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The last column I wrote was not a happy one as I wrote about the loss of fellow comedian Pat Brice. It taught me that comedians struggle with more than just trying to make a living and getting known but also share the same universal struggles we all go through like coping with the loss of a friend. Since my last column though I have begun to see several instances of comedian’s struggles paying off. It gives me hope that with enough talent and hard work there is always a light at the end of the tunnel.
In recent weeks and in the weeks to come, many of the most talented and best known local stand-up comedians will be leaving for the coasts of New York or L.A. Most of these comedians are the comedians who were already known on the scene and pretty well established here when I moved here 3 years ago. It brings back to mind my high school analogy in a previous column comparing the Chicago Comedy Scene to high school. Just like in high school, there is somewhat of a graduation where after a while comedians seem to move to the coasts almost as if that is the college of the comedy world. It is my personal belief that the recent success of ex-Chicago comedian TJ Miller spurred this most recent wave of movers. For those who don’t know, TJ Miller is co-starring in the new ABC sitcom Carpoolers. TJ will also be appearing in the much anticipated, and still untitled, JJ Abrams movie about a monster attack in New York set to open in January. I think TJ’s success gave the comedians “in his class” so to speak just the push they needed to make the next step. Will all of these comedians fare as well as TJ, most definitely not, but hopefully some will.
Other local comedians or comedians who started here have been achieving success lately as well. Kumail Nanjiani enjoyed great success with his one man show “Unpronounceable” at The Lakeshore Theater and is moving the act to New York. Chicago’s own Hannibal just recently appeared on “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.” And Kyle Kinane, formerly of Chicago and now in LA, appeared on “Last Call With Carson Daily.” All these successes bode well on the Chicago comedy scene and the future of the comedians working here. It is good to see that with all of our struggles we also enjoy successes that make the long hard road to the top worth while.
With all of the comedians moving to the coasts to pursue bigger and better things, the Chicago scene opens up for a new cast of local stars to take over our scene here. And just as soon as the new crop becomes comfortable and becomes close, they will too realize it is time to leave and push to climb another rung on the ladder. We in this business are never allowed the luxury of being comfortable where we are at because no matter what we do there is always something more. If you’re a comedian you want to get on TV, if you get on TV you want to do movies, if you do movies you want to get to 20 million a picture, and so on and so on. It is a tough business that many who try it realize its not for them. Some of our local comedians are proving that sometimes the struggles do pay off, however, and I wish them all the best of luck in their endeavors.
• "The Struggling Comic" appears exclusively in Lumino Magazine. Dustin White is a comedian/writer/actor living in Chicago. You can reach him through his Web site at www.dustinwhitecomedian.com. |
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