…Let’sBe
Funny”
by joe keohane
illustrat ion by joel kimmel
TM:
It’s bigger than me. I know
for sure. I know that there are
things I cannever take for granted
again—the simple things.When
you go into a coma, you come out
of it, believe me, and you start
wondering,what’s your purpose? I
think about that regularly. Ihaven’t
quite figured out what it is, but I
know it’s about being human and
taking care of one another and
lovingoneanother.
H:
So tellmeabout the tour.Whatcan
people expect?
TM:
The same thing, like before.
Me beingme.The honesty. All
of them things. Ain’t nothing
changed. I’m just gonna get back
onmy feetandgetbackon stage.
H:
Are youdoing all newmaterial?
TM:
We’renotconcernedaboutthe
newmaterial.We’re gonna focus
on the funny.Whenyou’re funny, it
don’tmatterwhat you say, because
God ain’t giving youmaterial.He’s
givingyou funny.That’s thegift.
H:
But you aredoingnewmaterial.
TM:
Newmaterial isbeingdeveloped
every day I live. Every day! But
when I get up on stage it’s not
about material. It’s about finding
funny. Andwhatever I find funny,
is funny.
H:
Walkme throughhowyouprepare
for a tour like this.
TM:
Igotomyfamily,myfriends,the
man at the gas station, the barber-
shop,making people laugh.That’s
how I did it before.That’s how I’m
gonnado itagain.
H:
Have people—the guy at the gas
station,thecrowdat thebarbershop—
beenresponding?You’regetting laughs?
TM:
Ohman,I’m funnyeverydayall
day.Youknowwhy I’m funny every
dayallday?
H:
No?
TM:
Doyou?
H:
No,why?
TM:
Because the devil don’t takeno
timeoff.
H:
You’refunnytokeepthedevilatbay?
TM:
That’smyway.That’smyshield.
That’smygift.
H:
Youalways talkabout comedyas if
it’sasacred thing.Is thatmore true for
younow than itwas before?
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