Interview · moment 14 of 16
Adjusting Material for Different Rooms, and Owen Benjamin's Career Pivot
from An Exotic Beast · #131
Audio-only archive episode — no video to seek.
3 minGuest
They discuss how comedians tailor material to different audiences, agree there's a healthy natural antagonism between comedians and critics, and then Tim ribs Zinoman about a supposed love of far-right pivoted comedian Owen Benjamin.
- 49:34Tim explains that as a theater critic, he had to teach himself to appreciate all types of performance, not just the ones he naturally liked as a kid.
- 50:17The challenge of covering comedy for The New York Times is appreciating everything from ethnic humor to alt Brooklyn comedy while writing for a general, typically liberal audience.
- 50:58Tim adjusts his material for about 80% of rooms he performs in, mentioning he's straight about his marriage.
- 51:14There should be natural antagonism between comedians and critics because they both love the same thing but approach it from different angles.
- 51:40Tim rejects the idea of a unified comedy community, arguing there's inherent antagonism between comedians and critics that's actually healthy.
- 52:14Owen Benjamin's career pivot: he was a piano guy who went super right-wing, moved to a yard chopping wood, talks about flat earth, and is now making significant money.
- 52:38Tim notes that Owen Benjamin's new direction is proving to be a better career move financially.
Owen BenjaminNew York TimesBeacon, New YorkBroadway musicalsDeath of a Salesman