comedy : NPR

By Impersonating Her Mom, A Comedian Grows Closer To Her

Think of human relationships as entanglements. How do they bind you; how do they reveal who you really are? Daniel Horowitz for NPR hide caption

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Daniel Horowitz for NPR

Shots - Health News

By Impersonating Her Mom, A Comedian Grows Closer To Her

January 30, 2015 • Human relationships are entanglements, and those connections often aren't clear to us at all. When Maria Bamford impersonated her mom, she realized what she loved about her — and about herself.

By Impersonating Her Mom, A Comedian Grows Closer To Her

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Iranian-American Filmmaker Breaks Out Of Boxes, Into The Box Office

Desiree Akhavan plays Shirin in Appropriate Behavior. Akhavan says she chose the name Shirin because it means sweet in Farsi. "Even though she's insane, she has a sweetness," says Akhavan. Desiree Akhavan hide caption

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Desiree Akhavan

Code Switch

Iranian-American Filmmaker Breaks Out Of Boxes, Into The Box Office

January 17, 2015 • Desiree Akhavan wrote, directed and stars in the new comedy Appropriate Behavior. It's informed by her life as a bisexual Brooklynite, but the film, like its maker, defies easy categorization.

LISTEN: Akhavan on clichés and being compared to Lena Dunham

3:55

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Comedian Andrea Martin: 'I Don't Think Age Has Anything To Do With It'

Comedian Andrea Martin performs at New York's 54 Below in 2012. She published her memoir Lady Parts in September. Michael Loccisano/Getty Images hide caption

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Michael Loccisano/Getty Images

Author Interviews

Comedian Andrea Martin: 'I Don't Think Age Has Anything To Do With It'

December 27, 2014 • Now in her late 60s, Martin says she's still "excited and enthusiastic" about her work and doesn't have any intention of retiring. She published a memoir in September called Lady Parts.

Comedian Andrea Martin: 'I Don't Think Age Has Anything To Do With It'

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Cameron Esposito has appeared on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, IFC's Maron and E!'s Chelsea Lately. Mandee Johnson/Right On! PR hide caption

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Mandee Johnson/Right On! PR

All Things Considered

Hugs For Hecklers: Cameron Esposito On Life As A Lesbian Comedian

October 11, 2014 • Esposito discusses her new album, Same Sex Symbol, and tells NPR's Arun Rath she feels concern for the people who heckle her about her sexuality: "I just wonder, what's up with your life? Are you OK?"

Hugs For Hecklers: Cameron Esposito On Life As A Lesbian Comedian

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Passionate Proclamations With Gilbert Gottfried

"Every time something pops in my head, I think twice about it and I do it anyway." - Gilbert Gottfried. Joe Scarnici/Getty Images hide caption

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Joe Scarnici/Getty Images

Ask Me Another

Passionate Proclamations With Gilbert Gottfried

September 18, 2014 • The legendary stand-up discusses "crossing the line" in comedy. Then, in his signature voice, he whispers sweet nothings into your ear in a game about famous romances throughout history.

Passionate Proclamations With Gilbert Gottfried

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Did You Hear The One About The Stand-Up Comedian And The Podcast?

Comedian Al Madrigal co-founded All Things Comedy, a hybrid network and cooperative of more than 50 podcasts. Mandee Johnson hide caption

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Mandee Johnson

All Tech Considered

Did You Hear The One About The Stand-Up Comedian And The Podcast?

August 19, 2014 • It used to be that a TV appearance was the key to success for comedians. In the past five years stand-up comedy has seen a global revival thanks to the Internet, and in particular, thanks to podcasts.

'Guardians Of The Galaxy': Let's Hear It For F.U.N.

Gamora (Zoe Saldana) and Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) have some adventures together in the terrific new Guardians Of The Galaxy. Jay Maidment/Marvel hide caption

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Jay Maidment/Marvel

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Guardians Of The Galaxy': Let's Hear It For F.U.N.

July 31, 2014 • The most surprising thing about the latest film in the Marvel Universe may be as simple as its genre: while it certainly has your space battles and big fights, it's a straight-up comedy.

