Podcasting. Blah blah blah blah…
Enjoy!
On May 23, 2006,
in Podcasts/Video, Uncategorized,
by Tina Dupuy
On May 22, 2006,
in Hey Look, I'm a Writer, Political Dribble,
by Tina Dupuy
There are a couple of things that I have come to rely on in this world. 1) The sun sets in the west. 2) No matter what kind of precautions I take or programs I run – I will STILL get spam emails for banks I don’t belong to and medical conditions I couldn’t possibly have. 3) When the GOP is down in the polls – illegal immigration is suddenly the outrage de jour.
Back in 1994 when California’s Governor, Pete Wilson, was bidding for re-election with sunken poll numbers, he used the same trick: illegals are stealing our jobs. He ran commercials depicting Mexicans scurrying across the border like cockroaches. He backed Prop 187, which denied social services, health care and education to undocumented peoples. It was so outrageous that it got over-turned instead of enforced – but it did get Pete Wilson re-elected with enough political capitol to deregulate California’s energy markets. That can be summed up in three words with one hyphenate “Rolling Black-outs”.
This is the ‘Three Card Monte’ of political strategy. While you’re looking for the ace someone is TAPPING YOUR PHONE.
Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free – just don’t bring them undocumented in an election year with low approval ratings.
This issue gets dander flying. “We have to secure our borders – it’s about national security.” Which is like waking up one morning in 1895 and telling everyone that you can find that we really need independence from England. In other words: Dude, where have you been?
There has been a war on terror raging all over the world and undocumented workers walking across the border for the past 5 years. Why now is this the MOST pressing issue facing our country?
Why is this perennial issue suddenly the most important threat to our country since The Bird Flu?
My guess is that it is because the Republicans in Congress and the Senate have approval ratings comparable to Jeff Skilling and Ken Lay. That and blaming single mothers is too out-dated. That’s just my guess.
Illegal immigration is like prostitution – it’s not going away and we’ll all ignore it until there is a mid-term election. Then it’s not just a political issue – it’s a moral issue.
On Monday, President Bush addressed the nation about immigration. Since this is the ‘social security’ type of over blown topic with ‘abortion’ vehemence behind it, the president has to take action. This is the thing I know about George W. Bush, he’s not a man for diplomacy and will have none of that ‘talking’. He’s a war president and The Decider, which means that when faced with a problem of national importance he’ll have no choice but to call in the troops. Every issue that has come up since he was sworn in –. Afghanistan, Iraq, New York, and New Orleans – call in the troops. I’m surprised that there wasn’t a National Guardsman in every school to make sure that no child got left behind. His plan to solve the border issue? Let the desperate House and Senate work out the details and exchange the militia for the actual military.
David Blaine WISHES he could pull off this sleight of hand. My phone company gleefully gave over my phone records to the government with no warrant, no checks and no balances. The War on Terror has had enough rhetoric to burn your nose hairs but the facts have been wrong a couple of times. A Fox News pundit is the official voice of the White House and I’m supposed to save my outrage for people that work even when they’re asked NOT TO?!?
Sorry. I can’t do it.
On May 22, 2006,
in General Announcements,
by Tina Dupuy
Heya All!
I have been getting hundreds of spam comments a day…almost a thousand every day. Until I figure out how to fix this, I’ve turned off the comments to actual people.
Cheers.
On May 1, 2006,
in FAQs, Uncategorized,
by Tina Dupuy
This is a series of questions sent to me by Neophyte Comedian Danny Reyna. I posted it here for all to enjoy.
DR: Are you constantly updating new material….& when do you feel u have a gem? How long will you work on that one bit?
TD: I am always reading something, watching something or experiencing something – which is where I get all my material from. So in that way I am ALWAYS working. I feel I have a gem when I feel it. I get happy when I have a new joke that’s funny and works. It validates my existence. So you could imagine how pathetic I am when I don’t have one…
And as far as how long…I couldn’t tell you. I have had jokes that I have tweaked years later. Is that a long time? Longer than most? I have no idea.
DR: Would u agree with the following…the right word can make an ordinary joke….brilliant?
TD: Well the wrong word can’t make a brilliant joke ordinary…
I guess it depends on the joke, at least in theory.
I am under the opinion that if a joke is not working – it’s not because there is a word hanging it up. It’s because the joke stinks. I’m all for tossing out jokes completely and starting over.
DR: When is it best to test out new material?
TD: In theory the best time is after the crowd has decided they like you and before your big closer. Unless it’s a venue for new stuff, then do it from the start.
I get all happy about my new material, so I usually do them up front, because it’s more fun for me. It’s your preference really.
DR: Money….how long did it take until u actually made money off this?
I’m supposed to be making money?!?
I got my first paying gig four months after I started. Doing it full time took a little longer. I make a solid four figures a year now. I won’t even tell you where the decimal points are in that…
DR: Would u agree that self-deprecating humor is the foundation of any comedian?
TD: I don’t think its self-deprecation as much as it is vulnerability. There is a difference. If you are up there being honest and open, that is more of a “foundation” than ripping on yourself.
Personally, self-deprecation looks a lot like self-hate on me. So I opt for vulnerability.
The foundation of all comedy is pain. There is no fine line between comedy and pain. Some could argue with me – but they’d be wrong.
DR: How many hours a week do u feel u write?
TD: Do I feel I write? I feel like I never write. I never feel like I have caught up. I feel like a slug.
The reality is that I write everyday, I am caught up and I am more of a tortoise than a slug.
DR: Do you cater to your audience…meaning…lets say you have a more african american audience…do you tailor your performance to the majority?
TD: Do I pander? Yes. Do I become someone else? No. Would I if the money was right? Absolutely.
DR: Would u say you have had more good performances than bad?
TD: Good? Bad? I’ve gotten laughs yes. Tons of them. And I’ve only gotten booed off stage once. Pretty good stats I’d say.
DR: What do u feel is untouchable? ex. cancer, 911 ect?
TD: George Carlin, Lenny Bruce and Richard Pryor made sure nothing is untouched.
I don’t think anything is untouchable as long as it’s funny. If I can’t make it funny (like cancer) then I don’t touch it (like herpes). You know?
DR: Is your material more story telling than joke telling?
TD: I think “joke telling” has gotten a bad rep recently. People look at joke telling like its something that is old fashion – right up there with Vaudeville and Nickelodeons. I think that a good story is awesome. A good joke is the greatest. And fusing the two…really fantastic.
DR: What if your having an awful day does that effect your performance…& let’s say your not feeling it one night…how do u salvage your performance?
TD: Uhm, hmm. Everyone has his or her story about being sick and working. I’m no different. I had a fever of 102 and did my time. I’ve had head colds. I quit smoking and was going through detoxing on stage. You just do it. People go to work having a bad day all the time. If you’re a pro comedian, you tell jokes even when you’re not feeling like it.
The cool thing about being a comic is that if you’re having a crappy day at the office – it only lasts about a half an hour and then you can go get drunk! Good times.