Well, it's been a while!
I feel like I am wasting an amazingly-named blog by not updating it at all, but at the same time I have been writing a lot lately. So consider this a catch up post. A project that I have been working on for a pretty long time is almost ready to see the light of day, and it has me psyched!
So, imagine an amazingly high budget TV show. It's got action, explosions, drama, terrorism. Now imagine that same show, but with no video, just audio. Now imagine that audio TV show is only a few minutes a week, is easy to listen to on any computer/smartphone, and has some of the stupidest joke dialogue you will ever hear. Well, even after using that much imagination juice, you STILL will not be able to process how awesome Punch the Night is!
Punch the Night is not a podcast, despite that it will be in the podcast section of iTunes. To call Punch the Night a podcast is not fair to podcasts, because it is so much better than that shit. This project will be a serialized show, where the epic story arc progresses from episode 1 on. Miss an episode? Download it for free, then catch the newer episodes also! Simple
Punch the Night is co-written by Matt Macedo and I. It's not gonna be some Lost bullshit, where we have the beginning and the end planned, and then in the middle we just lock all of our main characters in cages for the rest of the season. No, using our peculiar brain pieces, we have fleshed out tons of the story. There are twists, turns, and jokes. I mentioned joke dialogue before, and I know you're thinking "Why do you think you're capable of writing jokes?". Well, if it makes you feel better, imagine that Bill Cosby wrote all the jokes.
The Night will be Punched! Redemption shall be set on Fire!!! Will Smith! Coming to an internet near you, soon
Chris McGonagle
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Sunday, September 4, 2011
It's the End of the World as We Know It, and I Feel Fin
By Chris McGonagle
"It's too bad the world is going to end in 2012..." -Abraham Lincoln
Just as the great Aztec Calendar predicted, and the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Calendar before that, the race of humans will soon come to an end. Not in any predictable Armageddon or Ragnarok sense, it isn't that easy. Being bathed in fire or frozen to death is 'Child’s Play'; remember that part where Chucky got frozen? The lucky few humans who are smart enough to take their own pitiful lives before December 21 2012 will most certainly get to live their afterlives in peace, free of the horrors that await the rest of humanity. What are these 'horrors', you ask?
Dolphins. Known fairly globally as the oceans Vin Diesel, Dolphins are the most terrifying mammal, with the most terrifying chrome-dome. Remember the scene in 'Jurassic Park' when the Velociraptor sneaks up on the guy, and then violently maims him? Well imagine that, but in the ocean, and with Sonar. You won't be able to have a cool last few words('clever girl') as the dolphin would stun you using his Sonar Rays. Plus, you'd be in the water, and its hard to talk in the water.
Now what most people ask me at this point, when I read this essay aloud to them at random on the street, is "Why aren't you wearing any pants?". The second question they usually ask is "How can dolphins take over the world in 2012, they live in water, right?". That is 100% true, Dolphins live in the water. Unfortunately, I have seen a lot of satellite imagery of Dolphin chemical weapons factories, and I know how smart they are. Dolphins are smarter than Humans. Sorry if I just lost a lot of you, but I'm gonna repeat that: Dolphins are smarter than Humans. We Humans have gone to the moon several times, sent probes to the farthest parts of our solar system. Dolphins certainly are not far behind us in technology. I think to myself at least once a day, while looking in the mirror at my imperfect human skin: "How in the name of Poseidon’s Trident Gum do Dolphins keep their skin so youthful?" I'm not accusing Flipper of plastic surgery. I'm accusing Flipper of finding a way to use human flesh to make himself young again. I'm accusing a different famous Dolphin of bathing in the blood of small seals to stay forever young. I'm accusing yet a third famous Dolphin of killing my child for sport. If only I knew enough famous Dolphins to fill in the last paragraph, it would be a much more exciting read, and I could find my son's killer.
Dolphins have obviously created some sort of psychic device to implant in their body to communicate with the other members of their school (Members of a school all getting along? Not in MY America). I assume the Grey Coats acquired this technology from Atlantis, and are trying to keep it under-wraps until the moment to strike. But just think of the amount the 'Phins know about us. They can psychically extract anything they want from all the corpses down there. Let's think about how dangerous this is: Osama Bin Laden's brain is down there somewhere. Dolphins extract all the information they can from Americas greatest threat, and now they know how human politics can work and how governments can be exploited and how to set up C4. With the amount of accumulated knowledge from the bodies we all know are down there, the D-words will infiltrate our lives. A Dolphin will be elected to the Kremlin and then Human will eliminate Human in a nuclear war scenario.
Monday, August 15, 2011
The following takes place between 3 am, and 3-something am...
I am a man. As one of the unfairerer sex, I love things that go boom. As one of the paranoid delusional, I love things that teach me not to trust anyone. As an idiot, I love politics, but hate all the diplomacy that goes along with it. If only there was something to tie my manly loves of guns and hacksaws with my secret loves of betrayal and pushing the limit. Well that something exists, and it is possibly the most important two letter combo anyone will ever encounter: 24!
I began watching the television show 24 during the second season, which aired while I was in high school. I fell out of watching a lot of the series, as the story tended to get more unbelievable and crazy as it went on. Now I don't know when it happened, but at some point in recent years I vastly opened up my mind towards different things. I never would have enjoyed half the music or movies I do today, if this were the Chris McGonagle of '05. But after recent boredom searches through the Netflix Instant Queue, I have suddenly become reobsessed in the adrenaline filled monster known as Jack Bauer.
Now for those reading this who have never heard of this show, it was about a government agent who has to defend the good ole US from terrorist attacks. Every episode represents an hour in real time, and each season is one day of his life. I know what most people ask themselves at this point: "Wait, so how long could this go on? I mean... how many days could a person save America from terrorists?". The answer is 8, a government agent can save America 8 times... before people stop caring. But this isn't some gimmick, it would be ridiculous if terrorists attacked the USA 8 times and one government agent is solely responsible for stopping them.
In a non-gimmicky fashion, the terrorists attack 'Murica 8 times, and most of those times also target Jack Bauers loved ones specifically. Its bad enough the free worlds safety falls onto one mans shoulders. But when that one mans shoulders are also the shoulders of a man searching for his kidnapped daughter or dognapped dog, the pressure is almost too much to bear. As if there wasn't enough raw emotion in a man whose family is being torn apart due to terrorism, there is the added emotion of not having any idea where the story is going. Oh, so this episode you find out that the terrorists are attacking the President? Well don't get too excited, in 3 episodes you will find out that the terrorists were actually good guys trying to stop the attack, and that the president was a cardboard cutout the whole time.
The show is entirely about flying by the seat of your pants. The amount of crazy things that happen in one season make you rethink the way you are living your life. I will never forget the part in the second season where Jack executes a prisoner to find the bomb. Oh wait, maybe I will forget, because he has killed so many innocents in worse ways that it seems almost normal when he kills a bad guy, even in cold blood. "Jack, you can't interrogate someone in the Whitehouse!". Thats a line from the show. I know, I couldn't believe it when I heard it. But what do you know? An episode later Jack is beating the shit out of someone in the same house Clinton was putting his shit into someone(Not at the same time, unfortunately). The amount of times I've heard the main character say "I only take orders from the president" makes me almost wish I could say that. Isn't there a theory that if you say and think the same thing enough times, it will happen? Well, then I'm gonna keep repeating that until I don't have to take orders from anyone but Uncle Sam himself.
One of my least and most favorite elements of the show is the secondary characters. After 8 years on the air, the show has had some pretty cool secondary characters, and some cool actors. Freddie Prinze Jr., Jeneane Garofalo, Mary Lynn Rajskub all had pretty significant roles in certain seasons of the show. Now, I love alot of the cast, but with the writing of the show... Ill just say this. Each episode focuses on roughly 5 characters. And every season, without fail, one or more of the different characters stories is like watching terrorists watch paint dry. In the first season - or for that matter, in every season that she is present- Jacks daughter is that story line. Whether watching her sneak out of the house, or watching her babysitting issues, I can guarantee you one thing... you will be wondering why those F story lines are even allowed in this beautiful action filled beast.
