A comedian’s goal simply used to be to get on a stage and tell jokes. At least it used to be. It’s not that simple anymore.
Comedy has evolved into a massive business, complete with sub genres that are equally as successful. Alternative comedy in itself is a powerhouse, for example, with comedy podcasting companies thriving under newfound subscription models and exposure. Comedy focused actors have gone from tertiary character actors who are pointed out on the street with “Hey! Where do I know you from?! That show… you’re on that show!” to secondary characters that are pointed out on the street with -- you get the picture.
Podcasting, voice acting, streaming specials, guest spots, even public speaking. These all have a hand in a working comedian’s career. On top of that, they have to tour too. That’s where their life essence comes from after all.
Maria Bamford is the epitome of a working comedian. Her stage presence is inimitable as she utilizes every inch of wood grain under her feet. Then there’s the voices; oh, the voices. She seamlessly slips in and out of high and low pitches as different characters take precedence over the already funny jokes, often detracting from the joke’s throughline. But her work goes beyond dolling out jokes to audiences. TV appearances coupled with a discography dating back to the early aughts can do that for a comic.
Bamford is quick to point the endearing, intimate nature of the art form.
“...Doing it on stage for a thousand people, it can seem like somehow it's this elevated thing just because of the lights and the human beings gathered for it.”
We spoke over the phone recently about her latest special, Weakness Is The Brand. It’s a deviance from her last two specials that employed a singular, small venue for a crowd of two and a myriad of venues throughout homes around the country. Her approach to comedy is still the same no matter where she performs.
“It wasn't as interesting to me to do that again cause I had done that so many times. To do that for my parents was much more fun and interesting and also very close to my bedroom, which is where I like to fall over in a heap.” Her voice shifts upward just a bit before we pause laugh at her joke. “The second one came just the same idea of [...] doing the same act, but doing it for different amounts of people and how the perception changes.”
Bamford has also carried her own Netflix series -- Lady Dynamite -- that was lauded for its refreshing style as well as its approach to Bamford’s personal life, incorporating her stint in a treatment center for her bipolar disorder. The half hour was witty and surreal, challenging the perceptions of what a single camera sitcom could be in a world overflowing with them.
Lady Dynamite had hints of Bamford’s life as a working comic. Her parents -- played by Ed Begley Jr. and Mary Kay Place -- were comforting staples, acting as anchors to reality for the character who would often be subject to deviance into the abstract. It helps that Bamford’s real life folks are just as warm.
“My parents, they're very funny people. And then they're also willing to be a part of the act and so that let's it be easier to write about them. For example, I think I do a joke about them teaching us a way of fighting called sharing and caring -- which they did. They did teach us that.”
She chuckles at the memory, blowing it off almost immediately.
“I don't think that was really how it happened. So I kind of write jokes for them. But sometimes they just come up with stuff you could just say directly, which is so delightful when you can just write it down what they just said.”
Storied producers Pam Brady (largely known for her work on South Park) and Mitchell Hurwitz (Arrested Development) helped create Lady Dynamite. Recognizable directors helmed episodes including Jessica Yu, Andrew Fleming, and Ryan McFaul. Writers including Jen Statsky and Kyle McCulloch took on scripting duties. Not to mention the recurring characters and guest stars with appearances by Judd Apatow, Tig Notaro, Brandon Routh, Mo Collins, Jason Mantzoukas and too many to list here. Lady Dynamite is one of Netflix’s best sitcoms. Critics and audiences loved it. And then the streamer cancelled it.
That was three years ago at this point. Bamford, as always, has been working consistently since then. A new iteration of the ever popular Cartoon Network series Adventure Time and other animated appearances has her in the recording booth. She also hosts a talk show for Topic where she chats with fellow comedians about their mental diagnoses. She pens essays, pops up on podcasts, speaks at universities, so on and so forth. Such is the life of a touring comedian. Oh and she, of course, tours.
Even with the release of Weakness Is The Brand, Bamford -- like every other comic -- has to start from scratch. New bits have to be engineered. New jokes must be tested.
“I’m now starting to do a new hour of material. So I just started working that out in the afternoon in Los Angeles. There’s a theater that’s open in a strip mall,” she tells me. And the great thing about LA is that you can get an audience at any time of day because everyone is either self employed or unemployed and a huge gig economy.”
Throughout her career, Bamford has always stood out from her contemporaries. Could it be the voices she incorporates within her stand up? Oris it her delivery of the jokes? Her willingness to talk about her mental disorder whenever possible? Something else entirely?
Standup can become stale. While today’s comedians aren’t forced to go beyond what a typical special is, the attempt is always appreciated. (Although, it can pay off. Just look at Neal Brennan’s Three Mics; Julio Torres’s My Favorite Shapes; and Mike Berbiglia’s The New One. Even a simple change in venue can pay off such as in Lil Rel Howery’s Live In Crenshaw which was shot in a high school gym).
That’s not to say simplicity is boring. Weakness Is The Brand goes back to the stage/audience combination. When comparing how she approached this one to her last Netflix special -- Old Baby -- Bamford equates her willingness return to familiar roots to making pancakes from Bisquick.
“Just from the box.”
Bamford’s approach to crafting new jokes should sound similar to those who follow comedy. She goes to open mics to test what works and what doesn’t.
“I had a friend who saw me at open mics. She was like ‘Oh, you're pretty good.’ Then she saw me at a show where there's more people. And she's like ‘You know what? I think we have something.’ And then I was on TV and she was like ‘Maria, you're good!’” We share a laugh. “It's all the same material and you know, has nothing to do with bad chi.”
Bamford is the same person she was as when she began comedy. Charming doesn’t begin to encapsulate who she is. As I was preparing for this profile, I watched a few of her TV sets.
An online show from Comedy Central standup series called 7 Minutes In Purgatory had comedians tell jokes in front of an empty theater as the audience sat a few stories above them on the roof. Comics can’t hear the laughs but the audience was aware of everything. The premise is funny enough but Bamford took full advantage by pretending to fall down the stairs on her way down to the theater.
“The world is a stage” she muses. “What if someone is watching? I had been up in the audience for that show, so I knew that people were caring. I'll definitely do a pratfall if needed anywhere. Pratfall, silly walk -- that type of thing. Yeah, it does feel better that someone is watching.”
Talking to Bamford about comedy is very easy. There’s no judgement. She’s always open to doing something different. As our conversation drew to a close, I asked if she’d ever be up to writing a book. Amy Poheler, Tina Fey, Phoebe Robinson and countless others had done so; why not her?
“Oh, I would love to.” Without a pause, Bamford jumped at the chance to answer positively.
“I would love to. I think that'd be really, really fun. I hope that's something that happens in the next few years or something. I would be delighted to write a booky-wook [sic]. I love books. I'd be, of course, intimidated cause there's so much out there… I love to read and so, I could give somebody something to read and that'd be fun. Hopefully something good to read.”
Still, there is the possibility she could fail. But Bamford is ready to take it in stride.
“That's the hope. if it's not good, then, I've provided a paperweight of some sort.”
Follow Maria Bamford on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Watch Weakness Is The Brand.