Are interviews with comics who don't try to be funny in the interview entertaining?

[Fugitive]

Are interviews with comics who don't try to be funny in the interview entertaining? I'm thinking more about the everyday interviews than the more in-depth "Unmasked," but I'm wondering what others think.

My opinion is "no." There have been some comic interviews that focus on road warrior laments and cheap philosophizing, and they didn't entertain me.

[LeedsJr]

Are interviews with comics who don't try to be funny in the interview entertaining?

No.

I'm thinking more about the everyday interviews than the more in-depth "Unmasked,"

Unmast is also not entertaining.

but I'm wondering what others think.

I think Ron is an awful interviewer.

[realmenhatelife]

I personally dont get why someone would come in promoting comedy, not like Bert today who has a show, but actual stand up comedy, and have a mostly serious conversation with Ron.


Unmast depends on the guest. I think if they said 'we'll only do this show when we have a guest worthy of it' they'd be doing 4 a year. But you cant have a quarterly show, so you get a lot of people who are promoting and not motivated to have a heavy conversation.

[TimTimSalabim]

Other than those who I find naturally funny like ESD, or exceptionally witty like Norton, for the most part I don't find comics that interesting to listen to in a conversation/interview setting.

[Fugitive]

No.





I think Ron is an awful interviewer.

Seriously? Do you listen to the show?

[Dirtbag]

Louis CK

[LeedsJr]

Seriously? Do you listen to the show?


Seriously.

Not any more. When I did, I couldn't turn it off fast enough when Ron started an interview.

[sailor]

Louis CK

Burr is funnier being serious, because his serious ideas are sheer lunacy.

[jennysmurf]

I like when the comics come in, and just bullsh*t with Ron and Pepper and Shelby. It's even better when two comics are there at the same time, because it's less likely to devolve into an interview. I love listening to a bunch of comedians just sitting around chatting--I hate when they try to be serious.

[fezident]

I like when comedians come in and shoot the shit.
Sometimes, I love it.

When Louie Anderson came in and hung out with Jay Mohr and the boys, it was one of my favorite breaks in the history of the show. I'm not even a fan of Louie's. I kinda thought I hated him, in fact. But after that segment... I'm secretly hoping that he eventually replaces Fez when the time is right.
Big Jay and Metzger... also great. Great energy. Killer banter.

The interviews with Tony Hale were surprisingly entertaining and insightful.
Same goes for Paul Feig.
And on and on.


Comedians are pros. They know how to talk. They know how long one second of dead air is... and they won't allow it.


Personally... I think the show could a lot more interviews with no-name comics, and a lot less Janice and Hard Rock Johnny and Gbaby and all those other semi-regulars who suck oxygen & airtime and have no points of view.

[jennysmurf]

I like when comedians come in and shoot the shit.
Sometimes, I love it.

When Louie Anderson came in and hung out with Jay Mohr and the boys, it was one of my favorite breaks in the history of the show. I'm not even a fan of Louie's. I kinda thought I hated him, in fact. But after that segment... I'm secretly hoping that he eventually replaces Fez when the time is right.
Big Jay and Metzger... also great. Great energy. Killer banter.

The interviews with Tony Hale were surprisingly entertaining and insightful.
Same goes for Paul Feig.
And on and on.


Comedians are pros. They know how to talk. They know how long one second of dead air is... and they won't allow it.


Personally... I think the show could a lot more interviews with no-name comics, and a lot less Janice and Hard Rock Johnny and Gbaby and all those other semi-regulars who suck oxygen & airtime and have no points of view.

I agree. I think having new comics on would be great. Ron could be this generation's Carson Show if he'd allow it.

[realmenhatelife]

I think the quality of Ron's interviewing is really complex. In a bubble he isn't as good as people say, in context he's much better than the vast majority of people. I think if you listen to him long enough too you're going to hear where his weaknesses come out, especially in interviews he hasn't had time to prepare for or isn't as interested in.

