Andy Kindler becomes the ultimate “comic’s comic” each July when he delivers the annual State of the Industry Address at the Just For Laughs comedy festival in Montreal. Essentially, it’s Kindler reminding the comedy industry what comedy is all about. It’s a must-see event each summer. And it all grew out of an article Kindler wrote for National Lampoon magazine in the early 1990s called “The Hack’s Handbook,” which highlighted all of the lazy ways people tried to be comedians at the tail end of the 1980s comedy boom.
Around that same time, Kindler enjoyed his first big break on TV on the annual Young Comedians Special for HBO in 1992. That year, Kindler took the stage along with the young Ray Romano, Janeane Garofalo, Judd Apatow, Nick DiPaolo and Bill Bellamy. Kindler would go on to co-star as a recurring character on Romano’s hit CBS sitcom, Everybody Loves Raymond. Kindler also enjoyed a run as a regular guest and special correspondent for Late Show with David Letterman. You can still hear Kindler’s voice as a character on FOX’s animated hit, Bob’s Burgers, as well as see him playing a version of himself on IFC’s Maron.
I spoke with Kindler in Montreal, one day after he’d delivered his 2015 State of the Industry. We talked about his love of music, his evolution from a duo act to a stand-up, the differences between going for broke and going broke, and who are acceptable targets in comedy for jokes themselves. And much more.
For reference: You can hear Andy Kindler’s 2015 State of the Industry here.
Past years:
- 2014 State of the Industry at Just For Laughs, by Andy Kindler
- 2013 State of the Industry at Just For Laughs, by Andy Kindler
- 2012 State of the Industry at Just For Laughs, by Andy Kindler
- 2011 State of the Industry at Just For Laughs, by Andy Kindler
- 2010 State of the Industry at Just For Laughs, by Andy Kindler
- 2009 State of the Industry at Just For Laughs, by Andy Kindler
- 2008 State of the Industry at Just For Laughs, by Andy Kindler
- 2007 State of the Industry at Just For Laughs, by Andy Kindler
The Comic’s Comic Presents Last Things First is produced by ShowBriz Studios.
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