The following piece originally appeared in The Jewish Journal:
A Comedian Walks Into a Bar: Myq Kaplan returns to Great Scott
By Matt Robinson
During the height of the last great comedy book, talents like Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David made observations about the world. Questions like “What is it with airports?” became standard fare on stages across the country.
These days, however, it can be downright depressing to observe the world even at such superficial levels. This may be why more philosophical comedians like Myq (pronounced “Mike”) Kaplan (http://myqkaplan.com) are rising to prominence.
Since his star-making standup routine on the 2010 edition of “Last Comic Standing,” Kaplan has graced the stages and twisted the minds of James Corden, Conan O’Brien, Jimmy Fallon, and the legendary David Letterman. On February 9, the man who has been called a “comedy machine” by The Comedians magazine will come back to Great Scott on Commonwealth Avenue in Allston for a relatively intimate and always intriguing set that is sure to make guests think as much as they laugh (which should be a lot!).
When asked where his comedy spark was first lit, Kaplan recalls playing the violin since the age of four and an early desire to be a singer-songwriter.
“I started playing guitar in high school and performed at talent shows and coffee houses and summer camp and such,” recalls Kaplan, citing such influences as They Might be Giants and Ani DiFranco. And while his vocal work may have improved his Bar Mitzvah, he does not consider that religious rite of passage as a performance.
“That was REAL,” he insists.
Eager to have opportunities to perform, Kaplan (who has a Masters in linguistics from BU) began appearing wherever he could, including comedy clubs, where he found his
“funny” songs (some of which he still plays in his live sets) worked well and made an easy transition from singing to speaking.
“I found that I also really enjoyed talking between the songs,” Kaplan recalls, “which sometimes made people laugh.”
Reasoning that it was easier to perform without schlepping a guitar around, Kaplan began focusing on the spoken elements of his act.
“I also love laughter and connecting with fellow humans,” he says.
Two humans with whom Kaplan’s comedy connected early on were his parents.
“My parents are very encouraging,” he says, noting that his mother was “always that way…. My dad was too, though with flavors of realism added in…. He started fully supporting me when he realized he wouldn’t have to be fully supporting me.”
As he was so supported, Kaplan says he always felt comfortable being himself, both n stage and off. This, he suggests, is what has allowed him to be and feel successful.
“I would say that the ideal goal for most comedians is to be themselves,” he suggests, citing as examples the up-and-coming likes of Maria Bamford and W. Kamau Bell. “I am the most me.”
And a good thing too!
Myq Kaplan is a comedian named Myq Kaplan (pronounced “Mike”). He is a 2010 Last Comic Standing Finalist and has appeared on the Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien, the Late Show with David Letterman, Comedy Central Presents, and all the other places he’s been. You can listen to Myq’s podcast, Hang Out With Me, on the Keith and The Girl network. His debut CD, Vegan Mind Meld, was one of iTunes’ top ten best-selling comedy albums in 2010, followed by Meat Robot in 2013 and his one-hour Netflix special Small Dork and Handsome in 2014.
The Comedians magazine calls him “a comedy machine, in the best possible way. the way that some machines vend soda or prevent other machines from killing future revolutionaries – that’s how Myq Kaplan does comedy: relentlessly, methodically, unblinkingly.”
Enjoy reading, watching, listening, thinking, laughing, and whatever else you’re doing. Or not doing. You’re an autonomous being. Have fun being!
When and why did you get into comedy?
2002 is when I started pursuing standup. 2008 is when I finally caught it. I originally wanted to be a singer-songwriter. Some of my songs were funny, so I was playing them wherever I could, which included a comedy club called the Comedy Studio that was willing to let me on stage. Once I was there, playing my songs, I found that I also really enjoyed talking between the songs, which sometimes made people laugh. And as it turned out, not carrying a guitar around was a lot easier than YES carrying a guitar around. So one main reason I got into comedy is that a guitar is heavier than no guitar. And also love, laughter, and connecting with fellow humans.
Who inspired you?
They Might Be Giants and Ani Difranco. (I was pursuing a music career initially, so my inspirations were musicians. HOPE THAT DOESN’T RUIN THE INTERVIEW.)
Had you performed in other ways (e.g., theatre, bar mitzvah)?
I grew up playing the violin since I was 4, and played in recitals and orchestra concerts and things like that most of my life before starting comedy. I started playing guitar in high school and performed at talent shows and coffee houses and summer camp and such, before pursuing the world of open mics and bar shows in Boston. And I also did have a bar mitzvah, though I don’t consider that a performance. THAT WAS REAL.
What did your family think?
Were you a philosophy major?
Yes.
Do you think certain (perhaps Jewish) comedians are more esoteric, philosophical or just intelligent than others? Why?
In general, no. I would say that the ideal goal for most comedians is to be themselves, the most them-ish they can be. Maria Bamford is the most Maria Bamford. W. Kamau Bell is the most W. Kamau Bell. I am the most me. There are so many different kinds of intelligence, and there are so many different kinds of comedians, all exhibiting their own manifestation of it, their own philosophy, however esoteric it may or may not be. There are some wonderful Jewish comedians and some wonderful non-Jewish comedians. AND THAT IS THE MOST ESOTERIC, PHILOSOPHICAL, INTELLIGENT ANSWER I COULD GIVE (THOUGH SOME OTHER COMEDIANS COULD GIVE THEIR OWN VERSION OF EQUAL QUALITY).
What do you tell first-timers who come to your show? What can they expect?
I suppose I tell them “Thank you for coming to the show! You’re the best! Expect the most fun time possible, and the most fun time possible shall be yours! And thanks for reading these words in preparation. You’re doing great! I appreciate you!”
And Matthew, thanks for asking these questions. i appreciate your support! If you have any more questions, you know how to find me!
When and why did you get into comedy?
2002 is when I started pursuing standup. 2008 is when I finally caught it. I originally wanted to be a singer-songwriter. Some of my songs were funny, so I was playing them wherever I could, which included a comedy club called the Comedy Studio that was willing to let me on stage. Once I was there, playing my songs, I found that I also really enjoyed talking between the songs, which sometimes made people laugh. And as it turned out, not carrying a guitar around was a lot easier than YES carrying a guitar around. So one main reason I got into comedy is that a guitar is heavier than no guitar. And also love, laughter, and connecting with fellow humans.
Who inspired you?
They Might Be Giants and Ani Difranco. (I was pursuing a music career initially, so my inspirations were musicians. HOPE THAT DOESN’T RUIN THE INTERVIEW.)
Had you performed in other ways (e.g., theatre, bar mitzvah)?
I grew up playing the violin since I was 4, and played in recitals and orchestra concerts and things like that most of my life before starting comedy. I started playing guitar in high school and performed at talent shows and coffee houses and summer camp and such, before pursuing the world of open mics and bar shows in Boston. And I also did have a bar mitzvah, though I don’t consider that a performance. THAT WAS REAL.
What did your family think?
My parents are very encouraging. I would say that my mom was always that way, and my dad was too, though with flavors of realism added in. There were questions like “How will you pay for your life?” and “What is your backup plan?” … I used to say that my dad started fully supporting me when he realized he wouldn’t have to be fully supporting me. And I guess I still say it now.
Were you a philosophy major?
Yes.
Do you think certain (perhaps Jewish) comedians are more esoteric, philosophical or just intelligent than others? Why?
In general, no. I would say that the ideal goal for most comedians is to be themselves, the most them-ish they can be. Maria Bamford is the most Maria Bamford. W. Kamau Bell is the most W. Kamau Bell. I am the most me. There are so many different kinds of intelligence, and there are so many different kinds of comedians, all exhibiting their own manifestation of it, their own philosophy, however esoteric it may or may not be. There are some wonderful Jewish comedians and some wonderful non-Jewish comedians. AND THAT IS THE MOST ESOTERIC, PHILOSOPHICAL, INTELLIGENT ANSWER I COULD GIVE (THOUGH SOME OTHER COMEDIANS COULD GIVE THEIR OWN VERSION OF EQUAL QUALITY).
What do you tell first-timers who come to your show? What can they expect?
I suppose I tell them “Thank you for coming to the show! You’re the best! Expect the most fun time possible, and the most fun time possible shall be yours! And thanks for reading these words in preparation. You’re doing great! I appreciate you!”
And Matthew, thanks for asking these questions. i appreciate your support! If you have any more questions, you know how to find me!
