Summary
Written by a model from the transcript; not yet reviewed.
This episode features a conversation with veteran comedians Colin Quinn and Jim Norton, who share stories and insights from decades in stand-up. The guests discuss the brutal realities of early road gigs, legendary New York comedy clubs like the Comedy Cellar and Pips, and the unique pressure of working tough rooms and dealing with hecklers. They also examine the history of late-night television, behind-the-scenes chaos from shows like Tough Crowd, and how the stand-up comedy landscape has evolved over the years.
- Early comedy road gigs often involved brutal conditions and public reading of hostile customer comment cards. 2:23
- The legendary Comedy Cellar in New York maintained high standards by requiring comedian recommendations and banning industry agents. 31:01
- Performing on comedy cruises offers guaranteed work, but comedians often dislike being trapped on boats with audiences. 6:13
- Working as a middle act in stand-up comedy provides a unique vantage point to evaluate headliners. 55:16
Chapters
- 0:06Opening and Host Intro
Mark and Sam kick off the episode, introducing themselves and the premise while joking about being drunk.
- 1:59Early Career Struggles and Comment Cards
Colin recounts bombing early gigs, reading comment cards, and the harsh feedback he received.
- 5:18Cruise Shows and Industry Culture
The conversation shifts to the experience of performing on comedy cruises and the social dynamics involved.
- 27:10The Rise of Strip Clubs and The Cellar
Colin details the gritty world of strip‑club comedy venues and the significance of The Cellar in New York.
- 39:45Guest Segment: Quince Ad Break
A brief commercial break featuring an advertisement for the Quince clothing brand.
- 42:56Pat Cooper’s Legendary Set and the Woody Allen Incident
The hosts recount Pat Cooper’s unforgettable performance and the chaotic moment involving Woody Allen and Ray Goff during the filming.
- 44:43Pat Cooper’s One Night at Pips and Its Aftermath
Discussion of the short film “One Night at Pips,” its existence, and the surrounding anecdotes about Pat Cooper’s movies.
- 46:26Colin Quinn’s Brief Stint in a Woody Allen Film
Colin Quinn explains his experience on a Woody Allen project, the role he was cut from, and his feelings about the controversy surrounding the film.
- 53:20Pips, Woody Allen, and Early NYC Clubs
Colin reminisces about Pips, Woody Allen’s stand‑up appearance, and the early comedy club scene in Brooklyn.
- 54:30The Legacy of Patrice and the Impact on Contemporary Comedy
Colin and friends reminisce about Patrice, his influence, and how his presence shaped the comedy community.
- 56:55Violent Incidents and the Perilous Comedy Circuit
The conversation turns to dangerous gigs, bouncer conflicts, and the physical threats comedians faced on the road.
- 1:10:00The Rise and Fall of the Tough Crowd Show
Colin discusses the network negotiations, firing and rehiring of staff, and the eventual cancellation of the show on NBC and Comedy Central.
Highlights
- 2:23
Reading Brutal Comment Cardsstory
The guest recalls his first road gig in North Carolina where he bombed every night and was forced to sit with the club owner every afternoon to read 150 hostile comment cards.
- 22:12
Refusing to Reboot Tough Crowdinsight
The guest explains why he refuses to bring back his famous show Tough Crowd, stating he did it once and refuses to repeat past work decades later.
- 24:16
Discovering New York Historystory
The comedians reminisce about old New York locations, discussing famous mob figures like the Chin and classic spots that have disappeared over the decades.
- 31:01
Comedy Cellar Industry Rulesinsight
The guest explains how the Comedy Cellar maintained its credibility by forbidding direct industry access and requiring a comedian's recommendation for newcomers.
- 40:30
Woody Allen at Pipsstory
The guest shares an unbelievable anecdote about watching Woody Allen unexpectedly perform stand-up at Pips comedy club in Brooklyn.
