Accessibility links
It Ain't Easy Getting to the Top Comedians Richard Lewis and Esther Ku talk about what life is really like as a stand-up comedian trying to snag that big break in show business.

Performing Arts

It Ain't Easy Getting to the Top

Heard on Talk of the Nation

Listen to this 'Talk of the Nation' topic

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/91922566/91922558" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

The old stereotype of a stand-up comic is a man or woman who struggles to make ends meet — living the dream of one day making it big, but in the meantime working in seedy, underground clubs ... and making peanuts. Comedians Richard Lewis and Esther Ku talk about what the stand-up life is really like.