# Heckling comedians **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** comedian-jokes\ **Created:** [June 1, 2023, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heckling-comedians/984890 "2023-06-01T20:29:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2023, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heckling-comedians/984890/41 "2023-06-02T14:48:19Z")
Yes, Philadelphians have a working-class, tell-it-like-it-is, New _Yawk_-style attitude. I’ve always liked that (heck, I’m one of the few who actually likes the Philly _accent_, too). Of course, growing up in New Jersey, I was used to attitudes from both sides of the state…and from within. I got lucky in spending my next 4 years in Cleveland. Cleveland is another great working-class city, but with more of a rock & roll attitude (loved partying in the Flats and biker bars). Too bad it’s so fricking cold there, or I may have stayed! Maybe global warming will make Cleveland more livable. And, speaking of comedians, Philly-raised David Brenner was always a favorite stand-up of mine, although ironically, he was a gentle soul, with little bad attitude. He had a perpetual smile on his face that was endearing. I don’t believe he got heckled much. Had anyone heckled David when I was in the audience, I would have punched the heckler in the face myself (and I’m not a violent guy). ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2023, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heckling-comedians/984890/42 "2023-06-02T16:15:37Z")
> [@74westy](#): > > Just happened to read an interview with Sarah Silverman where she mentions how pleased she was to have a heckler while filming a TV special. > [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > Well this is a good place for Patton Oswalt’s fucking stellar essay on [heckling and rape culture.](https://www.slate.com/articles/arts/culturebox/2013/06/patton_oswalt_on_rape_jokes_joke_stealing_and_heckling.html) Thanks for posting a thoughtful and well written rebuttal to my arguably pro-heckler anecdote. I admire comedians who can shut down a heckler in a funny way because I want them to be shut down so I can get back to enjoying the show. I also can see the difference between “If I do a good job with this heckler, it’ll make my TV show better” and “I like being heckled”. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2023, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heckling-comedians/984890/43 "2023-06-02T19:26:04Z")
> [@Tibby](#): > > Of course, growing up in New Jersey, I was used to attitudes from both sides of the state…and from within. I lived in Jersey for six years. New Brunswick and Maple Shade. I liked many of the people I met, but that state is too damned crowded for a kid who grew up in rural Michigan. I’ll check out Brenner. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2023, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heckling-comedians/984890/44 "2023-06-02T20:19:29Z")
> [@Tibby](#): > > I believe the best stand-up comics are much brighter than they appear. Paula Poundstone would disagree. She is super smart, and doesnt play dumb. She often wins on Wait-Wait. ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2023, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heckling-comedians/984890/45 "2023-06-02T20:28:07Z")
One of the best comedians I’ve seen handling hecklers was Martin Mull, back in ‘74 when he was doing stand-up. Two responses stand out: “Ah, yes - I remember MY first beer!” and “Heh - I didn’t have to pay five dollars to see an asshole!” ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2023, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heckling-comedians/984890/46 "2023-06-02T20:34:35Z")
> [@Labdad](#): > > “Ah, yes - I remember MY first beer!” Still great a few years later when Steve Martin said it. ---
**Author:** ![slicedalone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slicedalone/32/12515_2.png) [@slicedalone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slicedalone)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2023, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heckling-comedians/984890/47 "2023-06-02T21:01:00Z")
Is it more about the great lines or about the attitude, do you suppose? I think they need to be prepared to dish it out for as long as it takes to shut the hecklers up. ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2023, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heckling-comedians/984890/48 "2023-06-02T21:17:58Z")
Interestingly, when I heard Mull say that in ‘74, it was during what was billed as the “Steve Martin Mull Show:” Steve Martin and Martin Mull doing stand-up one after another. Who knows, maybe they flipped a coin each night to see who’d use that line! ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2023, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heckling-comedians/984890/49 "2023-06-02T21:21:04Z")
I just hope I’ve remembered that right. Pretty sure it was on one of Martin’s albums. Love Mull but I doubt I’ve ever heard and album of his. ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2023, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heckling-comedians/984890/50 "2023-06-02T21:31:24Z")
I also remember that line from a Steve Martin album, it would have either been “A Wild and Crazy Guy” or “The Steve Martin Brothers”, the only albums of his I ever listened to. ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2023, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heckling-comedians/984890/51 "2023-06-03T11:08:08Z")
I once read an article on Rodney Dangerfield which claimed that he used paid shills in the audience. On one of his albums, a heckler called out, “How big’s your rod?”, and Rodney instantly replied, “Don’t you remember?”, which sounded like an example thereof. The article also claimed that one of Rodney’s shills was a young Andrew Dice Clay. ---
**Author:** ![Wolf333](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf333/32/3460_2.png) [@Wolf333](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolf333)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2023, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heckling-comedians/984890/52 "2023-06-03T12:13:54Z")
Hah! I lived in Maple Shade for 3 years! ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2023, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heckling-comedians/984890/53 "2023-06-03T12:42:39Z")
I grew up in Cinnaminson (not far from Maple Shade). ---
**Author:** ![slicedalone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slicedalone/32/12515_2.png) [@slicedalone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slicedalone)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2023, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heckling-comedians/984890/54 "2023-06-03T12:46:21Z")
How did this become the “Let’s talk about Philadelphia” thread? ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2023, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heckling-comedians/984890/55 "2023-06-03T12:47:10Z")
It’s because of your Sly Stallone icon. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2023, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heckling-comedians/984890/56 "2023-06-03T12:47:24Z")
Don Rickles [wrote the book](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/993050.Snappy_Comebacks_To_Stop_Hecklers?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=TAmcmSzy87&rank=1) on dealing with hecklers. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2023, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heckling-comedians/984890/57 "2023-06-03T12:59:20Z")
> [@Tibby](#): > > I grew up in Cinnaminson Does Todd Marcus ring any bells? ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2023, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heckling-comedians/984890/58 "2023-06-03T13:20:36Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Todd Marcus Exotic birds, or jazz musician? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2023, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heckling-comedians/984890/59 "2023-06-03T13:23:24Z")
It was a bird store in Cinnaminson back in the late 80s. I knew the owner and had some fun there. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2023, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heckling-comedians/984890/60 "2023-06-03T13:25:00Z")
I was long gone by the late 80s…but, I do like birds. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heckling-comedians/984890.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heckling-comedians/984890.md?page=4)