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I’ve known Myq Kaplan for just about ever, it seems. We met as I did so many of the comedians and people who I know in my life; in the comedy scene in downtown Manhattan. We might have even first crossed paths at my beloved Bowery Poetry Club. When I met Myq years ago, he was dating another comedian I also know and love, named Myka Fox. Myka attended my wedding, though not with Myq.
Myq’s comedy style is wordy, heady, silly, acrobatic, and wholly his. He studied linguistics in college, and can probably talk circles around you, if you ever gave him a reason to. But he’s so freaking nice, I can only imagine the exchange would be supportive and kind. He built his early comedy chops in Boston, and brought those chops south to win the hearts and minds of New Yorkers, which he did with ease. He placed fifth on Last Comic Standing, he was on America’s Got Talent, and he’s had the good fortune and talent to perform stand up on many late night talk shows. He writes a Substack as well called Arty Har-Hars, which you can read here. He’s one of those comedians who has done 50,000 various things, and it would be a silly waste of time for me to try to outline all of them. Just trust me, he is funny, and accomplished, and deservedly so. If you are reluctant to trust me, you can decide for yourself, but I bet you’ll agree with me.
We have crossed paths in so many ways at so many times. We’ve shared stages, podcast mics, stories, platforms, conversations, and many nights out on the comedy scene over the years. Myq is yet another comedian who I have known for years and years, and then one day, I realized, he has been in my circle for nearly two decades. We chat somewhat regularly, mostly thanks to the physical and emotional labor he does to keep in touch with me, and I’m grateful that he has been willing to carry that.
I love Myq’s answers to my questions. They are so thoughtful, funny, fun, insightful and kind. It’s a challenge to be both funny and kind for many, but Myq nails it, always, and on purpose. Enjoy this example of that.
1. You've done like a dozen late night comedy sets. Which was your favorite, and why?
Thank you for asking this generous question.
Truly, I have loved doing them all and it's very difficult to pick a favorite and so I'm sorry that I must say that they are ALL my favorites, and here are some of the reasons why:
The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien was the very first late night show I ever got to do. It's deeply meaningful to me to even be considered for such an opportunity. I am incredibly grateful for this specific one because I love Conan so much AND because it's a weird honor to be a part of that momentous sliver of comedy history. Also, Conan was so gracious and generous with his time as well, chatting with me and some friends with me after the show for quite some time, even though he could have just gone home. A great guy!
Also, I'm thrilled that they brought me back to do standup on "Conan" on TBS numerous times, where I got to be on the show with beloved heroes of mine, getting to meet folks like Weird Al and not getting to meet folks like Matt Leblanc (but getting to take a picture in front of a dressing room door with his name on it, which is close enough for me!).
The Late Show with David Letterman was the show that I tried to get on for the longest. I believe I first sent the booker a tape of my comedy in 2004 and he said my jokes were good but my stage presence needed some time to develop (how dare he tell me the truth!). I did a live audition for that same booker in 2008 and it went incredibly. Then I did another one and it went regular. Then I did the Tonight Show in 2009 and he told me I could have done a lot of those jokes on Letterman (and I was like, that's what I've been trying to tell YOU for years!). Finally, I performed on the Late Show for the first time in 2011. A seven-year journey that felt, in a business that doesn't always feel or seem like a meritocracy, earned. I was proud of, happy with, and grateful for it.
Totally Biased with Kamau Bell wasn't a late night network talk show like these others, but I love that I got to do a standup set on it before it went off the air way before its time. I did warmup for the show, and just getting to see what Kamau and everyone there created every day was a joy, so to get to be a part of the show on air was an even more joyful joy. Everyone who worked on that show was a powerhouse of comedy, creativity, and kindness, and it's one of my favorite show business jobs I ever had.
Also super kind, gracious, and delightful: Seth Meyers, James Corden, Craig Ferguson, and anyone else I forgot. I'll never forget what Craig Ferguson told me right before I went on stage to do standup on his show for the first time: "They're a great crowd; don't fuck it up."
2. Your comedy seems to really encompass a "wordplay" space. How much has poetry, or spoken word shaped your stand up?
This is a really good question, and when I say that, it usually means that I don't know the answer. I've been asked a lot of questions in interviews over the past 20+ years of doing standup, including many about wordplay, but never this one! Excited to find out what I think about this!
I remember writing poetry as a child, and reading books by Shel Silverstein and Jack Prelutsky and of course Dr. Seuss very early in life, and when I discovered E.E. Cummings, I fell in love immediately. Same when I first heard hip-hop, which is certainly spoken word-adjacent (just to demonstrate that I am answering the question you asked, thoroughly and eventually). One of the first cassette tapes I ever bought was Cypress Hill, and numerous rap albums followed forever. I'm sure that all of those wonderful poets planted seeds in my creative soil that have grown out of control in the years since.
