I’m reading Steve Martin’s “Born Standing Up”

Last night I started perusing Born Standing Up, Steve Martin‘s memoir of life as one of the most successful comedians of the 1970s.

I’ve been wanting this book since it was published in late 2007 so I was excited to find a paperback copy for sale at my local library for just 50 cents. So far, it’s a great read with Steve writing in a decidedly sober tone about his childhood and his strained relationship with his father and how it affected his relationships later in life.

Are you a fan? He’s done so much: stand-up comedy, films, music, books. What’s your favorite Steve Martin moment?

Remember the faux New Age book by Ben and Janeane?

Remember Feel This Book, the funny faux New Age book that Ben Stiller and Janeane Garofalo released in 1999?

I saw it recently in a used book store and chuckled to myself. It motivated me to search for and find my interview with both of them when they were promoting it. I think it was my first interview with a comedian – in this case, two at once. Later I would interview Margaret Cho, Kathy Griffin, Elvira Kurt, Lily Tomlin, and Sandra Bernhard.

I do love the funny folks. Comedians are my favorite people in the world. Who has done more for the planet, in your opinion, comedians or rock stars?

My answer is always Richard Pryor.