Clerical Error Puts Church On New York's 'George Carlin Way'

George Carlin opens the 13th annual U.S. Comedy Arts Festival at the Wheeler Opera House in Aspen, Colo., in 2007, a year before his death at age 71. E. Pablo Kosmicki/AP hide caption

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E. Pablo Kosmicki/AP

The Two-Way

Clerical Error Puts Church On New York's 'George Carlin Way'

July 10, 2014 • The street named after the late comedian, who was known for his blistering attacks on religion, ended up being a block longer than city officials intended.

Comedian And Actor Sid Caesar Has Died At 91

Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca in a scene from Your Show of Shows. Caesar, whose sketches lit up 1950s television, died Wednesday at 91. AP hide caption

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AP

The Two-Way

Comedian And Actor Sid Caesar Has Died At 91

February 12, 2014 • The multitalented Sid Caesar, who took live and complex comedy skits on the air as a pioneer in 1950s TV, has died at 91. Caesar, who established a new comedic tradition in America before he was 30, died in Los Angeles this week.

Portlandia / IFC

NPR Extra

Portlandia Public Radio Tailgate

January 29, 2014 • Carrie Brownstein and Fred Armisen host a public radio tailgate in their new Portlandia sketch.

Muslim Comics Tour America To Fight Stereotypes With Laughs

Dean Obeidallah and Negin Farsad, co-directors of The Muslims Are Coming! Shereen Marisol Meraji/Code Switch hide caption

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Shereen Marisol Meraji/Code Switch

Code Switch

Muslim Comics Tour America To Fight Stereotypes With Laughs

September 17, 2013 • 'The Muslims Are Coming!' is a new documentary that follows Muslim comics performing stand-up routines all over the U.S. Their mission: help Americans equate Islam with funny, not fundamentalist.

Muslim Comics Tour America To Fight Stereotypes With Laughs

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You May Not Want To Look: Blobfish Named 'Ugliest Animal'

The blobfish: world's ugliest animal? NOAA.gov hide caption

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NOAA.gov

The Two-Way

You May Not Want To Look: Blobfish Named 'Ugliest Animal'

September 12, 2013 • The whimsical Ugly Animal Preservation Society held an online vote to find a mascot. The blobfish, "a mass of pale, jelly-like flesh with puffy, loose skin," is the "winner."

Comedian Hari Kondabolu On Diversity, Race And Burger King

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Opinion

Code Switch

Comedian Hari Kondabolu On Diversity, Race And Burger King

July 18, 2013 • An Indian-American comedian unafraid to joke politely about race and politics, Hari Kondabolu regularly challenges long-standing beliefs with his material. While his comedy is about being treated like an outsider, the jokes offer a sense of community.

Comedian Hari Kondabolu On Diversity, Race And Burger King

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An Anthropologist Walks Into A Bar And Asks, 'Why Is This Joke Funny?'

Megan Lutz, left, and Justin Chun react to amateur comedian Robert Lynch at the Metropolitan Room in Manhattan, N.Y. Lynch is an anthropologist researching what laughing reveals about us. Melanie Burford for NPR hide caption

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Melanie Burford for NPR

Shots - Health News

An Anthropologist Walks Into A Bar And Asks, 'Why Is This Joke Funny?'

August 6, 2012 • Graduate student Robert Lynch is on a quest to deconstruct our built-in instinct for humor, and find out why making people laugh could be important to the way we've adapted to survive.

An Anthropologist Walks Into A Bar And Asks, 'Why Is This Joke Funny?'

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Friday January 30, 2015

By Impersonating Her Mom, A Comedian Grows Closer To Her

Saturday January 17, 2015

LISTEN: Akhavan on clichés and being compared to Lena Dunham

Saturday December 27, 2014

Comedian Andrea Martin: 'I Don't Think Age Has Anything To Do With It'

Saturday October 11, 2014

Hugs For Hecklers: Cameron Esposito On Life As A Lesbian Comedian

Thursday September 18, 2014

Passionate Proclamations With Gilbert Gottfried

Tuesday August 19, 2014

Thursday July 31, 2014

Review

Thursday July 10, 2014

Wednesday February 12, 2014

Wednesday January 29, 2014

Tuesday September 17, 2013

Muslim Comics Tour America To Fight Stereotypes With Laughs

Thursday September 12, 2013

Thursday July 18, 2013

Comedian Hari Kondabolu On Diversity, Race And Burger King

Monday August 6, 2012

An Anthropologist Walks Into A Bar And Asks, 'Why Is This Joke Funny?'