Eddie Brill with Emerson College

Comedian
American Comedy Archives at Emerson College
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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

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About
About this interview

In his one-hour interview for the American Comedy Archives at Emerson College, Eddie Brill talks about his early years, and forming a comedy team with Denis Leary at Emerson College. He discusses teaching and learning comedy, as well as how comedians develop their voices. He describes his job as the audience warm-up guy and comedy talent booker for Late Show with David Letterman, as well as his working relationship with Letterman. Brill speaks of how he deals with the business end of show business, and what he gets out of being a comedian. Jenni Matz and Bill Dana conducted the interview on October 18, 2005 in New York, NY.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"Some good advice for comedians is that when you're on a television show, even if you're not doing so well, just act like you're doing well. Fake it till you make it!"

People Talking About ...
Eddie Brill
Highlights
Eddie Brill on forming a comedy team with Denis Leary at Emerson College
06:00
Eddie Brill on his early stand-up career, and on becoming the audience warm-up guy and talent booker for Late Show with David Letterman
05:28
Eddie Brill on his warm-up routine for Late Show with David Letterman
04:49
Eddie Brill on dealing with the business end of show business
01:57
Eddie Brill on the healing power of humor, and on what he's learned from being a comedian
06:10
Eddie Brill on auditioning, and on working with Aretha Franklin
09:13
Full Interview

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Chapter 1
On forming a comedy team with Denis Leary at Emerson College; on his early stand-up career, and on becoming the audience warm up guy for Late Show with David Letterman; on teaching and learning comedy
On developing a comedic voice; on comedians using blue material and on a Danny Thomas St. Jude benefit, and George Carlin; on learning from older comedians
On comedians being born or made; on dealing with the business end of show business; on the comedian's relationship to his audience
On auditioning, and on working with Aretha Franklin; on writing jokes, and on the power of laughter
On his warm-up routine for Late Show with David Letterman; on what he gets out of being a comedian; on the healing power of humor, and on what he's learned from being a comedian
Shows

Late Show with David Letterman

View Show Page
Eddie Brill on his early stand-up career, and on becoming the audience warm-up guy for Late Show with David Letterman
05:28
Eddie Brill on his warm-up routine for Late Show with David Letterman
04:49
Professions

Comedian

View Profession
Eddie Brill on learning comedy
03:34
Eddie Brill on developing a comedic voice
02:20
Eddie Brill on comedians using blue material
02:34
Eddie Brill on learning from older comedians
01:40
Eddie Brill on comedians being born or made
01:16
Eddie Brill on dealing with the business end of show business
01:57
Eddie Brill on the comedian's relationship to their audience
04:37
Eddie Brill on auditioning, and on working with Aretha Franklin
09:13
Eddie Brill on writing jokes, and on the power of laughter
03:12
Eddie Brill on what he gets out of being a comedian
01:37

Performers

View Profession
Eddie Brill on teaching and learning comedy
03:34
Eddie Brill on developing a comedic voice
02:20
Eddie Brill on comedians using blue material
02:34
Eddie Brill on learning from older comedians
01:40
Eddie Brill on comedians being born or made
01:16
Eddie Brill on dealing with the business end of show business
01:57
Eddie Brill on the comedian's relationship to their audience
04:37
Eddie Brill on auditioning, and on working with Aretha Franklin
09:13
Eddie Brill on writing jokes, and on the power of laughter
03:12
Eddie Brill on what he gets out of being a comedian
01:37
Genres

Late Night

View Genre
Eddie Brill on his early stand-up career, and on becoming the audience warm-up guy for Late Show with David Letterman
05:28
Eddie Brill on his warm-up routine for Late Show with David Letterman
04:49
People

Sid Caesar

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Eddie Brill on partaking in a tribute to Sid Caesar, and on Norm Crosby and Jack Carter
02:42

George Carlin

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Eddie Brill on a Danny Thomas St. Jude benefit, and on George Carlin
02:29

Aretha Franklin

View Person Page
Eddie Brill on auditioning, and on working with Aretha Franklin
09:13

David Letterman

View Person Page
Eddie Brill on his early stand-up career, and on becoming the audience warm-up guy for Late Show with David Letterman
05:28
Eddie Brill on his warm-up routine for Late Show with David Letterman
04:49

Danny Thomas

View Person Page
Eddie Brill on a Danny Thomas St. Jude benefit, and on George Carlin
02:29

All Interviews

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