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The Tobolowsky Files Ep. 37 - Chasing the Laugh

Series: The Tobolowsky Files
From: David Chen
Length: 00:50:31

Stephen explores the dangers of playing comedy and recalls stories of those who did it well - and some who didn't. Read the full description.

Tobolowskyart_small Stephen explores the dangers of playing comedy and recalls stories of those who did it well - and some who didn't.

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Piece Description

Timing and Cues

00:00:00 - “When You’re Smiling” by Billie Holiday
00:00:23 – Intro by David Chen, introduces Stephen by referencing his role as Littlefield in the television movie “The Valley of Light”
00:02:53 – Stephen references the television series “Californication”
00:03:21 – Story 1 in-cue: “One of the things that was taking a long time…”
00:03:30 – Stephen mentions, “…and during the fight scene, people would vomit.”
00:03:48 – Stephen mentions, “…the serious discussions of, what type of vomit was funnier, is it funnier to have projectile vomit, do we want chunks or do we want spray…”
00:04:39 – Stephen references the television series “The Late Show with David Letterman”
00:05:38 – Stephen references the television series “America’s Funniest Home Videos”
00:05:56 – Stephen references the film “Wild Hogs”
00:06:25 – Stephen mentions, “…but it reminds me of having my teeth cleaned on peyote.”
00:06:41 – Stephen mentions, “…they had beer…”
00:07:09 – Stephen mentions, “…I ordered a beer…”
00:09:14 – Stephen mentions, “The waiter came with another beer…”
00:15:49 – Stephen references the television series “Hee Haw” and the film “Jurassic Park”
00:16:46 – Story 1 out-cue: “A laugh is a cruel mistress. She always wants you but she’s never faithful.” Music fades up, “Rancho Grande” by Mariachi Azteca
00:17:16 – Story 2 in-cue, music fades down: “It seems like a contradiction at first…”
00:18:26 – Stephen mentions, “…or George Burns smoking a cigar.”
00:18:59 – Stephen references the television series “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson”
00:21:36 – Stephen references the television series “Glee”
00:22:59 – Stephen mentions, “…it could be an axe murderer and there could be bodies buried under the floorboards.”
00:26:48 – Stephen references the film “Calendar Girl”
00:27:21 – Stephen mentions, “…so I came up with a scheme to cover our asses…”
00:27:48 – Stephen references the television series “Seinfeld”
00:37:51 – Story 2 out-cue: “…as we headed in to another adventure under the watchful eyes of happy spirits from the past.” Music fades up, “When You’re Smiling” by Billie Holiday
00:38:23 – Outro with David Chen: “That was ‘Chasing the Laugh’…”
00:38:51 – Stephen muses more on comedy
00:44:33 – Stephen mentions, “Along the way I picked up a bread knife for the purpose of, I guess, slicing off part of the robber.”
00:49:46 – Music fades up, “When You’re Smiling” by Billie Holiday
00:50:30 – End.

Musical Works

Title Artist Album Label Year Length
Rancho Grande Mariachi Azteca Mexico. ARC Music Productions Ltd. 2004 02:36
When You're Smiling Billie Holiday The Complete Billie Holiday. X5 Music Group 2009 02:55