As people that listen to the show all the time we're going to hear a lot more of the interviews, but then you get casual listeners who will be blown away by Ron's skills. Ron is funny first, it's what he's best at. But there is a lot of weight behind him doing interviews because it's better for the company, better for the celebrity, and more impressive to a casual listener. It creates friction between the comedy listener and the interview listener.

[fezident]

I'm at a point now where I really can't stand to listen to anybody else do an interview except for Ron.
Howard Stern (often praised for his "ability to elicit shockingly honest answers from celebs!") is among the worst. He's the anti-Ron. Howard supplies his own answers to questions the he, himself, asks. He tells THEM what their own answers are (or should be)... and it drives me insane.
Oprah Winfrey (credited as being one of the greatest interviewers of all time) is also the anti-Ron. If you had a dollar for every time Oprah simply said "....and how did that make you feel?", you'd have more money than Oprah.

Adam Carolla? Don't get me started.
Chris Hardwick? Unprofessional. (but he's at least very energetic)

Ron's interviews have more substance.
Hence... I love when Ron interviews a comedian/celeb that I don't care about. They are reacting to him just as I would. It's a dynamic that I haven't seen anywhere else.

[spoon]

Other than those who I find naturally funny like ESD, or exceptionally witty like Norton, for the most part I don't find comics that interesting to listen to in a conversation/interview setting.

esd a comic…HA!

congrats, you just made me laugh more than he ever did

[realmenhatelife]

I'm at a point now where I really can't stand to listen to anybody else do an interview except for Ron.
Howard Stern (often praised for his "ability to elicit shockingly honest answers from celebs!") is among the worst. He's the anti-Ron. Howard supplies his own answers to questions the he, himself, asks. He tells THEM what their own answers are (or should be)... and it drives me insane.
Oprah Winfrey (credited as being one of the greatest interviewers of all time) is also the anti-Ron. If you had a dollar for every time Oprah simply said "....and how did that make you feel?", you'd have more money than Oprah.

Adam Carolla? Don't get me started.
Chris Hardwick? Unprofessional. (but he's at least very energetic)

Ron's interviews have more substance.
Hence... I love when Ron interviews a comedian/celeb that I don't care about. They are reacting to him just as I would. It's a dynamic that I haven't seen anywhere else.


The thing I started noticing about stern that drove me up a wall back when I stopped listening to him years ago was what you're saying about him giving his own answers. He's talking to himself and just getting people to verify what he says, or he'll repeat a joke he just heard instead of laughing and then everyone else laughs at him saying it for the second time.


But I think Jim Norton has come a long way in his interviewing. It seems like something he wanted to work on, and I think he's much better at it than he used to be. Just to be positive.

[deliciousV]

The thing I started noticing about stern that drove me up a wall back when I stopped listening to him years ago was what you're saying about him giving his own answers. He's talking to himself and just getting people to verify what he says, or he'll repeat a joke he just heard instead of laughing and then everyone else laughs at him saying it for the second time.


But I think Jim Norton has come a long way in his interviewing. It seems like something he wanted to work on, and I think he's much better at it than he used to be. Just to be positive.

Now, if he'd just seriously interview anybody who isn't a part of Sabbath, well, that'd be something, wouldn't it?

[keithy_19]

I remember the Colin Quinn show, Tough Crowd, and thought it was brilliant. It's more along the lines of what Jenny was saying about having a group of people bullshitting about current events. I think the closest thing to it is Red Eye.

[spoon]

only if the quinn show was filled with unfunny, self entitled assholes

[keithy_19]

only if the quinn show was filled with unfunny, self entitled assholes

Such as?

[cougarjake13]

I remember the Colin Quinn show, Tough Crowd, and thought it was brilliant. It's more along the lines of what Jenny was saying about having a group of people bullshitting about current events. I think the closest thing to it is Red Eye.



The movie?

[underdog]

Such as?

Red Eye.

[keithy_19]

Red Eye.

What about it?

[keithy_19]

The movie?

Wasn't that the name of the show he had?

[sailor]

Wasn't that the name of the show he had?

Quinn?