In this newest spotlight for our June/July Edition of JC Interviews, our publication hopes to delight our readers with a special return of the enormous talents of musician and funnyman Paul Maged. When we interviewed Paul the last time, we focused on his music. Little did we know at the time he was also an accomplished comedian. In this special spotlight with our publication, Paul Maged shares some of his funniest and rewarding moments of his career as well as a personal tale of who exactly is Paul Maged in the comedian’s witty way.
Isaac: It is a pleasure to feature you once again on our online pages. We focused on your music the last time we interviewed you, but this time around we wanted to focus on your comedy. I hope 2011 is going well for you so far.
Paul: Isaac, thanks for having me again. My nipples are hard, I’m so excited. Actually, just the left one is hard, the right one is kind of sore. 2011 has been an interesting year thus far. I was very concerned about a Government shutdown. If they had shut down, who was going to count the drug money? Then there was that whole Rapture thing. I got a haircut, lost 10 pounds and got botox on my buttocks to smooth out the crack, all because I wanted to look good for the end of the world and then it didn't happen. What a shocker that a fanatical Christian was wrong. Anyway, thank Buddha we're all still here.
Isaac: That is too funny. How are you doing today?
Paul: I'm partly sunny but that could change in a cocaine heartbeat. Unfortunately, I suffer from PMS, otherwise known as Paul Maged Syndrome.
Isaac: LOL. What type of comedy are you currently performing?
Paul: I'm doing a lot of sketch comedy right now. I started a show on my YouTube channel (cue shameless plug) called The Maged Men Comedy 5 which can be seen at www.youtube.com/themagedman. I wanted to improvise and play different characters. It's something I hadn't done in a while and I missed it. I wanted to do something where I could just have fun, say and do whatever I want without censorship and You tube's a great vehicle for that, until they catch me, fine me, arrest me and kill my unborn.
Isaac: Paul, what drew your interests into wanting to do stand-up comedy and comedy writing?
Comedian Paul Maged (at his funniest)
Paul: When I was young I watched a ton of comedy on TV like Jackie Gleason from the Honeymooners, Lou Costello and John Ritter from Three's Company. I used to try and imitate them even in school. It was my way to fit in with the other kids. Then I started writing a weekly comedy sitcom when I was like 10 years old that my Dad and I used to record into a tape recorder. I did this for like 3 years. It was literally a full 20 something page script with many characters and my Dad and I used to play all the characters and we had a blast. Everything since then has been downhill.
Isaac: When did you start doing stand-up comedy?
Paul: I moved to NYC from Boston and went to acting school. There I met another guy who was into comedy. We became friends and decided to form a comedy team and do some stand-up. I wrote a bunch of material and at the age of 18 we were doing stand-up at many clubs in the city. We started at the bottom doing open mic nights at like 1 or 2 in the morning with only the owner and a couple other comics watching. And if you know comics, they don't laugh at any other comics. Comics hate other comics so you were just standing up there doing your material and getting no response. But it was a great way to learn and work the material.
Isaac: That's amazing. And you worked your way up from there?
Paul: Yes, but not really up. It was more like a 45 degree perpendicular angle. But we started doing more and more shows and kept writing and got to the point where we had about an hours worth of material. We won some comedy nights and began to get opportunities at some of the bigger clubs where you don't have to bring your own paying customers to fill the place (bringer shows). We performed at The Comic Strip, Dangerfield's, Catch a Rising Star and a ton of great places in the village. We did regular gigs at Stand-Up NY on the upper west side. Stand-up is an insane high, perhaps the greatest natural high next to toenail clipping.
Isaac: Where do you do most of your testing for your comedy material?
Paul: In my head. If I don't think it's funny or if I’m unsure, it won't see the light of day. Comedy is subjective, even if I find something hilarious, you may think it's lame so most of the time you just have to trust your own instincts and go for it.
Isaac: Who were you biggest influences and/or inspirations in the world of
comedy?
