Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Comedians Tig Notaro, Hari Kondabolu, and Brody Stevens
Today on Press Play, we listen back to some of our favorite 2014 interviews with comedians.
By Madeleine Brand • • 54m ListenToday on Press Play, we listen back to some of our favorite 2014 interviews with comedians. Tig Notaro tells us about the worst year of her life and how it led to a professional whirlwind. Hari Kondabolu discusses the line between activism and humor. Brody Stevens talks about his issues with mental illness and how they affected his career. And we talk with a close friend of Andy Kaufman about the myths that still surround the late comedian.
Banner Image: Comedian Tig Notaro; Credit: Scott Beale / Laughing Squid
In this episode
4 storiesTig Notaro
“Good evening. Hello. I have cancer. How are you?” That’s how comedian Tig Notaro started her set at Largo on August 3, 2012. She’d had a rough year: pneumonia, the death of her mother, a breakup and, finally, a breast-cancer diagnosis.
Read the story13 minHari Kondabolu
For almost twenty years, New York University’s Asian-Pacific-American Institute has offered residencies to journalists, poets, photographers and painters and other artists. This year -- for the first time ever -- they invited a stand-up comedian: Hari Kondabolu.
Read the story12 minThe Truth About Andy Kaufman
A new book tries to unravel the mysteries surrounding Andy Kaufman. It’s written by Kaufman co-conspirator Bob Zmuda and Kaufman’s partner Lynne Margulies, and it’s called Andy Kaufman : The Truth, Finally.
Read the story14 minBrody Stevens
Brody Stevens is a comedian’s comedian who’s known for a routine that makes people very uncomfortable. So his friends - other well known comedians - didn’t realize at first that he was really going through a mental breakdown. He joined us to talk about the first season of his Comedy Central show and the mental issues he struggles with.
Read the story13 min