By far the most awesome element of the show is how it makes me not ever trust anybody ever. The show intensified the amount of deceit as it progressed too. In the first season there are maybe 1 or 2 people who completely betray everyone they know and love to help the ter'sts. In the later seasons, I have seen plenty of high ranking government officials betray their country, as well as many other less powerful people. I know now what to look for in liars in real life. First off, it is always somebody who has the least reason to be a traitor. What's that, coworker/friend since 6th grade? Youre gonna cover me? Are you? Or are you really going to shoot me in the back and go back to your Russian family? Exactamundo. The second way to pick out a traitor is by the music that plays when you see them. I don't know about you, but exciting musical cues play in my head when i see others. The one that plays when I see someone that I do not trust is similar to the theme that plays for most double agents on 24. Doo doo doodoodoo dun dun. Exactly like that, note for note. If those two hints aren't the dead giveaway, maybe the constant leaving to make cell phone calls is? I know you've been taking those Rosetta Stone lessons, but 5 minute conversations in Japanese? Hmmm. As for my final warning, watch out for the smile. You'll know the one I'm talking about. They make it right when they get off the phone with your enemy. They shift their eyes around a lot, and they say things that can be interpreted several different ways, but that fucking smile is the thing that gives it away. You've been warned.
So what are the practical applications of all this? If I am ever in LA, I will immediately assume my life is in danger. I also refuse to become friendly with anyone who I believe I will end up getting killed. This is everyone, as one of the other things I've learned is that anyone I ask for help(or vice versa) will be dead within the day. Much like Justin Bieber, I have also learned Never Say Never... 3D. When you are being tortured, and die several times during the process, most would give up. But I know I need to unrealistically get off that table and kill everyone, no matter how many times they threaten to kill my fam.
3:27:58 (beep)
3:27:59 (beep)
3:28:00 (beep)
I began watching the television show 24 during the second season, which aired while I was in high school. I fell out of watching a lot of the series, as the story tended to get more unbelievable and crazy as it went on. Now I don't know when it happened, but at some point in recent years I vastly opened up my mind towards different things. I never would have enjoyed half the music or movies I do today, if this were the Chris McGonagle of '05. But after recent boredom searches through the Netflix Instant Queue, I have suddenly become reobsessed in the adrenaline filled monster known as Jack Bauer.
Now for those reading this who have never heard of this show, it was about a government agent who has to defend the good ole US from terrorist attacks. Every episode represents an hour in real time, and each season is one day of his life. I know what most people ask themselves at this point: "Wait, so how long could this go on? I mean... how many days could a person save America from terrorists?". The answer is 8, a government agent can save America 8 times... before people stop caring. But this isn't some gimmick, it would be ridiculous if terrorists attacked the USA 8 times and one government agent is solely responsible for stopping them.
In a non-gimmicky fashion, the terrorists attack 'Murica 8 times, and most of those times also target Jack Bauers loved ones specifically. Its bad enough the free worlds safety falls onto one mans shoulders. But when that one mans shoulders are also the shoulders of a man searching for his kidnapped daughter or dognapped dog, the pressure is almost too much to bear. As if there wasn't enough raw emotion in a man whose family is being torn apart due to terrorism, there is the added emotion of not having any idea where the story is going. Oh, so this episode you find out that the terrorists are attacking the President? Well don't get too excited, in 3 episodes you will find out that the terrorists were actually good guys trying to stop the attack, and that the president was a cardboard cutout the whole time.
The show is entirely about flying by the seat of your pants. The amount of crazy things that happen in one season make you rethink the way you are living your life. I will never forget the part in the second season where Jack executes a prisoner to find the bomb. Oh wait, maybe I will forget, because he has killed so many innocents in worse ways that it seems almost normal when he kills a bad guy, even in cold blood. "Jack, you can't interrogate someone in the Whitehouse!". Thats a line from the show. I know, I couldn't believe it when I heard it. But what do you know? An episode later Jack is beating the shit out of someone in the same house Clinton was putting his shit into someone(Not at the same time, unfortunately). The amount of times I've heard the main character say "I only take orders from the president" makes me almost wish I could say that. Isn't there a theory that if you say and think the same thing enough times, it will happen? Well, then I'm gonna keep repeating that until I don't have to take orders from anyone but Uncle Sam himself.
One of my least and most favorite elements of the show is the secondary characters. After 8 years on the air, the show has had some pretty cool secondary characters, and some cool actors. Freddie Prinze Jr., Jeneane Garofalo, Mary Lynn Rajskub all had pretty significant roles in certain seasons of the show. Now, I love alot of the cast, but with the writing of the show... Ill just say this. Each episode focuses on roughly 5 characters. And every season, without fail, one or more of the different characters stories is like watching terrorists watch paint dry. In the first season - or for that matter, in every season that she is present- Jacks daughter is that story line. Whether watching her sneak out of the house, or watching her babysitting issues, I can guarantee you one thing... you will be wondering why those F story lines are even allowed in this beautiful action filled beast.
By far the most awesome element of the show is how it makes me not ever trust anybody ever. The show intensified the amount of deceit as it progressed too. In the first season there are maybe 1 or 2 people who completely betray everyone they know and love to help the ter'sts. In the later seasons, I have seen plenty of high ranking government officials betray their country, as well as many other less powerful people. I know now what to look for in liars in real life. First off, it is always somebody who has the least reason to be a traitor. What's that, coworker/friend since 6th grade? Youre gonna cover me? Are you? Or are you really going to shoot me in the back and go back to your Russian family? Exactamundo. The second way to pick out a traitor is by the music that plays when you see them. I don't know about you, but exciting musical cues play in my head when i see others. The one that plays when I see someone that I do not trust is similar to the theme that plays for most double agents on 24. Doo doo doodoodoo dun dun. Exactly like that, note for note. If those two hints aren't the dead giveaway, maybe the constant leaving to make cell phone calls is? I know you've been taking those Rosetta Stone lessons, but 5 minute conversations in Japanese? Hmmm. As for my final warning, watch out for the smile. You'll know the one I'm talking about. They make it right when they get off the phone with your enemy. They shift their eyes around a lot, and they say things that can be interpreted several different ways, but that fucking smile is the thing that gives it away. You've been warned.
So what are the practical applications of all this? If I am ever in LA, I will immediately assume my life is in danger. I also refuse to become friendly with anyone who I believe I will end up getting killed. This is everyone, as one of the other things I've learned is that anyone I ask for help(or vice versa) will be dead within the day. Much like Justin Bieber, I have also learned Never Say Never... 3D. When you are being tortured, and die several times during the process, most would give up. But I know I need to unrealistically get off that table and kill everyone, no matter how many times they threaten to kill my fam.
3:27:58 (beep)
3:27:59 (beep)
3:28:00 (beep)
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Selling out to the Mad Man?
I want to open up my own ad agency. Well wait, maybe I should start a little before that. I, like most people in the Americas, love watching TV. Don't get me wrong, I don't sit in front of the TV all day watching cable, I don't even have cable. I watch shows on DVD(or sometimes online). There are a few that I have become obsessed with, such as Breaking Bad, Children's Hospital, and most recently, Mad Men. Now, I had watched a few episodes before but didn't fully get into it... but I just finished season one, and I am fully into it.
On top of making me want to start smoking cigarettes, it has done a few other things for me: mainly making me to want to have sex, wear a suit, and open up my own ad agency. I have decided to give up on my current goals of writing, so that I can be the next Donny Drapes(as we in the business like to call him). I have a few business savvy friends with sales experience, we just need to get the companies coming to us. So I am going to use this as a forum to show how good an ad person I am, and pitch some ideas to companies that I think could use some direction.
Verizon I hope can admit to themselves that all of their ads suck. They need a hot, powerful new spokesperson instead of that stupid "hear me now?" guy, who doesn't even say that anymore. He just creepily stares now, its really bad for business. I think someone who was well known a bit ago, but hasn't been in much lately could be the spokesperson. Perfect candidate: Ghost Billy Mays. Or maybe non-ghost Edward James Olmos. Someone who can get the point across, and makes you believe that Verizon is for them. Eddie Olmos did a great job making the cast of Battlestar Galactica think they were going to make it to Earth, and would do an equally awesome job making the cast of the world think they were going to get reception anywhere on Earth. And maybe a new catchphrase: Verizon, get your ve-rize-on?
Portal 2, the video game... you need to reach out more to what would be your target audience. People on some kind of drug. Whether it be intolerable amounts of Mountain Dew contained Caffeine, or intolerable amounts of Marijuana contained THC- Any ads need to have pictures of things that go well to the hazy minded percentage that will play the game. I'm thinking lots of colors, maybe shapes of food items subtly in the picture. Maybe have some mind-blowing line that will make people be like "I need this!". Something like "The Portal 2 your mind and soul". By this point, you would probably need security guards at any store selling the game. I'm sure many people in a drug induced rage(reefer madness or the caffeine crazies?) would trample others, and attack them so they can get to this portal into their mind and soul.
Dennis Quaid! That's right mother fucker, you can even be saved by my well thought out ad campaigns. I realize that you haven't been in a single good movie since 2000. But at points in your career, you were in some amazing films. We need to highlight this, and then get your old ass to get into a good movie. Perfect movies to bring up in your career: Films such as Traffic, The Parent Trap and Jaws 3. It shows how wide your acting spectrum can be. Now, you never ever want to mention things like Day After Tommorow, Pandorum, or Vantage Point. You need to do something good, one powerful movie. With all the superhero movies coming out, I think you'd be great as one of the bad guys in one of the new ones. Maybe Mr. Freeze in one of the new Batman movies that I'm sure will come after The Dark Knight Rises. This way, you can play on the fact that people hate you (generally) in movies, so they will have a reason for once. Stop being the good guy. Maybe we could release pictures of you dressed up as inevitable super-villains, so you'll already have a leg up. Sabertooth in Xmen: Second Class? I can see the exaggerated sideburns now.
I hope any potential clients will consider me to write out an ad campaign for them. I will take any client on as long as I don't hate you, therefore Portal 2 is the only eligible client from this article. I can smoke so many cigarettes with you, and I will wear a suit, and I will attempt to seduce you. Those are 3 things I can assure you. That should show you how dedicated I am, the classic Chris McGonagle promise.
Note- Blog name may change as I may or may not change my name for the ad business
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
First!!!!1!!1!
Welcome to my Chris McBlogagle
First things first, let me tell you a little about myself, and why I created this blog:
My name is Chris Mcgonagle, I am 24 years old, and I recently fell in love with the idea of performing comedy. This has, in a way, been a dream of mine since I watched Comedy Central Stand Up specials/shows all the time as a ~15 year old pothead. I never fully realized that it was an option to attempt this stuff, or maybe I was subconsciously avoiding it for fear of being ridiculed. Either way, 2011 for me has become the year of trying to do things I love.
Now I know what you are probably thinking: just because you love watching it doesn't mean you are going to be any good at it. Believe me, I know better than anybody that I can be painfully unfunny at times. But I am not completely inexperienced with writing comedy ideas, as many old film projects I was part of as a child can attest to. They were sometimes school projects, sometimes random projects with friends, but there was always a comedy element to all of them.
That all said, I am completely selfish in my goal of trying to get into the comedy field. I made a realization in the last year, while searching for a career that interested me, that one of the three things that makes me happy is making people laugh, followed closely by music and puppies. Unfortunately, all of these things I love are nearly impossible to make a living at. But (as I'm sure I may regret) I decided I would rather attempt to try something I love than make a guaranteed living. I am 100% doing this to get off on peoples laughter, both figuratively and literally.
Now, as to what I've been doing to try and take the "aspiring" away from comedian...
I recently started a podcast called Analysis Inconclusive with Mr. Martin Thresher and Mr. Paul Thresher. We have yet to release an episode, but we have a few fully recorded which just await us to get off our lazy ass-butts and edit. This podcast is almost a variety show of sorts, with some improv type games we play together, some conversational elements, and some written out segments which we work on. This podcast has been great for the writer side of me, as every few weeks we all need to write out some sketches. We meet every week, and we are each responsible for a pretty well-written-out sketch based on our episodes topic. Writing things that I have to show to the Threshers also adds a bit of challenge to it, as I am selfish and want to make them laugh, probably even more-so than the podcast listeners. I also write out a interview segment for each episode, based on the topic. Not anything serious, more like a set of things for us to talk about and answer, and have a little fun with. Since its all questions I have never asked them, the first episode was a bit clunky(more because of my questions than them, ill admit). But after recording only one more interview, and writing out another one we have yet to record, I noticed that I've gotten quite a bit better(Or maybe I should leave that up to the listener to decide...). Now if only I can work on my improv skills for the podcast, I would feel a lot better about myself.
