Dave Barry

The trick of humor, it's like magic. When the guy pulls the coin out of your ear and it looks like he really pulled the coin out of your ear, you don't see that the guy spent 16 hours practicing that one particular movement with his finger. Writing humor is the same way. It's supposed to look like it was just coming out of you, but it doesn't just come out of you.

The trick of humor, it's like magic. When the guy pulls the coin out of your ear and it looks like he really pulled the coin out of your ear, you don't see that the guy spent 16 hours practicing that one particular movement with his finger. Writing humor is the same way. It's supposed to look like it was just coming out of you, but it doesn't just come out of you.

When you read somebody who thinks they're funny, And I've read a lot of people who think they're funny, but they're not really putting the time, they're putting the effort. It's really obvious with humor more than any other kind of writing. So yeah, I'm gonna agree with you that even though that's what I did, writing humor is hard. When did you realize that you were good at it?

When you read somebody who thinks they're funny, And I've read a lot of people who think they're funny, but they're not really putting the time, they're putting the effort. It's really obvious with humor more than any other kind of writing. So yeah, I'm gonna agree with you that even though that's what I did, writing humor is hard. When did you realize that you were good at it?

When did you stop having doubt? Well, I thought I was funny a lot sooner than the rest of the world did. Because you were a class clown, right? I was literally elected class clown at Pleasantville High School, class of 1965. And I'm... I'm darn proud of that.

When did you stop having doubt? Well, I thought I was funny a lot sooner than the rest of the world did. Because you were a class clown, right? I was literally elected class clown at Pleasantville High School, class of 1965. And I'm... I'm darn proud of that.

Well, I was a little puberty impaired guy. And, you know, what I really wanted to do was be like a football star or something and like have girls really be interested in me just because I was – but I wasn't any of that. So what I could do was make people laugh. I was good at that. So that's what I – It definitely was insecurity that made me want to entertain people. It probably still is.

Well, I was a little puberty impaired guy. And, you know, what I really wanted to do was be like a football star or something and like have girls really be interested in me just because I was – but I wasn't any of that. So what I could do was make people laugh. I was good at that. So that's what I – It definitely was insecurity that made me want to entertain people. It probably still is.

I think most people who do humor for a living Usually they're insecure. And the other thing is we're kind of deflectors. We don't want people to know too much about us because then they won't like us. So what we do is make them like us by making them laugh, which is kind of a good way to keep people friendly with you but not let them get too close.

I think most people who do humor for a living Usually they're insecure. And the other thing is we're kind of deflectors. We don't want people to know too much about us because then they won't like us. So what we do is make them like us by making them laugh, which is kind of a good way to keep people friendly with you but not let them get too close.

It's just asking people about themselves. I know. I notice that any time I say anything about your personal life, you immediately turn it back down.

It's just asking people about themselves. I know. I notice that any time I say anything about your personal life, you immediately turn it back down.

If you're listening, it wasn't you. It was Nan, Miss Venezuela. Was it Miss Venezuela?

If you're listening, it wasn't you. It was Nan, Miss Venezuela. Was it Miss Venezuela?

um when you say that uh insecurities in childhood what were they what well i couldn't you know like i wasn't good at sports um and you know that was what you wanted i mean i i did i played little league because that's what you did and a way to be popular yeah the easy access shortcut to however it is you get to popular sports is easier than laughter and i wasn't like one of the the boys that the girls all just seemed looking at him in some ways cute you know wasn't that guy you know so

um when you say that uh insecurities in childhood what were they what well i couldn't you know like i wasn't good at sports um and you know that was what you wanted i mean i i did i played little league because that's what you did and a way to be popular yeah the easy access shortcut to however it is you get to popular sports is easier than laughter and i wasn't like one of the the boys that the girls all just seemed looking at him in some ways cute you know wasn't that guy you know so

And like I said, I didn't reach puberty until I was in my early 30s. And I was just really a late bloomer. You were a child. Yeah. I still have no hair on my arms. Look. Look. Look at my arms. You still look. I'm hairless. People will not believe your age. I'm hairless.

And like I said, I didn't reach puberty until I was in my early 30s. And I was just really a late bloomer. You were a child. Yeah. I still have no hair on my arms. Look. Look. Look at my arms. You still look. I'm hairless. People will not believe your age. I'm hairless.

But I'm now really old. How old are you right now? I'm 77 years old.

But I'm now really old. How old are you right now? I'm 77 years old.