Enter any search term in the text box, and click the results below to play the clip. For help visit Search Tips.
On reminiscing about their years about Emerson; on his early years in Burlington, MA ; on his childhood and making his friends laugh; on whether or not you can teach someone to be funny; on his nerves when he first started doing stand-up; on the challenges of starting out in stand-up comedy; on the Boston comedy scene compared to other cities; on his first time performing -- at The Comedy Connection: on classes and writing he did at Emerson 22:05
Interview: Steven Wright with Emerson College
On his first stand-up performance (contd.) and on other comics he observed when he was first starting out; on the first joke he ever performed and on unknowingly learning techniques by listening to comedy performances on the radio; on every comedian being a teacher and a student at the same time; on starting to tell jokes with longer setups, on pauses in delivery, and on waiting out a laugh 19:45
Interview: Steven Wright with Emerson College
On a comedian's relationship with the audience; on his love of words when he was young; on his advice to anyone with a goal - take the risk; on creative people attending Emerson University, and there being a dividing line in his life from before he lived in Boston and attended Emerson to after; on looking back at their time at Emerson; on Monty Python and on big events in 1969 19:24
Interview: Steven Wright with Emerson College
On his comedy career really taking off at the Ding Ho comedy club; on his contemporaries who performed at the Ding Ho comedy club: on additional Boston-area clubs where he performed when he started out; on first watching The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson with his older brother (who loved Johnny Carson), and then wanting to become a comedian 12:53
Interview: Steven Wright with Emerson College
On the four things he would't talk about in his act and his rules for performing -- and when/why he would break his own rules; on whether or not he's enjoying himself on stage; on how his first time on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson came about; on his first, second, and additional performances on the show 33:42
Interview: Steven Wright with Emerson College
On how he creates his material; on his first comedy album, "I Have a Pony," on his first HBO special, and on being nominated for a Grammy; on making a half-hour film, The Appointments of Dennis Jennings, and winning an Oscar for the film; on creating the film One Soldier; on his thoughts on social media and the internet; on whether or not he'd like to do a Netflix comedy special 17:45
Interview: Steven Wright with Emerson College
On making creative decisions; on testing out material in theaters; on his film work -- Reservoir Dogs, Coffee and Cigarettes and Desperately Seeking Susan; on his guest appearances on Mad About You and The Larry Sanders Show; on advice to aspiring comedians and whether it was all worth it 09:31
Interview: Steven Wright with Emerson College
Steven Wright on wanting to be a comedian because of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson 00:24
Interview: Steven Wright with Emerson College | Genre: Late Night
Steven Wright on first watching The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson with his older brother, who loved Johnny Carson, and then wanting to become a comedian 02:19
Interview: Steven Wright with Emerson College | Genre: Late Night
Steven Wright on how his first time on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson came about 05:52
Interview: Steven Wright with Emerson College | Genre: Late Night
Steven Wright on his first time performing on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and getting asked to come talk to Carson after his set 08:24
Interview: Steven Wright with Emerson College | Genre: Late Night
Steven Wright on his second time performing on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson -- less than a week after his first performance 02:03
Interview: Steven Wright with Emerson College | Genre: Late Night
Steven Wright on his performance on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson that was interrupted (his fourth or fifth performance on the show) 03:03
Interview: Steven Wright with Emerson College | Genre: Late Night
Steven Wright on his guest role on Mad About You 00:19
Interview: Steven Wright with Emerson College | Genre: Comedy Series
Steven Wright on his guest role on The Larry Sanders Show 00:19
Interview: Steven Wright with Emerson College | Genre: Comedy Series
Steven Wright on working with a George Carlin piece in an Emerson class 01:49
Interview: Steven Wright with Emerson College | Person: George Carlin
Steven Wright on seeing Robert Klein perform 00:53
Interview: Steven Wright with Emerson College | Person: Robert Klein
Steven Wright on learning techniques by listening to comedy performances on the radio -- including those by Woody Allen 01:07
Interview: Steven Wright with Emerson College | Person: Woody Allen
Steven Wright on being influenced by the comics he saw on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson 00:28
Interview: Steven Wright with Emerson College | Person: George Carlin
Steven Wright on how his first time on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson came about 05:52
Interview: Steven Wright with Emerson College | Person: Peter Lassally