Steven Wright on Letterman: 1990

[RenegadeEntertainmen]

it takes the audience like a second or two to get the joke....hes a genius

[TheMrBlinx]

How can someone so funny smile or laugh so little?

[ZombieMonkey7]

Ponies brought me here

[inachu]

I met Steven on the Metro on shady grove in maryland. He was just as surreal.

[SamWaterstonFanatic]

He looks like George Costanza with long hair.

[therealplease]

Steven Wright looks like Jeffery Tambor..... Hey now !

[szqsk8]

Whats up with the audience? This is great stuff and they can hardly muster a giggle! love the periscope/kaleidoscope joke. "We're surrounded!". hahaha.

[Kydos37]

@szqsk8 American audiences...

[WomackPhotoKCMO]

@Kydos37 Fuck you....

[JohnGee1977]

@WomackPhotoKCMO That's the extent of your abilities to express?

[1skullduggery]

i accidentally poured 'spot' remover on my dog....now he's gone.

[Veaseify]

Its all surreal abstract stuff, my favourite is the one about when he moves into a new apartment and theres a switch in the kitchen that doesn't seem to do anything. This annoys him so much he flicks it up and down a few times times every day until one morning 'I got a postcard from a woman in Germany saying cut it out'. People are used to comedians making observations about everyday situations - Steven Wright's comedy is observational about a world that doesn't exist - just pure genius.

[boydman117]

It's funny to hear a Steely Dan song introduce a comedian instead of radiohead or coldyplay.

[Scarfgod2011]

nah the problem with the audience is there new yorkers they wouldnt know what funny is.

[novembre8211]

I used to work in a fire hydrant factory. You couldn't park anywhere near the place

[iamthecoolest96]

I put instant coffee in a microwave oven and almost went back in time

[zakmcdonald1]

I hate when people complain about audiences how about you let people appreciate comedy in the way they feel you think people are sitting there like no way Im not gonna laugh at this shit just cause you like it doesnt mean everyone else has to (this is really funny though)

[AllTheCoolKidsHateMe]

They probably don't get his dry humor, the laughter is a bit weak

[toomuchpetrol]

my uncle was a weird guy.....artificial legs; real feet.

[Evilacidfunker]

He must have been doin great back then he was about to play at the oakdale musical theatre in walingford, conniticut im sure he was pumped for that one

[CaptainJackLawless]

@Evilacidfunker steven wright doesnt get pumped

[ijdgaf323]

What's his intro music called?

[Thevalleyoftar]

@ijdgaf323 It's the guitar part from "Reelin' in the Years" by Steely Dan.

[GreenJokerToker]

he would look good bald in this video

[filmmekker]

A true original, probably the most influential comedian ever. He inspired Mitch Hedburg, Dimitri Martin and many others.

[tornadoslaye]

i cant wait for the 25th of july

[bean111689]

one of my favorite people ever-so clever and completely redefines the the rules of comedy

[Pulse120]

He looks cooler older.

[ilovemy1roo]

mitch hedburg us way funnier

[JayDee3453]

@ilovemy1roo no

[finnemccool]

@ilovemy1roo No way! I like Hedberg, but he took his whole delivery and routine style from Wright. Wright was the trail blazer-Hedberg was the follower.

[Sabre809]

@finnemccool Actually the routine, and delivery style is called beyond exceptional one liners, and its a quite common style of stand up comedy, a lot of comedians did it all the time, one popular one was henny youngman, but so far Emo Philips was considered the master of this style of comedy.

[finnemccool]

@Sabre809 I am familiar with Henny Youngman and the one liner style of comedy. It was the main comedy style from Vaudeville up to the 60s. On vaudeville, comics had to get the audience laughing quickly or get booed off the stage, or worse. But Wright brought back the the one liner with a twist, he had a deadpan delivery with jokes that were ironic and intellectual. Youngman and earlier comics were much different than Wright or Hedburg. Wright created this style of comedy.

[Sabre809]

@finnemccool Yeah, but even so it wouldn't be stealing any routine or delivery, if it was then every other one liner comic who uses this type of humor, even me would be in trouble.

