Comedian Bares All in New Novel, Cape Comedy

 Q: Tell us a little bit about yourself. How long have you been in the comedy business?
I started in 1976. An extraordinary story, actually. A guy fixed me up with his wife (They had an open relationship and it was the 70’s) and our initial “relationship” actually turned into a friendship. She had a friend who owned a club in Newport Beach called the Laff Stop. She recommended me to him and I wound up owning a 1% share of the club and doing the promotion/marketing part time. But because the club was a two-hour drive the commute was impossible. So, they housed me in the same apartment they rented for the comics. For a year-and-a-half my roommates were David Letterman, Jay Leno, Bob Saget, Roger And Roger, the Unknown Comic, Robin Williams, Elayne Boosler, and whoever the comics were that performed there that week. An unbelievable experience to be able to know the minds of America’s comic geniuses in such a personal and intimate way: when they were hungry and explorative. From there, me, Bob Fisher and Jan Smith bought the Ice House in 1978. I sold my interest in 1982 and created the Rick Dees Comedy Concerts … the biggest comedy event in L.A. To give you an idea, we sold out the Universal Amphitheater (6200 seats) in nine days. During the Ice House days I started doing stand-up. I did the road all over the country, Vegas, opened for some big music acts, was a staff writer on ABC’s Into the Night starring Brad Garrett and lived the life until 2005 when I moved to Florida to get away from the distractions and commit to writing Cape Comedy.
Q: And after all these years—the laughs, the clubs, the money—that’s not enough for you?   You have to have the entire market all to yourself?
What market are you talking about? If you’re talking about the supermarket, yes. I like sampling food and hate getting caught.   
Q: You mentioned Robin Williams.  Would you mind sharing some of your memories of him?
I first worked with Robin back in 1977 when he moved to L.A. from San Francisco. His genius was explosive. He had an aura about him I’ve never experienced before or since in any other human being. I actually ad-libbed with him onstage one night, but it wasn’t my idea to do it. I was just starting out and emceeing the show. In fact, what was so unbelievable about that night was the opening act was David Letterman, Robin was the middle act,  Jay Leno was the headliner and to the audience that night they were all unknown comedians. I’m guessing there were only 10 people there to see that show; a show that today could sell out Yankee Stadium. Anyway, I’m wrapping up the show when Robin started heckling me. He joined me on the stage and pulled the fire extinguisher off the wall. While dancing with it he shot me in the face with the CO2 as part of his improv. Fortunately, I turned my face sideways and escaped any serious damage. The next night he drove down to Newport Beach early to make sure I was okay and we talked for about 45 minutes. That’s when I noticed his aura. His loss was so tragic. I feel it deeply.
Q: You’re releasing a new project called Cape Comedy, correct?  Does your American audience know it’s a book and that there may be reading involved?
I hope so. I hope they don’t think it’s a new planet discovered by NASA. It’s interesting that you say that, though. It seems like reading novels is a lost art these days. I actually was talking to a girl who must have been around 25 years-old. I asked her if she reads novels. She said, “What’s a novel?” I went and flushed my head down the toilet. I felt better afterwards.
Q: In a word, what’s Cape Comedy (CC)?
One word to describe 18 years of writing? Indulge me a few more: It’s a quirky, pop culture murder mystery set in the world of stand-up. What I wanted to do was allow the reader to get inside this fascinating world in a way that peels back layer after layer. This culture is so much more than a comic in front of a brick wall hired to make people laugh. That’s the last stop on the bus. Along the way it can be shockingly tragic, as Robin’s suicide certainly documents. It’s ego-maniacal, incredibly creative, sad, funny and lucrative at times. It’s often sacrificial and escapist as well. In short, there isn’t anything about this life and world I left out. At least, I hope I covered everything. Comedian Bret Ernst said to me, “I didn’t think anyone could ever truly describe what I do for a living. You did.”
 Q: They say when we write, we write ourselves.  So which character are you?  And when they make it into a movie, are you keeping your fingers crossed for Robert Pattison?
I get asked that question a lot. The truth is almost every character is part me or part someone I knew … every character. I owned a famous comedy club so that part I’m able to crossbreed into the characters. I knew four comics that killed themselves so that part I’m able to crossbreed into the tragic characters. I’ve been divorced twice so that part I’m able to crossbreed into the characters searching for love. I’ve been screwed by some genius felons so I’m able to crossbreed those traits into the appropriate characters in CC. Everything has a purpose. Even the weird names of the characters were written with purpose and thought. The book took 18 years to write.  
Q: Tell us a little more about some of the stories behind the story?  And do you have a personal favorite?
Wow! The entire novel is a story behind the story. I lived the life for over 35 years as owner, comic, writer and producer so I’m able to dig deep from many different angles. But, if forced to choose here’s one: When the story crosses the border into Juarez, Mexico it’s because when I was working the road I played a club in El Paso and that’s where I went during the day. The scene where Jeffrey Boy begins his “road education” I lived in almost an identical manner. Even the material the character uses in the novel I used at that stage in my career.
Q: Finally, the burning question on everyone’s mind, now that you’ve proven Steven Wright wrong, where are you going to put it all?
I put everything into a 401k that tanked in 2008. I’m brilliant in that way. When I invest that’s usually the signal for the market to go the other way. I’m the groundhog.
*For more information on Marc and his new book, please visit Quotes of Note from Cape Comedy – Marc Weingarten

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