# Tracking down comedian via an obscure joke **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 19, 2016, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tracking-down-comedian-via-an-obscure-joke/775158 "2016-12-19T17:57:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2016, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tracking-down-comedian-via-an-obscure-joke/775158/1 "2016-12-19T17:57:31Z")
Sometime in the late 70’s (or possibly early 80’s) I saw a comedian on TV who I thought was funny at the time but his name never stuck in my mind. For all I know it was a young Jerry Seinfeld, but the fact is I’d love to know who I’ve forgotten. The obscure joke (which I’m probably misremembering) was something like “I realized my mother might not love me when I found her in my room sharpening the furniture”. Does this ring a bell to anyone? ---
**Author:** ![JSexton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@JSexton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JSexton)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2016, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tracking-down-comedian-via-an-obscure-joke/775158/2 "2016-12-19T18:40:17Z")
I think I know who you mean. Sad sack persona, looks like Ray Romano, has done of ton of small roles in movies. Can’t think of his name for the life of me, or think of single movie that he’s been in to loopk him up on IMDB, though. ---
**Author:** ![pyromyte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d26b3c/32.png) [@pyromyte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pyromyte)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2016, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tracking-down-comedian-via-an-obscure-joke/775158/3 "2016-12-19T21:31:47Z")
Sounds like Rodney Dangerfield to me. These sounds like they are similar and fit the time-frame you mentioned: “I could tell my parents hated me. My bath toys were a toaster and a radio.” “I remember the time I was kidnapped and they sent back a piece of my finger to my father. He said he wanted more proof.” “My mother never breastfed me. She told me she only liked me as a friend.” “My mother had morning sickness after I was born.” ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/22080_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2016, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tracking-down-comedian-via-an-obscure-joke/775158/4 "2016-12-19T21:55:12Z")
[Fred Stoller?](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Stoller) ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2016, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tracking-down-comedian-via-an-obscure-joke/775158/5 "2016-12-19T22:00:53Z")
> [@JSexton](#): > > I think I know who you mean. Sad sack persona, looks like Ray Romano, has done of ton of small roles in movies. Can’t think of his name for the life of me, or think of single movie that he’s been in to loopk him up on IMDB, though. Sounds like Steven Wright, or something he’d say. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2016, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tracking-down-comedian-via-an-obscure-joke/775158/6 "2016-12-19T22:01:59Z")
> [@JSexton](#): > > I think I know who you mean. Sad sack persona, looks like Ray Romano, has done of ton of small roles in movies. Can’t think of his name for the life of me, or think of single movie that he’s been in to loopk him up on IMDB, though. Steven Wright? Although he’s more deadpan than sad sack. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2016, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tracking-down-comedian-via-an-obscure-joke/775158/7 "2016-12-19T22:03:49Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > [Fred Stoller?](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Stoller) This is who I was coming in to say. Saddest sack in comedy. ---
**Author:** ![JSexton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@JSexton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JSexton)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2016, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tracking-down-comedian-via-an-obscure-joke/775158/8 "2016-12-19T22:56:11Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > [Fred Stoller?](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Stoller) That’s who I was thinking of, thanks! Not sure if OP was thinking of him or not. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2016, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tracking-down-comedian-via-an-obscure-joke/775158/9 "2016-12-20T01:45:24Z")
My first thought was [Dom Irrera](http://https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dom_Irrera). ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Downtown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Mr\_Downtown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Downtown)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2016, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tracking-down-comedian-via-an-obscure-joke/775158/10 "2016-12-20T05:05:25Z")
Certainly sounds like [Emo Phillips](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ab6LWXeNDA) material. “As a kid, I used to be so excited about the first snowfall. I’d run to the door and say to my mother 'you know the deal. Now let me in.” ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2016, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tracking-down-comedian-via-an-obscure-joke/775158/11 "2016-12-20T05:06:45Z")
Sounds to me like Emo Philips. One of his most famous lines was “Some mornings it just doesn’t seem worth it to gnaw through the leather straps.” Other quotes: [https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/e/emo\_philips.html](https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/e/emo_philips.html) > **[Emo Philips - Wikiquote](https://en.m.wikiquote.org/wiki/Emo_Philips)** > **[TOP 25 QUOTES BY EMO PHILIPS (of 203) | A-Z Quotes](https://www.azquotes.com/author/11609-Emo_Philips)** > > Discover Emo Philips famous and rare quotes. Share funny quotes by Emo Philips and quotations about comedy and wife. "I used to think that the brain was..." One of my favorites: > [@](#): > > Once I saw this guy on a bridge about to jump. I said, “Don’t do it!” > He said, “Nobody loves me.” > I said, “God loves you. Do you believe in God?” > He said, “Yes.” > I said, “Are you a Christian or a Jew?” > He said, “A Christian.” > I said, “Me, too! Protestant or Catholic?” > He said, “Protestant.” > I said, “Me, too! What franchise?” > He said, “Baptist.” > I said, “Me, too! Northern Baptist or Southern Baptist?” > He said, “Northern Baptist.” > I said, “Me, too! Northern Conservative Baptist or Northern Liberal Baptist?” > He said, “Northern Conservative Baptist.” > I said, “Me, too! Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region, or Northern Conservative Baptist Eastern Region?” > He said, “Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region.” > I said, “Me, too! Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1879, or Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1912?” > He said, “Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1912.” > I said, “Die, heretic!” And I pushed him over. ETA: Ninjaed! ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2016, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tracking-down-comedian-via-an-obscure-joke/775158/12 "2016-12-20T14:01:25Z")
I think the late 1970’s (or even the early 1980’s) is just a little too early to have seen either Fred Stoller or Emo Philips on TV. They were already working as stand-up comics at the time, but they weren’t appearing on TV. Dom Irrera is a little older and more likely to have been on TV during that period. But of course you may be remembering the time period wrong. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2016, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tracking-down-comedian-via-an-obscure-joke/775158/13 "2016-12-20T18:01:46Z")
> [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > I think the late 1970’s (or even the early 1980’s) is just a little too early to have seen either Fred Stoller or Emo Philips on TV. They were already working as stand-up comics at the time, but they weren’t appearing on TV. Dom Irrera is a little older and more likely to have been on TV during that period. But of course you may be remembering the time period wrong. [IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0680073/reference) gives Emo’s first appearance on David Letterman as 1985, which is probably where I originally saw him. The OP’s joke sounds _a lot_ like Emo, so I’m going to agree with **Wendell** that the OP may be a little off on the dates. ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2016, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tracking-down-comedian-via-an-obscure-joke/775158/14 "2016-12-20T18:39:25Z")
Not off on the dates. I was living in the dorms at school when I saw the act. I moved off campus Jan 1980. It wasn’t freshman year either, so it was either 1978 or 1979. Definitely not Emo or Rodney; I’m very familiar with them. I need to hear Fred Stoller’s voice - I kind of have an echo of the guy’s timbre in my head. ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2016, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tracking-down-comedian-via-an-obscure-joke/775158/15 "2016-12-20T19:24:30Z")
I gotta say Fred Stoller sure reminds me of the guy I’m trying to remember but his first appearance on TV was on Letterman in the 80s so he’s ruled out. ---
**Author:** ![Cartoonacy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/848f3c/32.png) [@Cartoonacy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartoonacy)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2016, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tracking-down-comedian-via-an-obscure-joke/775158/16 "2016-12-20T19:39:52Z")
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