3 Things: Austin Kleon, Gary Gulman, and Rashida Jones

Hi friends,

If you're new to these emails, welcome! Every Saturday, I send out a short email with three great things. I've also got some of my upcoming shows featured below. If you know anyone who you think would enjoy this, feel free to spread the word! They can sign up and/or see the archive of past emails here.

SHOW UPDATE:  

WASHINGTON, DC: Tickets for the first Taste Test Comedy show in DC (free food samples + jokes about food) just went on sale and they're already almost sold out. As of right now, there are only 19 tickets left for September 16. If you're in town, get your tickets now! Details here

BOSTON: Just announced a one-night only show with me, spoken word poet Sarah Kay, and storyteller Elna Baker on Oct. 1. This will definitely sell out. Tickets available here. There will also be a You're the Expert taping on 9/27.

NYC: Lots of fun stuff coming up! I've got variety show / prize giveaway You Get A Spoon! next Sunday featuring Jo Firestone and Maris Kreizman. Details/tickets here. Then, Most Incredible 1-Hour Language School is back on Labor Day with a Greek language edition. Finally, You're the Expert is back in Brooklyn at the Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival. Tickets here.

Ok, on to this week's list!
 

1 Thing I Think Is Great:

Austin Kleon inspires me. He's a visual artist who approaches the world in a unique way, but he's also always thinking about creativity and process. He's incredibly generous with his thoughts. When I'm stuck, I often find myself going back to something that he's written. His latest piece is so straightforward, yet I find it incredibly hard to live by. It's easy to beat yourself up or get jealous instead of just doing the work. This is a great reminder: "If you want to be the noun, first do the verb." Austin Kleon: The noun and the verb

 

1 Thing That Made Me Laugh:

The Republican primary debate was the most-watched cable news event in history, with more than 24 million viewers. There's no denying it was great television and also somewhat terrifying. If you're in need of seeing Trump brought down a peg or two (and who doesn't need that?) Gary Gulman hits him where it hurts, by making fun of his fortune, in this hilarious comedy bit. I also nominate Gary for best use of math in a standup special.Gary Gulman - Donald Trump and Bill Gates
 

1 Interesting Thing:

Rashida Jones is clearly unafraid to take risks and use her fame to ask difficult questions. What does the sexualization of our society mean for relationships? How do you talk to kids about sexuality and intimacy when the average age a child sees porn for the first time is 11? Is it possible to be both empowered and coerced at the same time? This interview she gave to VICE is one of the more thought-provoking pieces I've seen in a long-time. (Note: There's some frank language in here, so it might be awkward to watch at work?). Rashida Jones on her new documentary "Hot Girls Wanted"

Ok, thanks for reading! More details on shows and my full schedule online atwww.chrisduffycomedy.com/calendar/

Have a great weekend,
Chris

3 Things: Jon Ronson, Jon Stewart, and Friday Night Lights

Hi friends,

If you're new to these emails, welcome! Every Saturday, I send out a short email with three great things. I've also got some of my upcoming shows featured below. If you know anyone who you think would enjoy this, feel free to spread the word! They can sign up and/or see the archive of past emails here.

SHOW UPDATE:  

BROOKLYN: The schedule for this year's Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival was just announced and I'm so excited to be a part of such a fun and insane event. Last year, Eugene hired a tax attorney dressed as a clown and you could get free financial advice before or after shows. Who knows what chores you'll be able to take care of this year?Tickets and details for my show (September 19) are online here

NYC: A short play I wrote is going to be performed as part of Cherry Picking 2015, a yearly festival of new works. I'm a huge fan of Cherry Picking and the shows sell out every year, so if you're interested, get tickets soon. My play is on the first night, Monday, August 31. Tickets here

BOSTON: Tickets just went on sale for our next You're the Expert taping at the Davis Square Theater. Saturday, September 27 at 5 p.m. Tickets here

VIRGINIA: I'll be at the Court Square Theater in Harrisonburg, VA on Thursday, September 17 for a free, open to the public show thanks to James Madison University. If you're in the area, email me and let me know! 

Ok, on to this week's list!
 

