Gather five of the most relevant comedians working today and ask what scares them most, and the answers vary. Complacency comes up. So does cancellation. “And sometimes people don’t hear comedy for comedy,” says Marc Maron. “They’re like, ‘Well, I don’t really believe that.’ And I’m like, ‘Good, because it’s a fucking joke, stupid.’ ” The comment scored big laughs, as did so much else during THR‘s Stand-Up Comedy Emmy Roundtable, which took place in early May at The Georgian Hotel in Santa Monica. Maron was joined by Nikki Glaser, Wanda Sykes, Leanne Morgan and Julio Torres, all of whom have released specials in the past year, for a wide-ranging, often raunchy conversation about comedy, politics, bombing and, yes, Glaser’s desire to be, as she puts it, “fuckable,” but “not actually fucked.”
What was the last experience you had where you thought, in that moment, “Well, at least this will make good comedy”?
NIKKI GLASER Marc? I feel like you mine your pain very frequently.
MARC MARON Well, I’ve been talking to myself more than usual. In the moment, I don’t think it’s very funny, but I’m starting to think maybe this is an avenue that I can explore. I don’t know if this sounds sad or not, but I have three cats and I’m not talking to them. Even when they’re like, “What’s going on?” I’m like, “No, I’m going to keep this to myself. It’s between me and me.”