[finnemccool]

@Sabre809 true

[Sabre809]

@finnemccool But I will say that he really did become one of the best thing that ever happened to the one liner world, along with some of the others, its sort of a dying brand you know? I'm hoping that once I start getting out there more that i'll be able to be an extra push, but compared to guys like this i'm nothing lol.

[finnemccool]

@Sabre809 Yes, most comedians nowadays are conversational, do impressions, or tell comic stories. Best of luck to you, then.

[Sabre809]

@finnemccool Thanks, I got my first show on this tuesday, i'll post a vid so you can tell me how I did.

[corwinorr]

Ever listen to K-Billy "Super Sounds of the Seventies"?

[smoothymcgyver]

@corwinorr Reservoir Dogs FTW!

[Bubbaist]

This guy is ADD for sure. Not ADHD, but ADD. Trust me on this one. If you want to know the difference between ADD and ADHD watch this guy and then watch Robin Williams. Robin Williams let it be known long ago that he was ADHD (imagine millions of people saying "Gee, ya think" all at once). Believe me, only an ADD person would come up with the stuff this guy does and have the mannerisms he does.

[DannieJo33]

@Bubbaist Soooooooooo true... LMAO

[MrTheBlueshound]

thats Danny Gatton playing into the commercial

[chelsei88]

First time I saw him laugh

[MrThreepack]

I think this is the first time I have actually seen Steven Wright break character and laugh.

[mrhandsome513]

Yea it's all about personal taste and what you find funny. @ 2:30 he tells a pretty good joke about wet paint that flops...i wanted to jump through the screen and strangle all the people who didn't laugh...

[TaffyRaphie]

I think he's hilarious, but it's not laugh out loud funny. there's a difference. Some things I find much funnier then others, but one will make me laugh out loud and one won't

[TheEXpothead]

he's steven wight cuz he's alright right :D

[FourElementsProd]

OMG! Who let Beetlejuice out?!

[MrWazesx]

letterman looked so weired

[Vindrutetorkaren]

Imagine Steven Wright as a kid... I can't do it.. :D

[akercocke666]

im glad he's rocking a skullet!

[Conspiracyknowledge]

0:49...thumbs up if that joke would be MUCH MUCH funnier if he said "every coffe is instant coffe if you drink it quick enough"...huuuh? niiice =)

[MrWazesx]

@Conspiracyknowledge naa it wud be more funny if he said " i dono the last time the coffe companys have looked in a dictionary but im pretty sure instant isnt 2-3 minuets"

[ThisIsNotAFakeAcount]

HOLY SHIT LOOK AT LETTERMANS HAIR!

[LostCityisaBand]

he and Demetri Martin are my favorite comedians!!! What would you call their style? Dry humor?

[J0hnnyTrash]

@LostCityisaBand Deadpan.

[kombiman1986]

@LostCityisaBand

Surreal.

[MegatronYES]

@LostCityisaBand dry declarative. 

[1992bilal]

@angela1894

wright did, hedberg was inspired by it

[angela1894]

who invented this style of comedy ? Wright or Hedberg ??

[captainbedworthy]

I do miss good dry humor on late night TV. Wherever did it go?

[trje246]

hey it was his birthday just last week!...if he reads this...happy birthday for last week Steve! LOL

[TheAtheistParadigm]

@trje246 i saw him up in seattle, washington hillariousssssss

[jedimardi]

LMAO at 7:43!

[RKO1585]

@theeyeoftheduck they remember it by repetition, they rehearse it over and over again until they memorize it. kind of like an actor with a script.

[ninau1]

I think Steven is brilliant he has 2 liners

[gtc1961]

I went into a General Store and they wouldn't sell me anything specific......

[chubbylilloser85]

@theeyeoftheduck From what i understand they write downs ome new joeks and try their best to remember them. After a week of practice. they go and do little clubs around the country (that hold 50-150 people) and do it there. While there doing that if they forget it, it dosnt really matter. they keep doing it and fine tweeking for any dead jokes then they take it to the larger clubs/Tv shows (if they can) Like the other guy says. When you do it over and over and over.. youll remember it :D

[ShelterDogs]

@chubbylilloser85 Absolutely right. Just like with an instrument. There are no "talented guitarists" or what have you. They just play the damn thing over and over... for a long number of years and that's how they get good. Most people aren't capable of that kind of persistence practice, though.