- 52:59
Kevin James Wrestling Rootsdata
The comedians discuss Kevin James's athletic background as a high school wrestling star who attended the same school as Mick Foley.
- 55:16
The Best Middle Act Strategyinsight
The comedians joke about the unique psychological position of being a middle act and watching headliners try to follow a great set.
Quotes
“When I first started in comedy, I, I only had like Subway, like real New York material.”
Unnamed speaker · 1:46 “I was happy sitting there smoking going, "This is a rough business."”
Unnamed speaker · 3:03 “The Cellar was a club where no industry, everybody would end their night there.”
Unnamed speaker · 27:10 “I didn't think that if it did get this big, I would be on the outside of it.”
Unnamed speaker · 11:16 “I don't think he went, I'm, I can't remember. I don't think he did. He might have. But either way, he was never gonna do what he did. What he did was amazing.”
Unnamed speaker · 44:36 “The one with the porn, where you're making out with a porn star and it's, remember it's like.”
Unnamed speaker · 45:01 “I was a cop talking to the mother character, which was a big, with the whole, it was that short film they all did.”
Unnamed speaker · 47:04 “And you think to yourself, 'I'm better than the headline.'”
Unnamed speaker · 55:28 “You want me to, uh, adlib what I just did here? You mean the brilliance that you just did?”
Unnamed speaker · 43:50 “He would look at you halfway through his show and wink.”
Unnamed speaker · 54:45
Sponsored segments
- Quince 38:43–40:02
- Smalls 49:22–50:39
- Mars Men 50:38–51:49
- Ethos 51:56–52:51
- Jim Norton 1:29:32–1:29:36
About this episode
Colin Quinn and Jim Norton join Mark and Sam for a deep dive into the wild early days of New York comedy, from brutal road gigs and dangerous hecklers to the rise of the Comedy Cellar. Plus, Colin revisits Tough Crowd, Jim looks back on the O&A years, and the guys trade stories about Patrice O’Neal, Woody Allen, Bruce Willis, Bill Hicks, Pat Cooper, and the comedians who shaped them. Sponsored by: Smalls: Get 60% off your first order, plus free shipping and free treats for life https://www.smalls.com/DRUNK Mars Men: Get 50% off for life, free shipping, and three free gifts https://www.mengotomars.com/ Ethos: Get your free life insurance quote https://www.ethos.com/DRUNK Subscribe to We Might Be Drunk: https://bit.ly/SubscribeToWMBD Merch: https://wemightbedrunkpod.com/ Clips Channel: https://bit.ly/WMBDClips Sam Morril: https://punchup.live/sammorril/tickets Mark Normand: https://punchup.live/marknormand/tickets Colin Quinn: https://www.colinquinn.com/ Jim Norton: https://www.jimnorton.com/ Produced by Gotham Production Studios: https://www.gothamproductionstudios.com @GothamProductionStudios | Producer: https://www.instagram.com/mrmatthewpeters #WeMightBeDrunk #MarkNormand #SamMorril #ColinQuinn #JimNorton #ComedyPodcast #StandUpComedy #BodegaCatWhiskey0:00 Opening banter and fart talk 3:10 Comment cards and bad reviews 8:56 Brutal venues and strip clubs 13:23 MSG stories and Madonna stand-up 18:45 Bill Hicks memories and old peers 25:16 Old Comedy Cellar atmosphere 32:25 LA, driving, and road stories 44:58 Woody Allen movie and acting stories 51:29 Kevin James, Governors, Bobby Collins 54:28 Dangerous gigs and audience threats 1:06:47 O&A memories and Patrice legacy 1:21:07 Comedy pet peeves and stage intros 1:27:40 Tour dates and outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcript
19,765 words · 7 speakers
Speaker names marked are inferred from speaking time and the show’s known hosts — they are not voice-verified.
Topics
- York
- New York
- Tough Crowd
- NBC
- Pittsburgh
- Cleveland
- Comedy Central
- YouTube
- Dayton
- Randazzo's
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