JRE #1547 – Colin Quinn

This podcast features a conversation between comedian Joe Rogan and Colin Quinn, a veteran comedian known for his work on “Saturday Night Live” and “Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn.” The episode delves into a wide range of topics, from Quinn’s observations on New York City’s current state to his reflections on the nature of comedy and the impact of social media. The conversation sparks discussions about political leadership, the future of comedy, and the cultural shift towards cancel culture.

Here are some major topics discussed in the podcast:

New York City During the Pandemic

1. Colin Quinn describes New York City’s atmosphere during the lockdown, comparing it to the city’s seedy vibe in the 70s, but with a sense of “deterioration” and a drastic change from just six months prior.
2. He credits Rudy Giuliani’s tough stance on crime for transforming the city in the 90s, noting the drastic shift from a crime-ridden city to a relatively safe one.
3. He criticizes current mayor Bill de Blasio for his handling of the pandemic, claiming his policies have led to a further decline in the city’s safety and overall quality of life.
4. The conversation touches upon the topic of social justice and its potential impact on New York City’s future, highlighting the anxieties some New Yorkers have about the city’s direction.

The Future of Comedy

1. Colin Quinn and Joe Rogan express their concerns about the state of comedy in the current landscape, highlighting the shift from traditional clubs to outdoor and virtual shows.
2. They discuss the pros and cons of performing in smaller, more intimate settings, emphasizing how these can expose the true strength of material and the importance of testing jokes on audiences not familiar with your work.
3. The conversation explores the concept of “cross training” in comedy, suggesting that diverse settings and audiences are crucial for developing a well-rounded act.
4. They touch upon the rise of stand-up comedy specials and how they have changed the comedy landscape, emphasizing the constant need to produce new material and deliver a polished set.

Political Landscape and Cancel Culture

1. The discussion delves into the debate surrounding the use of “law and order” rhetoric, specifically pointing to President Trump’s controversial statement “stand back and stand by” directed at white supremacist groups.
2. They highlight the potential for social media to create a distorted view of reality, emphasizing that viral content often showcases the most extreme examples of behavior, leading to generalizations and misperceptions.
3. They discuss the complexities of cancel culture, acknowledging the difficulty of separating individual actions from broad societal issues, and the potential for false accusations and overreactions.
4. The conversation touches upon the challenges faced by women in comedy, highlighting the perception of a different and often more difficult path to success, and the complexities of gender roles and expectations within the industry.

Comedy’s Connection to Existentialism

1. Colin Quinn and Joe Rogan explore the psychological underpinnings of stand-up comedy, suggesting a connection to existentialism, where a sense of detachment and indifference can be a powerful tool for humor.
2. They discuss the importance of not allowing discomfort to hinder your performance, emphasizing that vulnerability can be a detriment to a successful set.
3. They examine the role of hecklers and crowd work, acknowledging the delicate balance between engaging with the audience and maintaining control of your performance.
4. They reflect on the unique relationship between the comedian and the audience, suggesting that comedy acts as a form of shared experience, where the comedian leads and the audience follows, creating a collective state of mind.

The Dark Side of Success

1. The conversation explores the pressure of fame and its potential pitfalls, particularly for comedians whose acts are based on personal experiences and observations.
2. They discuss the challenges of maintaining a strong creative drive and avoiding complacency, highlighting the importance of constant work and self-reflection.
3. They touch upon the phenomenon of hero worship, particularly in the context of Bill Cosby, questioning how much of our admiration for comedians is based on their comedic talent and how much is influenced by their public image and perceived success.
4. They reflect on the legacy of iconic comedians like Sam Kinison, discussing the impact of personal tragedies and the potential for altered personalities and behaviors, leading to both brilliance and self-destruction.

Conspiracy Theories and the JFK Assassination

1. Joe Rogan and Colin Quinn discuss the enduring fascination with conspiracy theories, particularly in the context of the JFK assassination and the ongoing speculation surrounding Lee Harvey Oswald’s role and the potential involvement of other actors.
2. They highlight the widespread belief that Oswald was a “patsy” and that the assassination was part of a larger conspiracy, examining the evidence and the motivations behind various theories.
3. They discuss the role of the CIA and the mob in various historical events, including the Manson Family murders and the assassination of JFK, examining the historical context and the potential for manipulation and cover-ups.
4. They touch upon the role of social media in perpetuating conspiracy theories, emphasizing the ease of disseminating information without proper scrutiny and the potential for misinformation to spread quickly.

The Mob’s Influence and the Transformation of New York

1. Colin Quinn and Joe Rogan discuss the historical influence of the mob in New York City, specifically highlighting the mafia’s control over various industries, including sanitation, restaurants, and liquor distribution.
2. They reflect on the transformation of New York City under Rudy Giuliani’s leadership, acknowledging the positive changes in crime rates and overall safety, but also noting the potential downsides of gentrification and the loss of the city’s unique character.
3. They discuss the complexities of the mob’s legacy, acknowledging the romanticized view of the era, but also highlighting the dark side of organized crime and its impact on individuals and communities.
4. They examine the broader cultural context of organized crime in American history, connecting it to the JFK assassination and the potential for powerful figures to manipulate events behind the scenes.

Memorable Quotes

• “You can’t say it’s like the 70s because it’s not. It’s like something’s deteriorated. There’s a collapse and then there’s all this weirdness that comes along with that.”
• “This is his second term. Yes. He got reelected. Oh, he swept both elections. That’s hilarious, you know, and now we’re finding out. Yeah. Oh, he’s he’s a dipshit.”
• “It’s like social media only captures the things that are viral, right? The things that you’re going to watch are only going to be viral. And the ones that go viral, the ones that are really bad.”
• “You do need a couple of those in life. You just need to know that it’s possible. You just need to be like, Oh, what does gritty mean to you? Let me tell you, it’s not midnight cowboy. That’s a movie. Real gritty is you get stabbed, and then it gets infected. Then you’re in the hospital for six months.”
• “The only person I saw survived that gauntlet was Dom Ira. Dom Ira was saying,ra, I can say it. He murdered, he went up there and he was famous enough at the time that the lot of the audience was there to see him. And he was working so much, he was cool as a cucumber. He would go on and his material was so goddamn funny. So funny. So solid. He went up there and he killed.”