"No really, I'm awful" - and so are you.
The appeal of John Mulaney, David Sedaris and Seinfeld.
“And I’ve realized that I’ll be fine as long as I get constant attention,” says John Mulaney in his new special “Baby J”.
“I haven’t the slightest idea how to change people, but still I keep a long list of prospective candidates just in case I should ever figure it out.” says David Sedaris
“I insist that Carol eats in my presence for the same reason I wait for the coffee-shop employee to turn back in my direction before putting a tip in his basket. I want to be acknowledged as a generous provider. This is about me, not them.“ - says David sedaris talking about Carol, a fox that visits his backyard.
The special “Baby J” goes through some dark themes - drugs, death, ( you know the usual dark stuff) and it goes through vices - arrogance, confidence, desire (you know everything you want but should not say out loud).
David Sedaris admits small moments of selfishness and vanity in trains, coffee shops, and even while picking up trash. Letting us peak into his moments of childlike wants in his day-to-day activities.
Seinfeld has three singles in their 30s living in new york city doing regular things, not wanting to be inconvenienced - something the characters are not only happy to admit but also is core to their personalities. It shows the characters through a lens that is the opposite of putting people on a pedestal (like Succession or Suits), it shows us what it is like to be average and not want more.
I have watched John Mulaney’s special thrice so far. I know the jokes, I’ve heard them before. I’ve read David Sedaris’ essays multiple times, and I still can’t recommend them enough. I watched all of Seinfeld in a month. These three things never fail to uplift me.
In all these cases, their admission of harmless vices is what draws me in. I find myself being validated in these jokes. I feel seen for wanting attention, for wanting to be the best, for chasing vanity. When the audience laughs, you know others are going through it too and you don’t have to feel bad about any of these emotions.
Arrogance, desire for fame, attention, and vanity are not necessarily taboo emotions - everybody goes through them multiple times a day but they’re hidden a hundred feet deep under the guise of selflessness. Comedy of this kind only lets us admit that they exist. Our shallow side finds a moment to come up to the surface to breathe.
In telling their own stories of being awful, these comedians hold space for us to be awful. I’m not saying it is okay to go overboard with being awful and not be ashamed about it. These confessions aren’t permission to pursue vices at the cost of others but comedy seems to be one of the places where you and I can admit it is okay to want the bigger piece of candy, to want the window seat, and to wish your competition fails. And honestly, I can’t get enough of it.