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Mr. Show
With Bob Odenkirk
Comedian
Thursday, Sept. 19, 2002; 2 p.m. ET
On Friday Bob Odenkirk and David Cross will bring their unique form of sketch comedy to Washington, D.C. in "Mr. Show Live: Hooray for America" where they will perform both new sketches and old classics from their HBO series.
Bob Odenkirk will be online Thursday, Sept. 19 at 2 p.m. ET, to discuss Mr. Show, their stage tour and comedy in general.
Submit your questions and comments before or during today's discussion.
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over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.
Bob Odenkirk: Please come to the show. It is mostly new material. We are having a blast. I am really proud of it and so is David. WE are particularly proud that we are doing a lot of enw materal -- not jsut a greatest hits thing.
Pasadena, Calif.:
Can you comment on the power that comedians have to truly comment on the current political situation, much more so than "political commentators" who just seem to be filled with so much hot air? Do you consciously feel that you are representing a political viewpoint in your routines?
Bob Odenkirk: First of all we are not as topical as say SNL is. We don't comment on what is happening today. WE comment in what is happening in general. I like the fact that Mr. Show is set in time. Our new show is placed in time as well. We have a lot of freedom to comment on politics in our own silly way.
I think we do have a political viewpoint. I think it is somewhere between good old American liberal values and total anarchy. I believe I am good old American heart and soul liberal and David is completely ridiculous Anarchists. We have plenty of common ground.
Washington, D.C.:
In 1988, while masquerading as a lowly SNL writer on strike, you staged "The Happy Happy Good Show" with fellow writers Conan O'Brien and Robert Smigel. The only review I have read (from the Chicago Tribune) wasn't glowing. Looking back do you agree that the show was lackluster? What are your memories from that show?
Bob Odenkirk: The show was slapdash and it did not hang together and it was a lot of fun. I am going to blame the situation on the brief amount of time on the show and the weather. That was the hottest summer ever in Chicago. O'Brien slept in a room that was 100 degrees at night. It makes your brain boil. We were fighting the heat. But we had a good time doing the show. We took some scenes that hadn't made it on the show and it was fun.
Washington, D.C.:
Any idea when the other seasons are coming out on DVD?
Bob Odenkirk: I was told that season 3 will come out in April.
Washington, D.C.:
We have tickets to the 10:30 on Friday. Please, please, please tell me Senator Tankerbell will be involved in some capacity.
Bob Odenkirk: If we can we will get Senator Tankerbell to show up. He is now the oldest Senator. He is 104. He owes his longevity to cigars and a daily nip of Kyentocky Bourbon.
Also evil keeps him going.
Harrisonburg, Va.:
I read an interview with David Cross where he mentioned that you had rules for writing sketch comedy. What are they?
Bob Odenkirk: Only write if you are funny. That is number one.
I don't have rules, I have a lot of floating parameters in my head. I have written a lot of comedy scenes so I have a lot of ideas. Maybe they are clarified in my head.
Bellingham, Wash.:
As a celebrity, are you aware that the public views you all as a homogenous class of people? I get the feeling that people like you feel like you're on a different plane than people like Tom Cruise. To me and the rest of the little people, you're all famous, and that's what counts. Does that cheer you up?
Bob Odenkirk: I think that is a strange thing to say and I think implicit in the attitude in that question is the truth that you don't' think that way. If you did you wouldn't even observe that there is some aspect of my work that implies that I don't consider myself in my class.
Arlington, Va.:
Why is it that sketch comedy movies without a linear narrative (i.e. "And Now For Something Completely Different," "Kentucky Fried Movie") are no longer made? Would any studio even consider it now?
Bob Odenkirk: Yes they would consider it, but just barely. David and I are gong to write a sketch movie, we are going to sell it and make it. People don't put a lot of time into writing them and they seem to have very limited appeal.
Arlington, Va.:
How does one break into sketch comedy writing? Any advice?
Bob Odenkirk: First of all you should always be putting your scenes up. You have to perform them. That is really important. Sketch comedy has to get laughs. It can't just grow quietly in the background.
The other word of advice is to work with people better than you which is hard. A lot of people don't want to be challenged. You have to work with people who you admire and will help you get better. I have written a lot of sketches before I went to SNL, but when I went there - those guys taught me a lot. Just watching them taught me so much.
Arlington, Va.:
Two questions? What is your approach to sketch writing do you go into a room and write with David Cross? Or is it done and ready to go and you share it with David?
Second question when is Run Ronnie Run going to be released?
Bob Odenkirk: First question - all different ways. Sometimes I will write a sketch and show it to David. Sometimes we will have an idea and pass it back and forth. It comes from every angle. I can't really state any single manner.
Second question - the answer is hopefully never in its current form. David and I were kicked out of the editing room by the director. The movie that was made is just barely okay - not something we are proud of. If we were able to recut it we would want to see it released, otherwise no.
Alexandria, Va.:
Is improvisation a part of your process and do you resent performers who pass off prepared routines as improvised?
Bob Odenkirk: I think it is cheap and corny to do that. As far as improv for us, when you write you improvise - that is what writing is - but we don't play improv games despite David's constant requests.
Silver Spring, Md.:
Do you think that with a name like yours you were just destined for comedy?
