Wright has deadpan down pat
COMEDY: Perfect mix of droll, absurd
A conversation with comedian Steven Wright is exactly what you would expect: A bit random.
Recently, I talked to Wright over the phone. He was in New York “visiting people.”
Was he there spreading some holiday cheer?
“No, I just know a lot of people here. It’s nothing to do with the holidays,” said Wright, who will be at the Hard Rock Casino in Coquitlam for a show on Jan. 9.
“I don’t even talk to them and I ask them not to look at me.” Fans of Wright get that. Talking with an American comedian or, to be honest, any American these days is going to invariably lead straight to Donald Trump.
“I think he’s amusing and I hope he stays in the race the whole way, but I don’t want him to be the president. Well, not the real president. He can be a TV president,” said Wright.
While Wright is quick with a Trump comment, he isn’t one to wade into the larger political landscape. That’s not his thing.
“For comedy material, I am more focused on lint and the expansion of the universe,” said Wright, who favours deadpan delivery of oneliners and non sequiturs. He’s both droll and absurd, while managing to make perfect sense.
A 36-year veteran of standup, Wright has got his career dialed in. He travels a lot less and enjoys life a lot more.
“I did all those long tours. I did all that. Now I just go do an amount that is just pure fun for me,” said Wright. “It’s very intense doing a show even if does look like I am wandering around mumbling to myself. It is a very intense thing to do.”
A favourite of late-night talk shows (Johnny Carson gave him his big break), Wright has done plenty of acting and voice work. He was awarded an Oscar in 1989 for best short liveaction film for The Appointments of Dennis Jennings.
He’s had hit TV specials and albums and for the last few years he has been a consulting producer on Louis C.K.’s show, Louie.
“I don’t even see it as a job,” said Wright about the F/X show.
“He’s a genius. I love discussing all these elements (script, filming, editing) with him. It’s a great lucky thing, one of my best comedy experiences.
“Standup you do completely by yourself. We laugh quite often and sometimes at something that has nothing to do with the show.”
Louie is not in production right now, so that leaves Wright time to “visit people” in New York City and even dabble in some hobbies.
“I play Russian roulette and bake cakes,” said Wright when asked about his time off the stage. “That’s the beauty, you don’t know if you’ll see the cake. It makes baking very, very exciting.”
Shut up, I replied. (Sorry, it just came out of my mouth).
“Did you just tell me to shut up?” asked Wright. “No one interviewing me has ever told me to shut up.”
Again, sorry.
“You have to come to my show and come backstage after,” Wright said.
I asked if he would actually talk to me or would we just stare at each other awkwardly?
“I don’t know, we’ll play it by ear,” said Wright. “I want to meet the person who told me to shut up in an interview. I want you to tell me to shut up in person.”
Well, I guess that can be arranged.
“I play Russian roulette and bake cakes. That’s the beauty, you don’t know if you’ll see the cake.” — Steven Wright