I also have another podcast in the works, this one much further from completion. I am co-writing this with Dennis Bruno, and it is going to be an entirely scripted podcast. I don't want to get too far into details, but so far we've talked about a 5-15 min comedy narrative, telling an ongoing story. Kind of like an exciting TV show, but entirely audio, with way more dumb jokes, and not coming from your TV. This idea definitely has been testing my creative fluids(in fact, all my bodily fluids), as I've been working on joke-writing for this a ton lately. This is definitely good though, as I noticed I would always suffer from writers block working on sketch ideas. But since Mr. Bruno and I have set out the basics of the story, I always have something I can pop a few ideas out for.
The final thing I have been working on, though admittedly not as much as the podcast writing, is some Stand-Up material. So far I only have done one open mic, and it definitely taught me a good amount. Unfortunately, being as broke as your usual aspiring comedian, I haven't been able to go out as much as I have wanted to (Read: Ever! its been a month since that open mic). I had so much fun my first time, despite the crowd of seven people(other comics mostly) I had, and the complete lack of anything other than the mildest of chuckles. I definitely have been trying to work on a more punchline-y style for standup, as I don't feel my timing (or for that matter anything I wrote) was very good. From what I hear it takes Stand Ups a long time to develop their style on stage at first, and that makes me feel a lot better. Also, the fact that I heard crickets chirping for 5 minutes really put everything into perspective... I mean, what's the worst that can happen?
My first set I did jokes about a shitty car I was driving around in, and my lack of a sex life. I definitely want to stick to the truthful style of comedy, I feel like listening to WTF? with Marc Maron made me realize that. Not that he's one of my hero comics, in fact I haven't seen much standup of his. But I am definitely a fan of WTF? and feel like he's a close friend just from the amount I know about him. I don't actually believe he's a close friend, obviously, but I know more about him than some close friends. And usually in conversations I'm a little too truthful, so I figured that would transfer naturally. The problem is that I tend to write somewhat absurd sketches, but I want to make the stand up real, while still having my style of humor in it. Just need to be more determined I guess!
Now that I've typed your fucking face off, Ill tell you what I hope to accomplish with this blog. I feel like this might be useful to somebody to hear my thought process, learn from my mistakes I make as a beginning comedy writer/blogger/stand up comic/podcaster, and if I get lucky, learn from the things I do successfully. I may use this Blog as a place to put some quick funny things I come up, and I may use it as a motivational tool to set goals for myself.
This weeks goals:
Solid sketch for Analysis Inconclusive- Longer than last sketch, with more jokes
Meet with Dennis to work on our podcast project
Work on Standup routine- come up with 5 funny minutes(or rework the stuff I have), perform 5 minutes at open mic or 2(Free time permitting, I have another job you know!)
Write article/sketch/something funny unrelated to podcasts or standup (I've been looking at submitting comedy articles, but also just to have a few solid sketches or ideas written out incase I ever need them)
I will update this blog at some point and talk about what I did actually accomplish. Thanks for reading, hope this has been interesting and/or informative to someone.
Chris McGonagle
First things first, let me tell you a little about myself, and why I created this blog:
My name is Chris Mcgonagle, I am 24 years old, and I recently fell in love with the idea of performing comedy. This has, in a way, been a dream of mine since I watched Comedy Central Stand Up specials/shows all the time as a ~15 year old pothead. I never fully realized that it was an option to attempt this stuff, or maybe I was subconsciously avoiding it for fear of being ridiculed. Either way, 2011 for me has become the year of trying to do things I love.
Now I know what you are probably thinking: just because you love watching it doesn't mean you are going to be any good at it. Believe me, I know better than anybody that I can be painfully unfunny at times. But I am not completely inexperienced with writing comedy ideas, as many old film projects I was part of as a child can attest to. They were sometimes school projects, sometimes random projects with friends, but there was always a comedy element to all of them.
That all said, I am completely selfish in my goal of trying to get into the comedy field. I made a realization in the last year, while searching for a career that interested me, that one of the three things that makes me happy is making people laugh, followed closely by music and puppies. Unfortunately, all of these things I love are nearly impossible to make a living at. But (as I'm sure I may regret) I decided I would rather attempt to try something I love than make a guaranteed living. I am 100% doing this to get off on peoples laughter, both figuratively and literally.