1 Thing I Think Is Great:

Jon Ronson is not only a fantastic writer, but someone who uses his skills to shine a spotlight on important issues. His latest piece for GQ is both hilarious and eye-opening about the struggles and discrimination that Muslim-American actors face in Hollywood. Right now, the only roles many of them can get are being shot by Chuck Norris. (For the record, that is my dream role.) So what can an actor do to get an actual part? And are they perpetuating ignorance if they accept yet another role as a unnamed terrorist? As always, Ronson leaves me with lots to think about. You May Know Me From Such Roles As Terrorist #4

 

1 Thing That Made Me Laugh:

Jon Stewart was all over cable news this week for allegedly holding secret nighttime meetings with Barack Obama in the White House. A sinister example of collusion between the government and the liberal media? A conspiracy to take down Fox News? Or worse, is the president considering hitting the standup circuit? I'll let Jon explain what was really going on, in this hilarious segment: When Barry Met Silly

(If you didn't know, this is Jon Stewart's final week on The Daily Show. It's the end of an era. Personally, I can't wait to see what he does next. We got a little hint this week when he made his first appearance back at a standup show in more than 10 years. Here's hoping there's more where that came from.)
 

1 Interesting Thing:

Friday Night Lights is my favorite television show of all time. Despite the fact that I've never lived in Texas. Despite the fact that I couldn't care less about football. Despite the fact that the second season was complete garbage (I blame the writer's strike). Buzz Bissinger's nonfiction book came out 25 years ago this week and has had a tremendous cultural and social impact.

One of the things that's so interesting to me about his book is that people think it's mostly about football, but it's really about racial and economic tensions in America. Bissinger just went back to Odessa to find out where the boys from his story are now and their tales are both fascinating and illuminating. It's been 25 years, but his book still resonates as strongly as ever. A Town, A Team, and A Dream


Ok, thanks for reading! More details on shows and my full schedule online atwww.chrisduffycomedy.com/calendar/

Have a great weekend,
Chris

3 Things: John Cage, Coffee Dates, and Joey Perr

Hi friends,

If you're new to these emails, welcome! Every Saturday, I send out a short email with three great things. I've also got some of my upcoming shows featured below. If you know anyone who you think would enjoy this, feel free to spread the word! They can sign up and/or see the archive of past emails here.

SHOW UPDATE:  

NYC: TOMORROW, Sunday (7/26) at 7:30 p.m. at the Magnet Theater, I'm hosting the first ever edition of my new show "MOST INCREDIBLE 1-HOUR LANGUAGE SCHOOL." This month's language is Korean and you'll learn how to heckle a comedian, sing a song, and yell at someone on the subway all in under an hour. Tickets and details here

YOU'RE THE EXPERT: We just finished our 6-week pilot run on WBUR. Thanks to everyone who wrote in or filled out the survey, the station said they got nothing but positive feedback! So we're recording a bunch of new episodes and we'll have another run in the Fall. THANK YOU!

Ok, on to this week's list!
 

1 Thing I Think Is Great:

John Cage is one of the most creative composers in musical history. But I'd never heard much from the man himself about his thoughts on work, music, or life. Mostly I'd just heard four minutes and thirty-three seconds of silence. Thankfully, I got the chance to share the stage with Riley Mulherkar last weekend and he shared Cage's "Some Rules for Students and Teachers" with me. These ten rules are the most useful I've ever read, for artists, teachers, students... anyone really. I wish I'd had them when I was teaching fifth grade. They're printed out and next to my desk now. John Cage: Some Rules for Students and Teachers
 

1 Thing That Made Me Laugh:

Hallie Cantor just got nominated for an Emmy for her work on Amy Schumer's TV show. She deserves all the awards and praise around because she is hilarious. As evidence, I submit her latest New Yorker article: Everything I Am Afraid Might Happen If I Ask New Acquaintances to Get Coffee 

(Full disclosure: Hallie and I have gotten coffee a few times before and now I will feel incredibly awkward asking her to do it again. It's probably lunch or nothing from here on out.)
 

1 Interesting Thing:

Joey Perr's dad was a Jewish gangster in Brighton Beach, NY. From robbing knish stores to run ins with Bugsy Siegel, he was one tough cookie. Joey's currently writing a graphic novel, Hands Up, Herbie!, about his childhood and his relationship with his father. It's incredibly vulnerable and fascinating and you can read all the installments on his website for free. Thanks to Ryan Dieringer for sending this my way. Here's one of my favorite chapters: My Grandfather's Seders


Ok, thanks for reading! More details on shows and my full schedule online atwww.chrisduffycomedy.com/calendar/

Have a great weekend,
Chris