The Eugene Mirman thread?

[Meagan]

I ordered the same. Amazon tells me it shipped today!

[PunditFight]

Eugene, I first heard you on your friend, Sam Seder's old show. Watched your stuff on good old quicktime and loved it. Did some art for Sam Seder's site (which was never used) then he inexplicably offered me your CD for reimbursement. Then YouTube came around and the rest as they say is history.

Question: Do you think your completely random/"lame"/quirky/created-entirely-from-your-own-steam videos have lost some of their magic now that millions are doing the same thing on YouTube. Except without the slightest hint of irony or comedic intent.

[Cankerblossom]

I ordered my copy of The Will to Whatevs along with the Season 2 DVD of Tim and Eric. I anticipate that my package will explode from all the funniness that it contains.

Since Tim & Eric have been brought up I want to say that the fact Eugene and T&E haven't worked together is not acceptable. They need to do something together at some point (assuming the old top 20 beef has been forgiven.)

[Eugenem]

Would you recommend it to somebody starting out to gain experience? I've been writing for a couple years but I've only performed a few times. Some of my best friends are in fairly successful local bands, and I think it'd be a blast to open for them, and I'm not afraid to be eaten alive

Well, the main reason to not do it is to avoid being eaten alive and then having your confidence shattered and becoming a shut in. But if you don't think that will happen, sure, give it a try. The real limit is that comedy rarely kills with music. It can do pretty good, and get some exposure, but it's hard to get people to laugh a ton.

[Eugenem]

Question: Do you think your completely random/"lame"/quirky/created-entirely-from-your-own-steam videos have lost some of their magic now that millions are doing the same thing on YouTube. Except without the slightest hint of irony or comedic intent.

You be the judge:



I will always be the king of whatever it is that I am the king of. Maybe?

Oh my God. As I started writing this I got a call and did a really awkward radio interview with "Mobo" — a late night DJ in Spain — who is Irish and does a popular radio show there, I am told, by his people. Here is a link to his website: http://www.rem.fm/maurice.html.

It was the weirdest thing. He didn't know very much about me and would ask what I've done, but because he's in Spain he knew of none of the things I'd mention. Then someone called in and told me I wasn't funny. It was unclear if it was fake or not. It was kind of great. I tried recording it. If it worked I will post some of it. He did tell me a story about a roast beef sandwich, so that was good.

[Eugenem]

A few minutes of my radio interview in Spain with the Irish DJ:

http://eugenemirman.com/archives/category/blog

[tuggboat]

Awesome, thanks Eugene!

[klorjne]

Well, the main reason to not do it is to avoid being eaten alive and then having your confidence shattered and becoming a shut in. But if you don't think that will happen, sure, give it a try. The real limit is that comedy rarely kills with music. It can do pretty good, and get some exposure, but it's hard to get people to laugh a ton.

Alright, well in that case I'll probably at least try it once, but it's good to hear your thoughts on it


also I'm laughing like a little school girl at the fact that I just got advice from Eugene Mirman! I'm so lame

[PunditFight]

The Spanish DJ story is awesome. I like the idea that
a) A random DJ not interested in your comedy and doesn't know anything about you sought out your number to do an interview he's not enthusiastic about to an audience that don't really care
b) You're giving out your phone numbers to foreign DJs that don't care.

I should interview you about Mitt Romney and your new your new book for my blog with an audience of 15 people. Capital!

[Alex Mac]

Just letting you know that you are indeed, my favorite assassin on television at the moment. Now if only you could have a run in with Jack Bauer. I figure you could teach him a lesson.

[rotation]

here here! "ty nie pojdziesz siedziedz w firmie prosto tak" amazing!

