Tre’vell Anderson of the Los Angeles Times is doing double duty with his interviews: two articles in the same day feature his interview with Tiffany Haddish (7/20/2017). I’ll use the more fleshed out interview here, to call attention both to the traditional comic intention, and to Haddish’s alternative intention.
Comic Intent
In a story about her comedy camp experience, Haddish remembers being heckled by Richard Pryor.
Then he said that people don’t come to comedy shows because they want to hear about your problems or politics or religion or what’s going on in the world. They come to comedy shows to have fun. So when you’re on stage, you need to be having fun. I took that philosophy with me and I do that in everything that I do.
The idea that people come to comedy shows exclusively to have fun is pretty typical and traditional. A lot of comics who label themselves “entertainment” comics or other variations, use that as an excuse not to talk about “issues” on stage (whether their own, or social issues).
However, what Pryor is saying – or at least, how Haddish took it – is that, rather than avoiding your problems or politics or religion, the trick is for the comic to have fun with these topics.
Haddish’s Intent
Haddish has a message in her comedy; she is trying to teach. Asked about industry pressures, she diverts to this:
The only thing I think of when I’m doing my job of being funny or working on these shows is, “How can I deliver my message in a way that will stick with people?” Every teacher that I’ve ever had, that I still remember their name, made me laugh. I feel like comedy is the best instrument to teach.
My special is coming out in August and to me it is a calling card, but also a learning tool. To me, when I do what I do, I’m just wondering, what am I teaching right now? What is the message right now? And how can it inspire?
People since before Socrates knew that humor made things memorable, that it helps teach. However, few comics take that approach – few even try – because they’re more focused on getting the laughs than making a statement. Haddish, however, says that’s what she does.
Summary
Laughs are what the audiences are there for, and bigger audiences create more money for the clubs, which gets comics more gigs, higher pay, etc. So it’s no surprise their focus is there. It’s tricky and dangerous to do both, so I applaud those that do. It’ll be interesting to watch her special in August, and see how she goes about it.
Questions? Comments? Thoughts? Additions?
