Shelley Berman Quotes

I quit smoking well over twenty years ago.

I was an actor before becoming a comedian.

As a culture I see us as presently deprived of subtleties. The music is loud, the anger is elevated, sex seems lacking in sweetness and privacy.

While you`re improvising, you may come up with something which will break him up. As soon as that smile comes out, you know that, hey, we`re having fun.

I will always love to perform standup comedy.

Today`s audiences are different only insomuch as today`s people are different, and I do not think today`s people are substantially different.

The Steve Allen Sunday night show had the right to two options after my first performance.

I believe it is important for comedians to know who came before them.

Incidentally, I`m still looking for acting work, my first love.

My first job was at a Chicago night club called Mr. Kelly`s.

Though it sold very well, I hated The Edge.

But, let`s face it, I`m a Chicago boy.

I am presently in my thirteenth year of teaching a graduate course at the University of Southern California.

Outside came in `60. The Edge in `61. All three made Gold, but the biggest seller was Inside.

The most memorable performance was my appearance in concert in Carnegie Hall. The first standup to do so.

So that this thing that aired in 1963 would result a few years later in personal bankruptcy, would result in having people be on edge with me, wondering when I`m going to blow up.

While in New York, struggling for a theatrical career, I started writing sketches, free-lance, for the Steve Allen Tonight Show.

Unquestionably, standup comedy is and has always been an art form.

The old problems - love, money, security, status, health, etc. - are still here to plague us or please us.

I developed several comedy phone calls.

Inside was the second LP album of a comedian`s performance before an audience.

My whole act is confession.

I am in the Master of Professional Writing program teaching Humor Writing, Literary and Dramatic.

As much experience, education and awareness as one can attain is important for a comedian.

I am careful with my material and presentation.