Now, as to what I've been doing to try and take the "aspiring" away from comedian...
I recently started a podcast called Analysis Inconclusive with Mr. Martin Thresher and Mr. Paul Thresher. We have yet to release an episode, but we have a few fully recorded which just await us to get off our lazy ass-butts and edit. This podcast is almost a variety show of sorts, with some improv type games we play together, some conversational elements, and some written out segments which we work on. This podcast has been great for the writer side of me, as every few weeks we all need to write out some sketches. We meet every week, and we are each responsible for a pretty well-written-out sketch based on our episodes topic. Writing things that I have to show to the Threshers also adds a bit of challenge to it, as I am selfish and want to make them laugh, probably even more-so than the podcast listeners. I also write out a interview segment for each episode, based on the topic. Not anything serious, more like a set of things for us to talk about and answer, and have a little fun with. Since its all questions I have never asked them, the first episode was a bit clunky(more because of my questions than them, ill admit). But after recording only one more interview, and writing out another one we have yet to record, I noticed that I've gotten quite a bit better(Or maybe I should leave that up to the listener to decide...). Now if only I can work on my improv skills for the podcast, I would feel a lot better about myself.
I also have another podcast in the works, this one much further from completion. I am co-writing this with Dennis Bruno, and it is going to be an entirely scripted podcast. I don't want to get too far into details, but so far we've talked about a 5-15 min comedy narrative, telling an ongoing story. Kind of like an exciting TV show, but entirely audio, with way more dumb jokes, and not coming from your TV. This idea definitely has been testing my creative fluids(in fact, all my bodily fluids), as I've been working on joke-writing for this a ton lately. This is definitely good though, as I noticed I would always suffer from writers block working on sketch ideas. But since Mr. Bruno and I have set out the basics of the story, I always have something I can pop a few ideas out for.
The final thing I have been working on, though admittedly not as much as the podcast writing, is some Stand-Up material. So far I only have done one open mic, and it definitely taught me a good amount. Unfortunately, being as broke as your usual aspiring comedian, I haven't been able to go out as much as I have wanted to (Read: Ever! its been a month since that open mic). I had so much fun my first time, despite the crowd of seven people(other comics mostly) I had, and the complete lack of anything other than the mildest of chuckles. I definitely have been trying to work on a more punchline-y style for standup, as I don't feel my timing (or for that matter anything I wrote) was very good. From what I hear it takes Stand Ups a long time to develop their style on stage at first, and that makes me feel a lot better. Also, the fact that I heard crickets chirping for 5 minutes really put everything into perspective... I mean, what's the worst that can happen?
My first set I did jokes about a shitty car I was driving around in, and my lack of a sex life. I definitely want to stick to the truthful style of comedy, I feel like listening to WTF? with Marc Maron made me realize that. Not that he's one of my hero comics, in fact I haven't seen much standup of his. But I am definitely a fan of WTF? and feel like he's a close friend just from the amount I know about him. I don't actually believe he's a close friend, obviously, but I know more about him than some close friends. And usually in conversations I'm a little too truthful, so I figured that would transfer naturally. The problem is that I tend to write somewhat absurd sketches, but I want to make the stand up real, while still having my style of humor in it. Just need to be more determined I guess!
Now that I've typed your fucking face off, Ill tell you what I hope to accomplish with this blog. I feel like this might be useful to somebody to hear my thought process, learn from my mistakes I make as a beginning comedy writer/blogger/stand up comic/podcaster, and if I get lucky, learn from the things I do successfully. I may use this Blog as a place to put some quick funny things I come up, and I may use it as a motivational tool to set goals for myself.
This weeks goals:
Solid sketch for Analysis Inconclusive- Longer than last sketch, with more jokes
Meet with Dennis to work on our podcast project
Work on Standup routine- come up with 5 funny minutes(or rework the stuff I have), perform 5 minutes at open mic or 2(Free time permitting, I have another job you know!)
Write article/sketch/something funny unrelated to podcasts or standup (I've been looking at submitting comedy articles, but also just to have a few solid sketches or ideas written out incase I ever need them)
I will update this blog at some point and talk about what I did actually accomplish. Thanks for reading, hope this has been interesting and/or informative to someone.
Chris McGonagle
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