[punchlinemagazine.com]

Eugene talks about his new book, Flight of the Conchords, the Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival and more! enjoy.

http://punchlinemagazine.com/site/20...eugene-mirman/

-dylan

[Eugenem]

Hello,

I am co-hosting a tour over the next few weeks with John Wesley Harding. We doing a variety show with different musicians, authors, and comedians in various cities. Here are the dates and some of the performers:

Wed, Mar 25 The Iron Horse, Northampton, MA
With guests: Larry Murphy (Home Movies, Assy McGee), Rick Moody (author of The Ice Storm), David Gates (Author, Pulitzer Prize finalist [yeah!]), PT Walkley (musician)

Thu, Mar 26 The Brattle Theater, Cambridge, MA
With guests: Larry Murphy (Home Movies, Assy McGee), Rick Moody (author of The Ice Storm), Tom Perrotta (author of Election), Tanya Donelly (Belly and Throwing Muses), PT Walkley (musician)

Wed, Apr 1 The Tractor Tavern, Seattle, WA
With guests: Jon Auer, John Ramberg, John Roderick, Thee Sgt Major, Sherman Alexie

Thu, Apr 2 Missisiippi Studios, Portland, OR
With guests: Lucy Wainright Roche, Monica Drake, Marc Acito

Sat, Apr 4 Largo, Los Angeles, CA
With guests: Ron Lynch, Jill Sobule, Al Stewart, Mike Viola, Matthew Spektor, Chris von Sneidern and awesome surprise comedians.

Sun, Apr 5 The Independent, San Francisco, CA
With guests: Daniel Handler, Chris von Sneidern, Stephen Elliot.

Sun, Apr 9 7th Street Entry, Minneapolis, MN

Fri, Apr 10 Shuba's, Chicago, IL
With guests: Dag Juhlin (Poi Dog Pondering), Mark Bazer (Humor columnist) and more!

Sat, Apr 11 High Noon Saloon, Madison, WI
With guests: The Zombeatles (?), and Mark Bazer (Humor columnist)

More guests will be added to some of the shows. Here's a link to a Brooklyn Vegan article where 1) there is gleeful picture of me where I look a bit like a rat and 2) they quote the Wall Street Journal referring to a bit Wes and I did together, "The audience roared in delight." I think we can all agree that the Wall Street Journal knows comedy when they see it.

http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archive...ley_har_2.html

And here's a little promo video we made:

[Kevin Wilson]

What was the process of getting a book deal? Was it a succession of meeting the right people, did someone approach you to build a book out of your advice column, or did you bring it to a publisher?

I'm excited for the Mississippi Studios show this Thursday. How have the other shows gone?

[darrylduffy]

Eugene Mirman's Guest List (favorites): http://pitchfork.com/features/guest-...eugene-mirman/

[Eugenem]

What was the process of getting a book deal? Was it a succession of meeting the right people, did someone approach you to build a book out of your advice column, or did you bring it to a publisher?

I'm excited for the Mississippi Studios show this Thursday. How have the other shows gone?

Nice to meet you yesterday Kevin. Don't forget to do standup consistently for 10 years and then you will be on television.

Anyway, to answer your question I drunk-texted "BOOK DEAL" to a bunch of random numbers and it worked out. I was very lucky and I know that.

Also, it wasn't quite meeting the right people, really, but happened naturally over several years. It was a slow process. I made a little homemade book out of my advice column that I sold at shows when I toured with Modest Mouse and some other tours after that. I then started doing an online column/ blog for the Village Voice (with the eventual hope that might lead to a book deal) and from that some literary agents approached me. I met with one and presented several book ideas, including the advice book, which I had a tiny example of from my touring. I then wrote a proposal over several months and then pitched it to places. At the time no one wanted to work with a Jew that had such an unconventional career, except Harper Perennial. The book became something very different from what I first imagined, but five years later everything came together.

-Eugene

[Eugenem]

Also, this:

After Lil Wayne dropped out from doing an interview, the Portland Mercury asked me the questions they wrote for him:
http://www.portlandmercury.com/portl...nt?oid=1302510

Before that, though, they asked me lots of questions about comedy:
http://endhits.portlandmercury.com/e...-eugene-mirman

Enjoy. Don't forget to come to one of these shows if it's in your city. You will enjoy it probably.

[Embiggen]

Great show last night -- here's hoping for more comedy and music tours like this in the future.

[Cameron]

Coolest commemorative plate ever.

[klorjne]

After Lil Wayne dropped out from doing an interview, the Portland Mercury asked me the questions they wrote for him:
http://www.portlandmercury.com/portl...nt?oid=1302510
.

Halfway through I forgot it was you! You could be a stunt Wayne if he ever stars in a movie, it's impossible to tell the difference