[TakuMcShizzles]

how long are you going to be gone? the whole time. HAHAHAHAHAAHAH!

[ShelterDogs]

@TakuMcShizzles Pretty good! That is one to use regularly.

[RottNBrain]

@theeyeoftheduck

cause they came up with the stuff, i mean if u make something up and repeat it few times then u will remember the lines for sure my good friend!

[cyberslick18]

Wow, I would do anything to rock that hair do with that much swagger. You're looking at a legend people!

[nicaskey1]

I got a paper cut writing my suicide note, it's a start..

[arcticjungle6]

PAULA ABDUL JABAR

i rofld.

[KennyGJE]

I couldn't repair your brakes, so I made your horn louder.

I almost had a psychic girlfriend but she left me before we met.

OK, so what's the speed of dark?

How do you tell when you're out of invisible ink?

...

When everything is coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.

Everyone has a photographic memory. Some just don't have film.

Many people quit looking for work when they find a job.

I intend to live forever - so far, so good.

[G9GQ]

i can't believe it's not jewish

[baggedyman]

Is this really what he is like when he is not on stage? Or is this just his persona

[lladsbid]

loving the steely dan intro,

[scotty88hh]

The funniest thing about this is letterman wasn't bald.

[BRUC2016]

That was back when Letterman wasn't telling annoying political jokes 50% of the time....and now he looks like he eats baby food through a straw.

[vcanucks22]

Cant wait to see him october 22nd!

[The1onTV]

holy shit, letterman had hair!

[sicknparanoid]

I like how the guy with the guitars just standing there in the back

[CasiMirLtd]

does anyone else feel like letterman don't really give a damn when he says "very entertaining.".. he probably dont mean it, but everytime he says it i cringe with the feeling of awkwardness..

[fluidgripe]

@CasiMirLtd part of the comedy perhaps? maybe he's pointing out that wright's style of performance isn't what you'd first think of when defining "very entertaining"

[619Joe182]

his funniest joke here was one word: okay

[mellotrongirl]

haha back when shaffer had hair..

[FreeBlago1]

Steven doesn't make you laugh hard out loud, but he is very entertaining, kinda wierd.

[gegak]

I spilled spot remover on my dog...now he's gone...

[theycallmelefou]

The original mitch h everyone

[FullyAutoMathmatics]

check my stand up on my page yall, similar style to steven wright. ive won a bunch of competitions and i feel like no comic can beat me

[zekethehillbilly]

looks more like robby krieger vs. jon lovitz to me. This dude is one funny motherfuker though. Too bad stand up's bomb on Letterman's show no matter how good they are.

[johnkorner]

letterman is probably the worst fake laugher ever

[tompaulcampbell]

@johnkorner No, that would be Ed MacMahon.

[FullyAutoMathmatics]

check my stand up comedy on my page yall. my style is different then most comics

[batrama310]

Dryer than a toasted double peanut butter sandwich...but I love it.

[Georgie2500]

"okay" lmao

[achmedlolol]

What the fuck is up with the audience are they all on ritalin

[psychopath360]

@achmedlolol There's not a huge number and the acoustics probably aren't incredible. It's a pretty fair reaction.

[poorfa4s]

@achmedlolol its cuz letterman fans are generally lame and lack luster..

[Monkeyman2357]

@achmedlolol I'd be surprised if they were...ritalin makes you hyper.

[pkleo73]

@achmedlolol was thinkin the same. lol

[conkerrule2]

lol he funny as hell but no emotion what so ever

[theycallmelefou]

@conkerrule2 really no emotion, I wonder if its some sort of act?

[enduserx]

This looks more like 1980 than 1990.

[riverSKYeagle]

Thank you for posting this, really.

[JerkyJudas]

dry as ever......one of the greatest stand ups in the world !

[BootCampFX]

3:20 I had a dream there was a 7 foot woman in my room, jumping around, singing, dancing. I said, "who are you"? She said, "Paula Abdul Jabbar". :)

[MOBMakaveli]

same material over and over again! :(

[savantiflag]

Yay Steely Dan

[earthygreen]

nothing but one liners...