Also, my parents were music teachers while I was growing up, and I started playing instruments when I was 4, so the language of music is one I've been learning for basically my whole life, along with the language of language. And maybe that has something to do with why my comedy comes out the way it does, because I think a lot about the rhythms and cadences of comedy and communication in general, in addition to its content. Why say something simply when you can get the same information across and say it funly? (<-- case in point, "funly"!)
3. You seem mostly happy, peaceful, and kind, which might not be described as the default mental state of most comedians. Is it true? Are you mostly happy, peaceful and kind? If so, how would you recommend other comedians follow suit, if they wanted to?
Thank you for asking this kind question. Looks like the kindness is coming from inside the house! Sincerely, my girlfriend (a major influence on me regarding happiness, peace, and kindness) shared with me once this idea: "we see the world not as it is, but as WE are." Meaning, for you to see kindness in me MUST mean that there is secretly (or not so secretly) kindness in YOU.
All that said, I certainly STRIVE to be those things. And I'll say that of the three (happy, peaceful, and kind), the one that I feel I have the most control over (if I have control over anything) is kindness. Because kindness is about what we DO. How can a person be happy or peaceful? Good question! How can a person be kind? A good, MORE ANSWERABLE question. We can listen. We can express our gratitude. We can tell people we love them. We can be present with them. We can engage with their art. We can Venmo them. We have many kindness options! And no guarantees, but I've found that taking actions like those often LEADS to greater happiness and peace.
Thich Nhat Hanh (a Buddhist powerhouse of wisdom and kindness) once said something like this that stuck with me (though not enough to remember it exactly, so I'm paraphrasing): grateful people are the happiest people, and that it's not that they are grateful because they're happy (though that, too, maybe), but that they are happy because they are grateful.
So, if folks want to be happier, feel free to think about whatever you're grateful for. I start most days with meditation, reading something peaceful, and free-writing, and the writing often arises as gratitude journaling. I think and write about the people I love and the people that love me. About the teachers I've had, the art I've experienced, the jokes I've laughed at, the creativity that exists. About my fingers that can do this typing and these eyes that can see the words appear on the screen. About the fact that there are words at all. That there are humans at all. That one time I saw a music performance in a dog-friendly bar and after every song, the dogs barked like they were applauding. Oh! That there are kittens. Have you ever seen a kitten?
So I guess my answer is (with apologies and/or gratitude to the Dalai Lama): remember that there are kittens whenever possible. It is always possible.
4. What was your experience like working with Gersh?
Great! I worked with them from 2009 til just a few months ago, and it was as beautiful a communion as a comedian can have with a booking agency. Sincerely, the two agents that I mainly worked with there, TJ and Joanna, are awesome people and I'm happy to know them. I love them and they love me and (more importantly for their job as my booking reps) they love and UNDERSTAND what I do. They have helped me have a career that I love, and I'm very grateful to them for all their support, which they of course offered out of the goodness of their heart (plus a commission that I'm sure they would have been fine without, but I insisted).
5. Where do you see your comedy career heading? If we had a time machine and could look ahead to 2034, do you think we'd see you still doing stand up?
I hope so! AND...
I remember during the lockdown phase of the pandemic, someone asked me a question like this, and it occurred to me that in February 2023, I couldn't have predicted what my career would look like in March 2023!
ALSO, it's been said that people who have wisdom don't make predictions and people who make predictions don't have wisdom, and with that said, HERE ARE MY PREDICTIONS:
I plan to do comedy for as long as I am able and want to. And I have been able and wanted to for the past 22ish years, so here's to another 22ish. Or let's go for 44ish this time! Sincerely, I'll keep writing jokes and telling stories and making music and collaborating with other artist friends and probably even doing some things I haven't imagined yet for as ever as possible. I plan to keep creating and aiming to get my art out there to everyone in the universe who could possibly enjoy it plus one guy who says he doesn't get it.
Thank you for asking all these wonderful questions. You're the best!
Daily musings:
Myq Kaplan stand up | Comedy Dynamics
Myq Kaplan does stand up II | Just For Laughs
Jess and Myq chit chat on his podcast | Hang Out With Me
14 Best Comedy Shows on Paramount+, do you agree? | EW.com
Your ad to 9k comedy lovers here; $10/day, $40/wk | jess delfino at gmail dot com
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Have a great weekend, you scrumptious morsel, you.