Michael Showalter: First Jewish comedian
To promote his new album Sandwiches & Cats, Michael Showalter is doing a pseudo tour of various blogs like ours, and we’re fortunate enough to have him pop by here. (he also popped by Stereogum where he dropped this aaaaamazing video of revealing his hidden musical joys - Dave Matthews need hide no more.) Enjoy. - biz
My name is Michael Showalter. I am a comedian. I did a TV show on MTV in the mid-90’s called The State and then a movie called Wet Hot American Summer and then another movie called The Baxter and then another TV show called Stella. That’s my resume. I have a record coming out today called “Sandwiches & Cats.” It’s on the label JDub Records.
Alot of people ask me why I decided to a comedy record and I tell them it’s because I thought it was about time that a Jewish person made a comedy record. I mean, to my knowledge I’m the first Jewish comedian. And I’m definitely the first one to make a comedy record. Mostly, Jewish people are known for being professional football players and country music stars but not comedians. I mean I guess there’s a few Jewish comedians: Jerry Seinfeld, Woody Allen, Adam Sandler, Gilda Radner, Henny Youngman, Shecky Green, Lenny Bruce, Billy Crystal, Larry David, Andy Samberg, virtually all of the Borsht Belt comedians, most of the Vaudeville comedians, Judy Gold, Mort Sahl, Rita Rudner, Jerry Lewis, Jon Stewart, Sarah Silverman, Richard Lewis, Mel Brooks, Albert Brooks, Rodney Dangerfield, Al Franken, Jeff Garlin, David Brenner, Lewis Black, Sandra Bernhard, Milton Berle, Jack Benny, Dave Attel, David Cross, Robert Klein, Marc Maron, Jackie Mason, Paul Reiser, Don Rickles, Alan King, Ben Stiller, and Roseanne Barr.
Other than that list of small fries, I can’t really think of any. Hopefully, my comedy record “Sandwiches & Cats” can put Jewish people back on the map in the world of comedy. We should be known as more than just professional football players and country music stars. Someone needs to do it and I’m up to the task.
Click more for a recent video clip from the show.
Stella was one of the funniest shows I’ve ever seen. There are some great shorts up on youtube from before they were on Comedy Central. I’ve been looking forward to this cd, can’t wait to hear it!
—Other Adam · November 13th, 2007 at 6:53 pm
I don’t mean to be a buzz kill but that isn’t funny. Jewschool you should get paid for this post because it is a text heavy ad for this record.
—POLJ · November 13th, 2007 at 7:11 pm
[...] exclusive tour kick off, The Apiary’s “Truth About Hecklers,” as well as posts on Jew School, My Old Kentucky Blog, Brooklyn Vegan and Pop Watch. Still yet to come, posts from the likes of [...]
—Culture Bully » Blog Archive » "What an Unbelievably Huge Hack!" Michael Showalter Talks Bill Murray, The Life Aquatic and Why He'll Never Work with Wes Anderson · November 13th, 2007 at 10:04 pm
[...] With the rise of brand-centric comedy franchises, one group has been conspicuously absent: the Jews. This event will continue the important groundwork we’ve done with Michael Showalter, the first Jewish comedian. [...]
—JDub Records: Innovative Jewish music, community and cross-cultural dialogue. · April 13th, 2009 at 2:36 pm