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No Fear
Comedian Jeff Garlin returns to the spotlight with 92nd
Street Y chat, covering “Curb,” new projects, personal integrity and
character
By
Michael Shashoua / Jester editor-in-chief
In advance of two new high-profile projects, Jeff Garlin showed
again why he may be the biggest mensch in comedy today in an
appearance at the 92nd Street Y on July 15. Garlin was
hosted by a seemingly unlikely interviewer – liberal firebrand
documentary filmmaker Michael Moore.
Moore and Garlin have known each other for a long time apparently,
although their paths haven’t crossed on any media projects. Their
rapport made for a comfortable pairing at the event. The one
drawback was that when the pair opened the proceedings up to the
audience for questions. These tended to veer erratically between
“Curb Your Enthusiasm” inquiries and political remarks, including
the recent acquittal of George Zimmerman in the case of the death of
Trayvon Martin.
Once Garlin got done making fun of Moore’s appearance in shorts and
sneakers in an opening salvo, Moore did bring some interesting
insights out of him. Garlin brought a clip from his new movie
“Dealin' With Idiots,” which he wrote, directed and acted in, with
an ensemble cast including J.B. Smoove, Bob Odenkirk, Steve Agee,
Fred Willard, Kerri Kenney and Nia Vardalos. Garlin also will be
leading the cast of his other big project, an ABC TV series, “The
Goldbergs,” set to debut this fall.
Although there’s nothing definite from Larry David about another
“Curb” season, Garlin said, he only agreed to take part in “The
Goldbergs” on the condition that it would accommodate shooting more
“Curb” episodes if and when that happens.
This gave the event a bit of entertainment news value, but the real
focus of the dialogue was the life lessons and insights Garlin
shared. These covered today’s flood of media – Garlin emphasized
that watching movies on a smartphone is not a good experience – as
well as politics and comedy. Garlin said he doesn’t bring politics
into his stand-up, because he can only be angry about it and can’t
be funny about political topics. When asked about the new comeback
campaigns being waged by Eliot Spitzer and Anthony Weiner, Garlin
first dismissed the question by saying he doesn’t live in New York
and therefore didn’t care either way – but then did get passionate
about the need for greater integrity from political figures.
Although Garlin’s views on issues, expressed on stage as certain
topics came up, probably were more in line with Democrats or
liberals, he said that when he’s performed for political parties’
functions, the Republicans have been better audience – being looser,
more receptive and laughing more. Democrats, in Garlin’s
observation, tend to get uptight about what’s alright to laugh at.
Most importantly, near the end of the 90-minute program, Garlin gave
his biggest insight about the arts and entertainment business. Asked
by an audience member why he dropped out of college to pursue
stand-up comedy, Garlin said if you’re trying to make it in the arts
and you give yourself something to fall back on, you inevitably will
fall back on that. He had to give himself no choice but to
persevere. Garlin added that this doesn’t mean you’re not scared,
but you push through that fear.
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Feedback? Email shashouamedia@gmail.com or michael.shashoua@jesterjournal.com
© 2005-2018 Michael Shashoua