[pjp1996]

gay

[1McMurph]

To me they aren't super hilarious but the creativity is just amazing.

[joel230182]

@1McMurph dry humor.

[damonsucks1818]

hilarious

[beingnorm]

he looks a little like Neil Diamond...

[AcerFilms]

I got food poisening today but I don't know when to use it lol

[odiumimbues]

i bet mitch hedberg was inspired by this guy somewhat.. they are both one liner extraordinares

[lebaneseridah]

Also stewart francis

[TheSteveness89]

Truth syrup!!! lol

[bleedingxxaurora]

I love the creativity in his jokes

[FrOsTbItEz2]

who's zachary taylor? the president?

[pringlekiller1]

lol

[Mikezors1]

man i love how funny this guy is ....oh an steven as wellLOL im jk steven write is funny

[theartofnotbeingseen]

@ihalloway how are you stupid again?

[brokeneck]

because of you

[EDITquette]

wow.... retardedly cold crowd

[garciare1]

The audience is drain bead.

[KaptKan1]

I went to the fabrics/sewing department and asked the lady if she had any "invisible thread".

She said, "Yes, we do."

I said, "How do you know?"

[ShrededToDeath]

@terryhendrix6  wtf no?

[brewcrew01984]

I think your missing the point you jack ass.

[dfg12345678910]

He used the "pancakes material" on Craig Ferguson show two nights ago!

[beardly01]

You know right now somewhere David Letterman is fucking an intern. Lucky bastard. Thats pretty much irrelevant.

[Perktube1]

I liked it when he said he walked his dog all at once.

[BeauEvil]

Isn't 6:11 a little blatant? ;-)

[ecfcman]

Avoid his Barber at all costs ! Mind you hia barber has a great sence of humour !

[wickkidda]

In school, every period ends with a bell. Every sentence ends with a period. Every crime ends with a sentence.

[AwshomeneshShquared]

How do you know if you're out of invisible ink?

"Steven Wright"

[BeckyBoo1532]

i only knew about hi because it was on family guy, when the fcc cencered real life and made fart sounds into steven wright jokes

[Sylar03]

I spilled spot remover on my dog and now he's gone.

[BeckyBoo1532]

@Sylar03 omg yeah HAHA lmao!

[kiralight8]

hes all serious "thanks"

[rjm12757]

Who is Zachary Taylor? Who is Brian May? Don't you people know ANYTHING??

[colinmcmb]

I'm Brian May

[eyevangogh]

arent YOU Brian May....??

[cindyshealed]

I adore Brian May.

[nevshaun]

Who is Brian May?

[RobHaynes]

he is the lead guitar player for the band Queen.

[ledcaveman]

no, but you are a fucking moron

[turnipsturnips2]

my left nut looks like brian may

[ravenhunter1]

Everybody seems to look like Brian May.

[DethFalconProduction]

your mom looks like brian may.

[HPLovethrash]

you look like brian may.

[radonhus]

He looks like Brian May.

[ThursdayEnterprise]

why is he talking bout zachary taylor

[generalmoses33]

i imagine it was a joke from 1990...

[bluebeetle585]

Back then, they exhumed Zachary Taylor's body to see if he'd been poisoned. There had been rumors of that since he died back in 1841, so to find out once and for all, they checked it out. And I have no idea what the findings were.

[stylin60es]

who the hell is zachary taylor?! ha

[ThursdayEnterprise]

he was a president

[GoldenSlumbers109]

lol i listened to this guy on satellite radio for like a month now and i thought he was black cuz of his voice

[PortlyPete]

AH HAHAHAAAA HAA LOOK AT DAVES HAIR!!

[MesaAZ90]

nice intro song

for all of you who dont know, it was

Reelin in the years by Steely Dan

[letmecomment]

GENIUS

[Archmetal06]

haha back when letterman had hair..

[Natesmodelrailroad]

@Archmetal06: Letterman had hair?!

Maybe itt's just something that died on his head.

[clownpRon]

I poured spot remover on my dog, and now he's gone...