Myq Kaplan

Written by: Si Hawkins
Published: Friday 22nd February 2019

So many formats, so little time: it must be quite a commitment being a completist comedy fan these days. Take Myq Kaplan's output. First up he's American, so has done a bunch of proper comedy albums, which UK comics aren't so big on (which is a shame).

Then there's his live special - which is like a live album, but you can watch it - Small, Dork and Handsome. And the regular blogs, and his new podcast, Broccoli and Ice Cream, and a bunch of his routines are on YouTube with accompanying cartoons, whatever that's called.

And then there are his guest spots on good old-fashioned telly. Kaplan is one of US comedy's finest wordsmiths, and his TV stand-up CV features umpteen appearances on some mighty chat shows - David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, James Corden - which even we've heard of. And that's handy, as Kaplan is in London next week for five dates at the Soho Theatre.

Anyway, enough from us: let's hear from the Kaplan himself.

"I'm a comedian from New York City," he says. "I've been on lots of TV shows. I've done comedy for a long time. This show, All Killing Aside, is the culmination of 16 years of being a comedian. It's about truth, love, and not murdering. I brought it to Edinburgh last year, and it's my favourite hour of comedy that I've made. People have liked it, and I like them. Come like and be liked! Thanks for asking these questions, and reading these answers."

You are very much welcome, Myq. Now let's head to Cambridge... but not that one.

First gig?

My first time performing at a comedy club, I was an aspiring singer-songwriter. I wasn't trying to be a comedian, but I had some funny songs so I was just looking for anywhere to perform my music. I found a comedy club, The Comedy Studio in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and they let me perform my songs.

The person who went on right before me was Jonathan Katz, who I knew from Comedy Central's Dr Katz, Professional Therapist, a TV show. A famous person was going on right before me. He ended his set with a song. So, right before I went on to do a comedy song for the first time, a professional famous comedy person did a comedy song.

It was intimidating, and I talked about that. I told the people it was my first time and it was very unfair for someone so famous and so polished to go right before me and do what I was going to do better than I was going to do it. The audience was very nice. So I kept doing it.

Favourite show, ever?

My first thought is that there are too many wonderful gigs to choose from. But if I have to pick one, I'll say it was June 27, 2016, at the Knitting Factory in Brooklyn, New York. It was a show called Schtick or Treat, where comedians dress up as other comedians and do material inspired by that persona. I was performing as Mitch Hedberg, one of my favourites.

After the show, I talked with a woman who would become my girlfriend for the next 2.5 years. We live together and I love her and I'm sorry this answer isn't about comedy anymore but if I hadn't done that show, maybe my life wouldn't be what it is, and I like what it is, so THIS IS THE ANSWER THAT YOU GET. THAT WAS MY FAVOURITE GIG. YOU MUST ACCEPT IT. THANK YOU.

Worst gig?

All the gigs before that one. Or, if I have to pick one, I'll say this one time I was opening for KC and the Sunshine Band, and their fans didn't want there to be an opening act. They were yelling things like "Get down tonight!" which either was a request for a song, or an order for me to get off the stage.

I was hired to do 25-30 minutes, so I offered the audience a deal, that if they stopped yelling, I'd only do 25 minutes, but if they KEPT yelling, I'd do the full 30. They did not accept my deal. In hindsight, if I was told that I would get paid $400 to get yelled at for a half hour and also meet KC and the Sunshine Band, I'd say that's a pretty good deal.

The weirdest live experience?

One time I was asked to write jokes in a joke-writing competition with a robot. I think I won.

Who's the most disagreeable person you've come across in the business?

There's a thing people say about life, which is that we don't see the world as it is, but rather as we are. For example, if you see something negative in someone, there must be something in yourself that is related to that negative thing.

So, if I were to bring up someone that I thought was very disagreeable, by the very nature of disagreement, I would also be a disagreeable person, because I would be disagreeing with their disagreement.

So it's possible that what I'm saying is, I disagree with the very premise of your question, which might mean that to you right now, perhaps I am the most disagreeable person in the business. I wouldn't agree with that, though.

Is there one routine/gag you loved, that audiences inexplicably didn't?

No. There are thousands.

What's your best insider travel tip, for gigging comics?

If you can get to a city the day before a gig, that can be relaxing. THIS IS A SERIOUS ANSWER. MANY OF MY ANSWERS ARE JOKES, BUT NOT THIS ONE. SERIOUS ANSWER HERE, COMING THROUGH!

The most memorable review, heckle or post-gig reaction?

My favourite one-star review said something like "these jokes MIGHT be good, I don't know. He talked too fast. I'm dumb." Which I liked a lot because it was more a review of himself, than of me.

How do you feel about where your career is at, right now?

Good, thanks. And you?

For all Myq's stuff visit myqkaplan.com