Living on Steven Wright Time

by Brian McKim & Traci Skene on September 20th, 2007

J. Ridewood, interviews Steven Wright for the UT Austin Daily Texan on the occasion of the impending release of Wright’s second album, “I Still Have A Pony,” and the tour to support same.

“I realized that there is a whole generation who was born after my last album. I thought I could reach a whole new audience.”

Writing and performing jokes is a fluid process for Wright. He explains that he is “always adding things, taking stuff off. Good jokes slowly evolve through touring.”

He does, however, employ a simple technique for rooting out the jokes. If he tells a joke three times and each time it doesn’t go over well, then he’ll scrap it. He promises that his new album consists of the jokes that stood the test of time.

Wright’s career trajectory has been unlike any other. Over two decades, he has starred in a watershed HBO special, created an Oscar-winning short, released a seminal album, appeared in small roles in another 15 films, produced another film, starred in another HBO special. It seems like a lot when it’s all lumped together like that, but when you consider that it was spread out over 22 years, it’s positively Joseph Heller-like. Yet Wright remains, mainly by virtue of his first LP and his first special, one of the most influential and recognizable comedians of all time.

from → News • 0 Comments - Let's discuss! • Print-Friendly • Back To Top