytelling. But if somebody doesn’t like something two minutes in, it’s like, “All right, well this is a 12-minute-long story. If you don’t like it now, who knows if you’ll like it in 10 minutes.” It’s not everybody’s cup of tea, but nothing should be everybody’s cup of tea.
The A.V. Club Toronto Interview: Kyle Kinane / By Phil Brown December 8, 2011
Kyle Kinane: Oh for sure, man. Everything’s got to grow if you’re a human being. I was doing one-liner stuff when I started, because when you start at an open mic you only have five minutes so you’ve got to get as many jokes as you can in there. Now, everybody’s like, “Oh, you’re a storyteller.” No, I ... just got thrown into headlining earlier than maybe I was ready. Suddenly, I had to do 45 minutes, so I was like, “All right, well I’m going to draw out some of these jokes into full stories.” I think they’re working, but with some of them it’s like, “Wow, you’re just talking out of your ass with that thing.” You definitely get to dive into stuff with the storytelling. But if somebody doesn’t like something two minutes in, it’s like, “All right, well this is a 12-minute-long story. If you don’t like it now, who knows if you’ll like it in 10 minutes.” It’s not everybody’s cup of tea, but nothing should be everybody’s cup of tea.
The A.V. Club Toronto Interview: Kyle Kinane / By Phil Brown December 8, 2011
Monday, June 4, 2012
The A.V. Club Toronto Interview: Kyle Kinane
AVC: Does bombing still bother you as much these days, or is it almost funny now that you have the career and confidence to know that’s not the universal reaction?
Kyle Kinane: If it’s my fault, because I’m not committing to the story and thinking about other stuff, then I’m pissed off because I’m not fulfilling my end of things. But I mean, last night I did a show with like eight people there, so it’s like, “All right, I guess I’m going to sit here and have a conversation.” Three people sat there forcefully not enjoying themselves. I mean, fuck it; leave. I’m not going to pander. I’m already trying to make the best of an awkward situation. So if you’re going to sit there with your arms folded not having fun, you can go fuck yourself. You have the freedom to choose what to do with your evening. If you’re going to sit there and be pouty with me, I’m just going to ignore you and talk to the people who are at least trying to have a good time. So I didn’t feel bad about that. I felt bad about the fact that there are people in the world that suck.
AVC: Did you address those three people to try and get them involved?
Kyle Kinane: I tried to talk with them for a minute and engage with them. I mean, I wasn’t going to be using a microphone with eight people. I tried to treat it like we were hanging out, but they had this attitude. They were just fucking dickheads. Whatever man. I mean they sat there, what more could I want out of them? If you’re just going to sit there with your feet up acting superior, I got your fucking money, do what you gotta do.
The A.V. Club Toronto Interview: Kyle Kinane / By Phil Brown December 8, 2011
Kyle Kinane: If it’s my fault, because I’m not committing to the story and thinking about other stuff, then I’m pissed off because I’m not fulfilling my end of things. But I mean, last night I did a show with like eight people there, so it’s like, “All right, I guess I’m going to sit here and have a conversation.” Three people sat there forcefully not enjoying themselves. I mean, fuck it; leave. I’m not going to pander. I’m already trying to make the best of an awkward situation. So if you’re going to sit there with your arms folded not having fun, you can go fuck yourself. You have the freedom to choose what to do with your evening. If you’re going to sit there and be pouty with me, I’m just going to ignore you and talk to the people who are at least trying to have a good time. So I didn’t feel bad about that. I felt bad about the fact that there are people in the world that suck.
AVC: Did you address those three people to try and get them involved?
Kyle Kinane: I tried to talk with them for a minute and engage with them. I mean, I wasn’t going to be using a microphone with eight people. I tried to treat it like we were hanging out, but they had this attitude. They were just fucking dickheads. Whatever man. I mean they sat there, what more could I want out of them? If you’re just going to sit there with your feet up acting superior, I got your fucking money, do what you gotta do.
The A.V. Club Toronto Interview: Kyle Kinane / By Phil Brown December 8, 2011
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
The Bearded, Hungry, Hilarious, Storytelling Genius that is Kyle Kinane
Serial Optimist: How did you get your start in comedy?
Kyle Kinane: It was the next enticing dead-end after I realized I was bad at music. I needed to have an outlet. I didn’t think it was going to be a career. Just needed something with my free time. Some people, it’s their jobs, or their relationships. At least comedy made me feel productive–sure, I’m sitting at a bar with my friends every night, but there’s an open mic in the other room, so I’m there as a responsibility to my craft. It’s like finding your retirement hobby when you’re 22. “Oh, this is why I get up every day.” I totally understand the model train enthusiasts. I get it.
Kyle Kinane: It was the next enticing dead-end after I realized I was bad at music. I needed to have an outlet. I didn’t think it was going to be a career. Just needed something with my free time. Some people, it’s their jobs, or their relationships. At least comedy made me feel productive–sure, I’m sitting at a bar with my friends every night, but there’s an open mic in the other room, so I’m there as a responsibility to my craft. It’s like finding your retirement hobby when you’re 22. “Oh, this is why I get up every day.” I totally understand the model train enthusiasts. I get it.
Thursday, May 10, 2012
The Bearded, Hungry, Hilarious, Storytelling Genius that is Kyle Kinane
Serial Optimist: When you get hecklers, what is your reaction? Do you ignore them, bust their balls, have fun with it, or just embarrass the shit out of them?
Kyle Kinane: I hate them. I don’t travel all over the place to come babysit drunks. If they’re malicious, I go after them. I have no qualms asking people to leave or having them kicked out. If they’re drunk and affable, I try to have some fun but let them know that they should shut up after a minute. But if they’re dicks, I want them gone. If I’m in the middle of a longer story, and I get interrupted, it messes with the whole flow. I don’t care what Bill Burr says about how comedy should be this tough guy boxing match between a performer and an audience. I don’t believe that at all. Bill Burr is great at it, don’t get me wrong, as are a lot of guys. But it’s not my style.
The Bearded, Hungry, Hilarious, Storytelling Genius that is Kyle Kinane / Author: Zhila Shariat Published: Apr 24th, 2012 / www.serialoptimist.com
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