Walter Kirn Quotes

An 'insult comic' is the title I was given. What I do is exaggeration. I make fun of people, at life, of myself and my surroundings.

The whole character of Super Dave is a takeoff on people who pontificate. So one thing I never want to do is pontificate why this works, why this is funny. I have no idea what the appeal is. All we are trying to do is make people have a good time and laugh.

The difference between burlesque and the newspapers is that the former never pretended to be performing a public service by exposure.

People... need a time to laugh. It's up to us to bonk ourselves on the head and slip on a banana peel so the average guy can say, 'I may be bad, honey, but I'm not as much of an idiot as that guy on the screen.'

I didn't necessarily set out to think of a show to make fun of reality shows.

It's always great to play a man who sets himself up to be punctured.

When I did comedy I made fun of myself. If there was a buffoon, I played the buffoon.

Drag has always been the thing you turn to to remember to not take yourself too seriously.

'Man Down' is not a serious study of the human condition: it is a balls-out attempt at making people laugh. So nobody in the show can afford to cling on to any vanity, because we're always going to push the humiliation levels.

I'm super happy to say that it's not that hard to write bad stand-up. I guess the trick is to write bad stand-up that sounds like you're trying to be good.

There is parody, when you make fun of people who are smarter than you; satire, when you make fun of people who are richer than you; and burlesque, when you make fun of both while taking your clothes off.

Many, affecting wit beyond their power, Have got to be a dear fool for an hour.

The joke that I make is that there are instances on the TV series that happen to me, - except on Sex and the City they always make it better or worse than real life and I am actually saying that in a joking way.

I think that a big part of comedy is being made fun of, and it is looking silly or looking stupid.

I remain just one thing, and one thing only, and that is a clown. It places me on a far higher plane than any politician.

Imitation is the sincerest form of television.

You can get rich making fun of me. I know. I've made lots of money making fun of me.

Satire is what closes on Saturday night.

The tendency in comedy is to have a character who's stupid get more stupid, because you're trying to top yourself and not just repeat.

Unintentional comedy is comedy just the same.

Comedians are not usually actors, but imitations of actors.

I was inspired more by early Bette Midler. I do wear a fancy dress and very high heels - and extra high hair. My goal is to obliterate all earnestness.

Satire is a lesson, parody is a game.

A sitcom isn't usually the right tool for satire.

When I first started doing these roasts in the mid '90s, they were a lost art, like jousting or calligraphy. But I feel like roasts help tame the room and let off steam... It's like it's all being handled by professionals.