Paul: Well the guys I mentioned above. I love physical comedy so Jackie Gleason and John Ritter were favorites of mine. From a stand-up perspective, Richard Pryor is hands down my favorite stand-up ever. His comedy was brutally honest and much of it came from personal pain. Robin Williams is one of the best as well, not his movies, but his stand-up is great, especially back in the day.
Isaac: What type of reactions have you received about your materials from
fans?
Album Cover
Paul: Most of it I can't repeat because it’s in German.
Isaac: We would like to know what makes you laugh, what makes you hopeful, what makes you sad and what makes you angry?
Paul: A lot of things make me laugh. Silly comedy done well makes me laugh like The Three Stooges. Life's absurdities make me laugh. Hope, the only hope I know is Hope Fuller from East 64th street. She was very flexible. Sad, thinking about my parent’s deaths and all the war, hate and tragedy in the world. Angry? A guy walking down the street when it's drizzling outside holding an umbrella that can cover an elephant. He's obviously covering for lack of size elsewhere. I have serious Umbrella Rage.
Isaac: How do you draw all of these different emotions and place them in your comedy?
Paul: Anger is the easiest for me. If I'm angry about something it usually makes for good comedy. I can go on a rant. You have to use what works best for you. Sadness works well for a song but not for comedy. Nobody wants to see a crying comedian.
Isaac: In your opinion, what do you see for your career in comedy so far as your biggest achievement?
Paul: I'm proud of the fact that I've done a lot myself. I started at an early age and learned through experience. I learned how to write comedy by doing it and film and perform comedy by doing it and edit comedy by doing it. We use to laugh at these “Comedy Classes”. Hey, Shecky Jerkson is hosting a comedy class from 9-10 in his basement and in 1 hour can teach YOU how to be funny! Only for $99!” You cannot teach comedy or teach someone how to be funny. You cannot teach timing and delivery. You just have to go out and do it. Making it famous would be a bonus but unfortunately that's like winning the lottery. So you do it to satisfy your passion and soul and that's what I've always done.
Isaac: Let me ask you this question. What do you feel it takes for one to brave himself/herself to stand in front of strangers and make them like you and your material and make them laugh within a few seconds?
Paul: It has to be someone with a twisted personality and serious psychological issues. And 10 pound cajones (for males & she-males only).
Isaac: Which topics do you find are the most controversial?
Paul: Politics and religion are always the most controversial. I love talking about religion because everyone gets so sensitive about it. I'm not religious at all but I'm extremely spiritual. In fact, the spirits come to me for advice.
Paul's ESPN commercial.
Isaac: Do you keep a book/journal that you use to jot down your ideas and lines for your routines?
Paul: Yes, depending on where I am. It could be on my computer or paper or post-its. You never want to forget a good idea and I've lost many because I've been on transit somewhere without anywhere to lay down the thought. Now with cell phones, ipads, itouch, androids, ifeel, isex and all that stuff it's much easier to lay down your thoughts and even get a shiatsu massage from your phone.
Isaac: When are we going to see you with a show of your own on TV?
Paul: When I'm given the opportunity to sleep with someone in a powerful position.
Isaac: What can you tell us about any of your current or future projects?
Paul: Ironically, most of my projects right now are not comedy related. I'm working hot and heavy on my 2nd album of rock music which I'm pumped about. I'm also editing a documentary about a trip I took to the Philippines which I hope to submit to film festivals. I recently completed a funny ESPN commercial which is up on my YouTube page. I am a Boston Red Sox fan and the cruel irony is that I had to wear a Yankee hat and shirt for it. I'm contemplating burning them in a beautiful candlelight ceremony with Sweet Caroline playing in the background.
Isaac: The floor is yours...final thoughts…
Paul: I guess if I could only say one thing, it is to follow your passion, heart and soul. Do what you love to do and don't let anyone tell you that you can't. If money and fame/notoriety come from it, great, but it’s really just the process of doing, the exploration, that keeps you going, fulfilled and striving for more. Thank you, Isaac for being so kind as to entertain my rambling nonsense and be well my friend.
Junior's Cave Online Magazine/JC Internet Radio Staff Team,
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