Comedy legend Albert Brooks talks about his early days in radio, television variety shows, standup comedy, and writing gigs. He shares stories about Jack Benny, Garry Shandling, George Burns, Paul Lynde, and his mom. They also discuss the influence of radio, the challenges of performing and filmmaking, and the importance of presenting something authentic in acting. A notable mention is the use of British head mics and wrap around mics in TED talks.
Brooks learned early on not to have any expectations and to focus on the joy of performing.
Albert Brooks found the waiting and loneliness of touring to be challenging and ultimately preferred the creative control and decision-making involved in making movies.
Brooks realized the importance of not attaching his sense of self-worth to public recognition or fame, allowing him to focus on his own creative journey without the need for validation from others.
Deep dives
Early Career and TV Appearances
Albert Brooks started his career in radio and made appearances on a variety of television shows in the late 1960s, including the Dean Martin Show and the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. Despite working with established comedians and performing on popular shows, Brooks learned early on not to have any expectations and to focus on the joy of performing.
Performing on the Comedy Circuit
After finding success on television, Brooks ventured into the stand-up comedy circuit, opening for Neil Diamond and touring different clubs. While he initially stuck to his TV bits, he eventually transitioned to more conversational and improvised performances. Though he enjoyed his time on stage, Brooks found the waiting and loneliness of touring to be challenging and ultimately preferred the creative control and decision-making involved in making movies.
Lessons Learned from Comedy Legends
Albert Brooks had the privilege of meeting and interacting with comedy legends like Jack Benny and Paul Lynde. Their experiences and conversations taught him valuable lessons. Benny's candid remark about his own legacy made Brooks realize the importance of not attaching his sense of self-worth to public recognition or fame. This revelation allowed Brooks to focus on his own creative journey without the need for validation from others.
The Joy of Total Control in Filmmaking
Brooks found the medium of filmmaking to be a perfect fit for his creative mindset. It offered him complete control over the final product, allowing him to make decisions without worrying about audience approval or expectations. For Brooks, the ability to exert complete control and immerse himself in the filmmaking process was both fulfilling and empowering.
The Challenge of Directing a Movie
The speaker reflects on the challenges and insecurities they faced while directing a movie based on a concept by Warner Earhart, who focused on programming dreams. Despite initial doubts, the speaker found inspiration from a Margaret Mead quote, which led them to develop a movie idea that goes beyond portraying the real life of others and explores the real life of the camera. They gained confidence in their directing abilities after seeking advice from Carl Reiner and eventually took on the directing role themselves.
The Importance of Staying True to Your Vision
The speaker emphasizes the importance of staying true to your creative vision, even in the face of pressure from studios and critics. They share examples of filmmakers who compromised their artistic integrity by changing the endings of their movies based on studio feedback, resulting in disappointing outcomes. The speaker highlights the significance of maintaining artistic compass and not succumbing to external influences, as it can impact future creative decisions. They also discuss their own experiences with defending their movie endings and the importance of believing in and standing by their work.
A conversation more than a dozen years in the making, Albert Brooks finally agreed to sit down with Marc overlooking the Pacific Ocean at The Georgian Hotel in Santa Monica. After recently going over parts of his life and career in a documentary directed by his friend Rob Reiner, Albert fills in the gaps with Marc, talking about his early days doing bits for radio stations and television variety shows, his standup sets in LA clubs, and his first writing gigs. There are also lots of stories along the way about folks like Jack Benny, Garry Shandling, George Burns, Paul Lynde and Albert’s mom.
