Sunday, August 31, 2014

If I was a Comedian Onstage Doing Stand-up, This is What I’d do Today.

To read a previous bit in this series, click here.

ME

I’m a heathen.  Are there any other heathens here tonight?  Wow, a lot of heathens.  I was raised Presbyterian.  My moms says I should go to church for the community aspect.  So people will be there for me if someone close to me dies or something, but I say if people want to help, they’ll do it whether I go to church or not, and if they don’t I don’t want to eat their fucking casserole anyway.

What?  What’d I say?  Jeez, I didn’t know religion was such a touchy subject.  I guess I didn’t get that memo.  I feel like you guys are against me now.  Who would have thought insulting a mob of people could go wrong somehow?

I feel like the guy in the old west that the posse was after.

“Zeke, the posse’s here.  They got us surrounded!”

Zeke: Don’t worry, Earl.  I’ll take care of this. 

Zeke walks outside.

Zeke: (Yelling) Hey!  You guys are all assholes!  What?  Hey, why is everybody shooting at me?


ME

It reminds me of this thing that happened the other day.  I was at my day job because, for some reason my stand-up career isn’t paying the bills, and my boss comes up and starts yelling at me.  I can’t remember what it was about.  Like, maybe I left a machine on, or I left someone in the machine, or I let the machine eat someone.  I can’t remember.  But anyway my boss was really mad at me, so I’m like, “Wait a second.  Are you hitting on me?”

This brought an immediate halt to the string of invectives he was screaming at me.  I didn’t want him to have time to think of a response, so I said, “Listen.  I’m flattered, really, but I’m not into quote unquote “people.”

Naturally, my boss was pretty stunned.  He had this quizzical look on his face, and it was pretty easy then to shift the topic of conversation because he was like, “Wait.  What?”

I knew I had him then.  I said, “You know how some women talk about giving up their flower?  Well, it turns out they are actually just talking about their gross vaginas. 

I, on the other hand, enjoy the company of actual flowers.  They make my penis smell all rosy.  Unless of course they’re violets, in which case they make it smell violet-y.  

At this point, my boss completely forgot why he was yelling at me.

(To audience)

You know, I don’t get you people.  You act like you’ve never heard a guy talking about having sex with flowers or something.  What’s the big deal?  Did I stumble into a convention of florists? 

What the fuck is wrong with fucking flowers?  Hey, that sounds like a pretty good chant.



ME

(Leading chant)  I say flower, you say fucker.  Flower!

CROWD

Fucker!

ME

Flower!

CROWD

Fucker!

ME

All the florists now: We don’t fucking need no fucking flower fuckers!

CROWD

We don’t fucking need no fucking flower fuckers!

ME
Thank you!  I love you all.  I’m off flowers.  I’m into crowds now.  (thrusting hips)  That’s for this side.  (another hip thrust)  That’s for all of you in the middle area.  (again)  That’s an extra one for you in the brown shirt.  (Pivot and thrust left)  That one’s for the rest of you.  Good night, everybody!

EXIT STAGE


Saturday, August 23, 2014

Too Weird is Now Free at Smashwords

My collection of funny/weird stories about wiener dogs, conjoined twins, hypochondriacs and blue whales in bathtubs is currently free across e-formats here.

Saturday, August 16, 2014

This is What My Stand-up Comedy Routine Would Look Like if I Went Onstage Today

I WOULD START IN THE TRADITIONAL MANNER.

ME

I must be getting old.  This morning I threw my back out while I was yawning.

NEXT, I REENACT THE EVENT, BUT IN DOING SO, I THROW OUT MY BACK AGAIN.

ME

Uh oh.  I did it again.


(I LEAN TO ONE SIDE WITH ONE SHOULDER HIGHER THAN THE OTHER.  I CAN’T MOVE MY NECK.  I’M LIKE IGOR FROM FRANKENSTEIN.

ME

Oh well.  That’s it.  Good night, Everybody.

I START TO EXIT STAGE LEFT, BUT STOP WHEN I SEE AN IMAGINARY PERSON OFFSTAGE.

ME

I know I still have five minutes left, but I can’t do it.  I’m injured.

(PAUSE)

ME

But... But... You’re not even paying me.

(PAUSE)

ME

It’s a free country.  I don’t have to...

(PAUSE)
ME

I do have to?

I TURN BACK TO THE AUDIENCE, OBVIOUSLY STILL IN PAIN.  I GLANCE BACK AT THE IMAGINARY PERSON OFFSTAGE.

ME

You want me to dance?  I don’t think I can do that.  I’m not even a good dancer under regular circumstances.

(PAUSE WHILE LOOKING OFFSTAGE.)  I BEGIN TO DANCE.  WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY, STILL HOLDING MY DISTORTED POSE, I SWING MY ARMS AND KICK MY FEET LIKE A TAP DANCER.)

ME

(TO IMAGINARY PERSON OFFSTAGE) I don’t know how long I can do this.

(TO ANOTHER IMAGINARY PERSON TO MY RIGHT)  What’s that?  I don’t have to keep dancing if I don’t want to.

I STOP DANCING.

ME

The person offstage isn’t real?

I LOOK OFFSTAGE AND THEN BACK TO MY RIGHT.

ME

You mean, not only is there something wrong with my back, there is something is wrong with my head as well?

(PAUSE)

ME

I should see a doctor?

(PAUSE)



ME

Oh, you are a doctor.  What kind of...?

(PAUSE)

ME

Oh, a urologist.  I see.

(PAUSE)

ME

Say, while I’ve got you here, could you take a look at something for me?

I TURN MY BACK TO THE AUDIENCE WHILE UNBUCKLING MY BELT.  IT SHOULD BE CLEAR THAT I AM LETTING THE IMAGINARY UROLOGIST LOOK DOWN THE FRONT OF MY PANTS.

ME

What do you mean you don’t see anything?  (POINTING) It’s right there!

(PAUSE)

ME

Yes, that.

(PAUSE)

ME

I know it’s a penus.  What’s that on the side there?

(LONG PAUSE)

ME

(SHAKING HEAD) No, I don’t think it is funny.  This isn’t a joking matter.

(PAUSE)


ME
Really?  That’s it?  That’s all you have to say?  Maybe if I don’t think about it, it will go away.

(PAUSE)

ME

Well, I think I need a second opinion.

(PAUSE)

ME

I don’t think I should have to give you a $45 copay.  I don’t even have insurance.

(PAUSE)

ME

What do you mean, then the price goes up to $1500?  You didn’t do anything.

(PAUSE)

ME

No, I don’t think you stand around all day giving free penus exams, but...

(PAUSE)

ME

Well, some people would.

(PAUSE)

ME

Yes they would.  They might even pay me for the privilege.  Some anyway. 

(PAUSE)

ME

No, I don’t want to look at yours.

(PAUSE)
ME

Yes it is fair.  Wait, are you even a doctor?

(PAUSE)

ME

You’re a... You’re a Love Doctor.  You know what?  I think my time is up.  Goodnight Everybody.


I LURCH OFFSTAGE.