Set Up, Punch

• Lori Palminteri
• Uncategorized
• April 4, 2016

A few weeks back, I had the pleasure of opening for Louie CK, at Governor’s Comedy Club.  Having briefly been on his show, and doing spots at Comedy Cellar, I was happy enough that he even knew who I was.  Opening for people whom you admire is really fucking cool.

The first show, I was bit nervous, only because he wasn’t there yet, and I didn’t know how much time I was going to have to do.  So I told my jokes, until someone gave me a light, and then I wrapped up my set, said goodnight, and returned to the green room.  My buddy, Bryan McKenna, was hosting and he returned to the stage. Louie said hi, and he had someone with him, and he said, “this is my friend, Steven.”

I didn’t need an introduction.  I knew who he was.  It was Steven Wright.  Holy shit, I thought, I’m in the green room with Louie CK and Steven Wright!  And then I became immediately uncomfortable and pretended to do something on my phone.

The first show, I watched Louie work his new material, which was really great.  When he got off stage, I thought about saying, “great set,” but then I thought that would be a stupid thing to say to a comedy legend for some reason.  So, instead, I smiled, and did a head nod, and then I pretended to do something on my phone.  In-between shows, I sat there quietly and awkwardly amongst conversation of comedy icons. I couldn’t wait to tell my parents I was with Steven Wright.  He is one of their favorite comics, and they saw him several times, before they had kids, and were still able to do cool things.  I was listening to their conversation, and sometimes would look at them, but when they would look at me, I would  avert my eyes and return to pretending to do something on my phone.  I am so good at networking.  It really is a mystery why I’m not more successful.

The second show was about to start, and Steven Wright said, “I’m gonna watch you guys,” and he left the green room.  I wasn’t doing a lot of time, and I was both excited/nervous that Steven Wright was going to be watching me, so I did my favorite jokes.  Yes, Governor’s was sold out.  Yes, I had a great set.  Making 300 people laugh is fun, sure, but, at this moment, I just wanted to make one person laugh.

I got off stage, and sat back in the green room, and pretended to do something on my phone, while Louie was ready to go on.  See how exciting it is being a comic?  So much awkward eye contact avoiding.  The best.  Steven Wright came back to the green room, and I avoided eye contact, because I’m so good at being personable with people.  He told both Bryan and myself we had great sets, and we thanked him, and then Bryan had left the green room, leaving me and Steven Wright, so I pretended to do something on my phone.

It was cool enough, to have Steven Wright compliment my set.  But then, he started rattling off my punchlines, and saying, “that joke is so funny.”  “Oh, and this one, that’s a great joke.”  He recited, and complimented most of the jokes I did.  This. Was. The. Best.

Comedy comes with a lot of lows and highs.  A lot more lows than highs, by the way.  I’ve killed, I’ve done (one) TV spot, I’ve done big theaters… all great feelings.  But I’m a writer, and when a comic compliments a joke, that’s always my favorite.  Steven Wright, one of the greatest joke writers of all time, is sitting with me, admiring my jokes.  This is like pure China White into my veins.  My face was probably bright red, as I floated on a cloud.  Call me a narcissist, I don’t give a fuck, I could listen to Steven Wright telling me I’m a great writer all day.

Then, I loosened, and we talked about serial killers, and television shows, and stand-up.  It was really a lot of fun.  I stopped pretending to do things on my phone, and just had conversation, and made normal person eye contact.  He thought it was funny that I looked so wholesome, and yet had such an extensive knowledge on serial killers.  I was enjoying the shit out of it, the hole in my soul, temporarily filled with a glowing light.  This moment is in my top five favorite comedy moments, and is a highlight of my overall life.

Less than 48 hours later, I had an important audition showcase, where I did those same Steven Wright approved jokes, and bombed.

That’s comedy.