Okay, real question - Tell us about the book your wife wrote. Rumor has it that it will be at the show. How much and will I have to stop by the cash machine before the show or will you take credit cards?
Bob Odenkirk: My name might seem funny top some, but than to others it might seem downright traditional and kinda sturdy.
As far was the book it isn't just about Mr. Show it is about the whole comedy scene it came out of. It is awesome. It is a viewers guide to the show, a look at the show, pictures galore, and some new comedy books. It is 200 pages long. And the publisher doesn't have them yet. I apologize. We will have them for the AnnArbour show a week from Washington. We are sorry, but you can fill out a request while you are there
We will have some other great merchandise though so yes, go to a cash machine.
Alexandria, Va.:
Has marriage and fatherhood made you less "edgy" comedy-wise? Do you ever shy away from material now that you wouldn't have in your younger, more free-wheelin' days?
Bob Odenkirk: Well, being a dad does change the way you feel about things. I think Maynard Keenan from Tool told me "look, it really shakes you up." When you see things on the news about people kidnapping kids you have no idea how it affects you. It does change how you write about things. There are certain things I would have a hard time writing about now. There are certain things you could laugh about before that gets you too deeply. I kinda think that I look at the world differently now.
Reston, Va.:
How many letters did you get for that sketch where the kid has two mentally challenged parents? by the way, my shoes hurt.
Bob Odenkirk: We don't know. We ere never given any angry letters. I think some of that stuff is overrated. I don't think that many people write in. Also if you are watching HBO at 1 a.m. on Thursday you are either incredibly lazy and wouldn't write a letter to your mother or you are okay with it. But I can see how someone would think it was a mean shot at the disadvantaged -- but you have to admit it was funny.
Washington, D.C.:
What are some of your favorite bands?
Bob Odenkirk: The Liquor Giants, The Walkmen, Oasis (both on and off stage), White Stripes and Spoon.
New York, N.Y.:
Bob, I think you are hot as tar. Just wanted you to know that some of us prefer unconventional, non-Tom Cruise-looking boys.
Bob Odenkirk: Weird. All right.
Falls Church, Va.:
Can you describe your environment right now? Are you incognito on the subway, wearing a long trenchcoat and sunglasses and typing on a laptop with a wireless connection? Are you on a massage table on your hotel as one masseus beats your back and the other one beats the keys? Is someone typing for you? Are you typing yourself?
Bob Odenkirk: First of all I type for myself and I use the one finger poke and peck method. I am in a car with John and Stephanie and am in the car on our way to the airport to start the tour.
Delray, Va.:
How did the San Diego show go? Why did you decide to do that one almost a week before you hit the road?
Bob Odenkirk: Gave us time to do edits in the scripts and the video after showing it to one audience. And I thought it went incredibly well. I think we have a great live show to give people. I think we handled it really well - although there were some major technical glitches.
During one scene there were sound effects of gunshots going off throughout. We have to get our computers working.
Somewhere, USA:
Can you list your favorite sketch comedy groups in order of succession to the throne?
Bob Odenkirk: Monty Python
The Credibility Gap
Bob Odenkirk: Bob and Ray are in there too.
Columbia, Md.:
Bob - Thanks for being so gracious when I got the chance to meet you at the Grove in L.A. back in May -- that made for a great story when I returned to Maryland and many more Mr. Show fans. I overheard you talking about the project you were shooting at the Grove that day but I didn't catch the title or any release details. Are you ready to share these details?
Looking forward to Friday,
Rick
Bob Odenkirk: I directed a feature length movie of Hi-Def cideo called Melvin Goes to Dinner. We are going to submit it to Sundance in three weeks. We will see.
New York, N.Y.:
Did you see Garry Shandling's appearance on Charlie Rose a few years back? Does one have to be that weird to be that funny?
Bob Odenkirk: I didn't see it, but your comment intrigues me. Gary is one of the people I respect the most in this business. Mostly for his perfectionism.
Silver Spring, Md.:
Curb Your Enthusiasm is my favorite show these days, and I really enjoyed the episode in which you appeared. Is it a fun show to work on? How much of your scenes were scripted and how much were improvised?
Bob Odenkirk: It is all improvised based on Larry David's directive. He will tell you a few things about your character and what needs to happen and you are free to improvise. It was the most fun I have every had performing on TV. It is my favorite show too. Sopranos too.
Portland, Ore.:
Hooray! More "Mr. Show!" Are you going to Portland or Seattle, by any chance? If you hadn't planned to, would you be willing to change your plans?
Bob Odenkirk: I am pretty sure we are going to Seattle. Check the website bobanddavid.com to see the tour schedule.
Arlington, Va.:
How can we make prime-time comedy in America funny?
Bob Odenkirk: It is going to be really hard, but I am working on it.
Bob Odenkirk: We will be in Portland on the 10th.
Bob Odenkirk: Thank you for your questions. We are sorry Run Ronnie Run is such a dissapointment for everyone, including ourselves. But Horary for America is a blast and we will be doing a lot more stuff.
One last note -- we are going to keep our informal interactions with fans to a minimum because we have such a heavy tour schedule and we don't want to lose our voices ( I already am loosing mine). So we apologize if we come of as rude.
-Bob
washingtonpost.com:
That wraps up today's show. Thanks to everyone who joined the
discussion.
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