Transcript: Gossipy, Critical, Snippy

Rob Long picks apart Hollywood's art of nitpicking

This is Rob Long with Martini Shot for The Ankler.

I was with some stand-up comedians recently — all of them successful — and when the subject of another stand-up comedian came up, one of them said, "I know people like that guy, but I don't get it. He's got, like, two premises for his material.”

Which may be true—I don't know. But the comment reminded me of a meeting I had long ago with a highly-awarded, well-regarded actor who mentioned another actor in his same basic age range and said, "I know why the Academy felt like they had to honor him, but honestly, he turns in performances that are just . . . noise.”

I'm not pointing fingers. Despite the fact that I'm basically a very emotionally centered person who wishes everyone well — stop rolling your eyes — I too have often made comments along the lines of, ‘You think that writer is funny? Really? I mean, I know he's successful but I don't get it.”

Now, I told you that so I could tell you this story: