Neal Brennan Quotes

Stand-up comics reflect less of a visual humor and more of a commentary.

I love astute observations and really great wordplay. I love the way that Louis C.K. observes life, and I love the way Patton Oswalt talks about it.

I am trying to work out what my taste is, comedy-wise. I look up to stand up comedians who appear to be telling the truth, but I don't mind if they are lying.

My standup is observational, but it's self-observational, and it's self-deprecating, definitely.

In my comedy, I'm not always trying to say something, but when I'm playing a creepy dude, you're laughing because you know that creepy dude. You've heard that dude say something awful, and I'm just putting a little creative spin on it.

Comedians are always narrating the story of the people. Always.

I love doing stand up. I think it's a really worthwhile art form. It's so unique in all the things it combines, in terms of it being philosophizing, preaching, speaking truth to power and basic communicating. It's a good way to talk back to the world.

I'm a very observational type of comedian that points out everyday absurdities.

I'm very observational in my comedy and what I create with the characters that I'm blessed to play. I don't believe comedy needs to be offensive, and I don't believe it needs to be a mockery of anything.

Garry Shandling's stand-up specials were masterpieces of tightly crafted stories that delivered both hard jokes and hard truths. He was neurotic and self-deprecating, and his observations on life cut deep.

I'm trying to think if there was ever the Lenny Bruce-y, observational, George Carlin kind of magician: "You know what I hate is ..." I don't think that ever existed.

I listened to George Carlin when I was a kid and knew every word of his routines.

I think I enlist comedy to a serious purpose.

Comedy is a reaction to the world, and I think it really helps to be an outsider. I've always been very interested in people's behavior, to the point of being obsessed - seeing what people needed and reading them, I think that's the backbone of comedy.

Dave Chappelle is one of my comedic inspirations. His perspective is crazy, and he's super sharp.

I prefer situational or character-based humor to gross-out gags and comedic set pieces.

Doug Motel makes 'conscious comedy'. He makes me laugh, and he makes me think.

Melissa and I both say we don't write very good jokes.

There's a difference between being a comic and a comedian. A comic is a guy who says funny things, and a comedian is a guy who says things funny, and he has a style and point of view that will last much longer.

Stand-up is a weird animal. There are people who really want to know what you think about things, your opinion on life. But then there are people who think you're just that beautician in 'Legally Blonde,' who doesn't have opinions on anything. Or that I'm Stifler's mom and hot for it all the time.

When I was doing research on the M.C.s and spending time with these cats, one of the things that struck me and made me realize that I could deliver this world to an audience was their really dark and acute sense of humor.

To me, the best comedians are the ones that take everyday, normal, boring stuff that no one thinks is funny, and they make it funny. That's the same style I go for.

I just do jokes about real situations, pure observation.

If people leave the house wanting to see a comedian, they want to see someone speak out for themselves and share true stories from their life.

Twitter is comedy writing. It's one-liners that give way to fully fleshed-out thoughts.