Patton Oswalt

Yeah, I was just like, hey, you want to be in a movie? I'm like, fuck yeah, I want to be in a movie. So, you know. I mean, that movie, his movie... which I know he wanted to be called Sidney. I've seen that movie like 10 times. I think that is just, I mean, out of the gate that guy knew exactly what he wanted to do.

Yeah, I was just like, hey, you want to be in a movie? I'm like, fuck yeah, I want to be in a movie. So, you know. I mean, that movie, his movie... which I know he wanted to be called Sidney. I've seen that movie like 10 times. I think that is just, I mean, out of the gate that guy knew exactly what he wanted to do.

I was, I mean, I don't know. I feel like it was his first time on stage, but he says it wasn't. But the first night I went on stage at Garvin's in the summer of 88, Dave Chappelle went up that night. He was 14, I was 19. And he was one of those guys that I remember from the get, his, like, oh, this guy's gonna be huge. Like he had that energy like he'd been doing it for 30 years, just killed.

I was, I mean, I don't know. I feel like it was his first time on stage, but he says it wasn't. But the first night I went on stage at Garvin's in the summer of 88, Dave Chappelle went up that night. He was 14, I was 19. And he was one of those guys that I remember from the get, his, like, oh, this guy's gonna be huge. Like he had that energy like he'd been doing it for 30 years, just killed.

Like, oh, this guy's gonna be huge. And sometimes you just know.

Like, oh, this guy's gonna be huge. And sometimes you just know.

Not only was there constant doubt, but then there were those rug pulling moments where I thought I'd gotten over the doubt and then ran into something that made me have to rethink everything. And the biggest one for me was started in 88, moved to San Francisco in 92. In those four years, I'd learned to become a very, very good road comic.

Not only was there constant doubt, but then there were those rug pulling moments where I thought I'd gotten over the doubt and then ran into something that made me have to rethink everything. And the biggest one for me was started in 88, moved to San Francisco in 92. In those four years, I'd learned to become a very, very good road comic.

I was starting to feature, but it was just, I was doing stuff that I was pre-thinking audiences would already like. There was nothing of me in that. And then I remember I went, moved to San Francisco and did a show at the Holy City Zoo. And I was there and it was like,

I was starting to feature, but it was just, I was doing stuff that I was pre-thinking audiences would already like. There was nothing of me in that. And then I remember I went, moved to San Francisco and did a show at the Holy City Zoo. And I was there and it was like,

these amazing comedians going up, Jeremy Kramer and Greg Barron, Lankan Earl, Laura Milligan, Margaret Cho, like just doing stuff I'd never seen, like stuff they really, really, that they liked, whether or not the audience liked it, like that's what they like to do. And it was so, and I went up and did my killer road stuff and it, It's not that it ate it, but it was mostly comedians.

these amazing comedians going up, Jeremy Kramer and Greg Barron, Lankan Earl, Laura Milligan, Margaret Cho, like just doing stuff I'd never seen, like stuff they really, really, that they liked, whether or not the audience liked it, like that's what they like to do. And it was so, and I went up and did my killer road stuff and it, It's not that it ate it, but it was mostly comedians.

They were just like, well, yeah, that stuff, that works. And I just realized it was this weird, like... fuck, I gotta up my game. And I had to scrap my whole act and start from zero again. And having that happen and having it not be the end of the world the next day gave me a lot of courage. But that courage came from facing some genuine fear and failure.

They were just like, well, yeah, that stuff, that works. And I just realized it was this weird, like... fuck, I gotta up my game. And I had to scrap my whole act and start from zero again. And having that happen and having it not be the end of the world the next day gave me a lot of courage. But that courage came from facing some genuine fear and failure.

I love it.

I love it.

At that same time, I still do some theaters, but this past year and a half, I've rediscovered comedy clubs, getting into a sitting on a Thursday, doing one show Thursday, two Friday, two Saturday. And I'm getting so much writing done. And in these smaller rooms, because you're so much more wired to the audience, you're so much more present. I just shot my newest special in a tiny comedy club in...

At that same time, I still do some theaters, but this past year and a half, I've rediscovered comedy clubs, getting into a sitting on a Thursday, doing one show Thursday, two Friday, two Saturday. And I'm getting so much writing done. And in these smaller rooms, because you're so much more wired to the audience, you're so much more present. I just shot my newest special in a tiny comedy club in...

Madison, Wisconsin, this place called Comedy on State, because I did it last year, and it was like, I had not had sets like that. I mean, when you're in theaters, you have good sets in theaters, but there's a moat of darkness, and in a comedy club, you're right there. It feels so immediate, and now I kind of crave that. So in between the theater gigs I have coming up,

Madison, Wisconsin, this place called Comedy on State, because I did it last year, and it was like, I had not had sets like that. I mean, when you're in theaters, you have good sets in theaters, but there's a moat of darkness, and in a comedy club, you're right there. It feels so immediate, and now I kind of crave that. So in between the theater gigs I have coming up,