EXTRA CRITICUM

Feeling like the only one in the room.

*by Yvonne Delet

In these days of being PC and 'picking a political side' as opposed to talking about what one is actually seeing and knowing as true is befuddling to say the least. I find my comedy, in writing and performing even further from the mainstream than it's always been. I just watched the documentary, "Can We Take A Joke" and I was pleasantly surprised at comics discussing what Lenny Bruce and George Carlin did for us back in the day.

When I write or perform comedy I take George Carlin's advice: Find what the line is, cross it, take everyone with you and make them be glad they went. I recently hosted a comedy gig in Brooklyn NY where I came onstage wearing a jacket covered in 'boosters' and flashed my V passport which went all the way to the ground while saying, "this should be good for a month". I am happy to report there were both V'd and non V'd people there (I assume, I don't know for sure because you know 'mandates'), and EVERYONE LAUGHED. How wonderful that humor is alive and well, sort of.

I crossed the line and that night all or most of the audience came along for the ride. THAT is what creativity is supposed to be about. Inspire, stimulate, awaken to more than one idea. It reminds me of the movie "Quills' where the Marquis de Sade wrote with feces in a windowless cell at the end of his life, because he had to write what he was inspired to write no matter what the 'authorities' did to try to silence him.

Whether it's Lenny Bruce, George Carlin, The Marquis de Sade or the like speaking their truths, it seems like we are again in a time where the visionaries (used to be 'witches' as well), are trying to be silenced by the 'authorities'. Don't agree with my views, but please please please don't silence 'our voices', because we'll find a way and in the end it's very likely much of what we say you will find was / is true.

Hey there B job people ! (Not that B job)

So here I sit for over 15 years at my "B" (day actually, get your mind out of the gutter) job, still doing my craft, art, creative stuff, writing, making people laugh, what have you, thinking why am I still here and why do I still feel I need to explain to civilians that I deserve merit for my creative accomplishments?  "I'm a produced playwright damn it !" "I was in an internationally known improv company for 4+ years."  "I've hosted my own talk show/podcast for over 10 years before it was cool and everyone had one" and on and on and on.  "I am friends with Robert Horn who I wrote and performed with back in the day" (He just last year won a Tony for writing the book to Tootsie on Broadway).  Yes I now even name drop stuff like that because it's so frustrating talking to non artists about what I really do and hardly ever get paid for.  Here's the best one which I'm so proud of the way I handled: At Thanksgiving in Kingston NY at my friend Mike's house, who is a sex therapist, (not relevant except for who his guests were) had over a bunch of therapists and myself where an older woman therapist asked what I did to which I replied most of the above.  Her quick and automatic response was , "oh do you make a living at it?" To which I ingeniously replied (I know this was ingenious because my other therapist friends told me so later that evening after she left) "I'm not going to answer that question.  I do all right and I reach a lot of people."  Boo YA !  Finally after 1,000 years in recovery and therapy, I have the self-esteem to handle an age old question that in the past would have made me feel like a loser and a failure.

What is Success ?

I am grateful for being able to post on Extra Criticum and am sorry I haven't in a long while.  I could use the excuse that I now do a weekly internet radio show, work a day job and play poker on the weekends so who the hell has time for a single thing more but that would not be coming from a very grateful place now would it? 

So here I am posting, partly in response to Roland's last post and partly because I have been discussing and debating the topic of what artistic success is on my show, The Unknown Zone Talk Show, fairly regularly.

It's Time for another Episode Kiddies (not really kiddies - Adults Only Please) for THE UNKNOWN ZONE TALK SHOW - Episode 3 - "Saving the Environment" !

Yes it's true friends (and foes)...The Unknown Zone Talk Show (that's a mouthful) continues on...I am so proud and excited as I and all involved progress to a new level of insanity.

Your best friend calls you and tells you he/she's really sick? How do you show you care?

It's Time for another Episode Kiddies (not really kiddies - Adults Only Please) for THE UNKNOWN ZONE TALK SHOW - Episode 3 - "Saving the Environment" !

Yes it's true friends (and foes)...The Unknown Zone Talk Show (that's a mouthful) continues on...I am so proud and excited as I and all involved progress to a new level of insanity.

Facing one's Creative Fears...continually

So I've mounted my fakish talk/variety show The Unknown Zone Talk Show on public access television (BCAT) and now YouTube...so what's the big deal ?  It's a comedy show, something I do well and am doing on a small scale where it may or may not 'go anywhere' other then where it is now.

Despite some really wonderful feedback: Program Director at BCAT: "Yvonne I liked your show and wish more shows on BCAT were this good.  In fact I wish we had the ability to have you teach a class in this regard."  I also have had some negative responses as well.  It's an edgy show for sure.  What I hate about myself is that I still get defensive over what I do/write and who I am as an artist.  I'm no 'spring chicken' and have had tons o' therapy so why still apologize for what comes naturally to me and to those that don't like my humor or get it?  So what ?  Who cares ?

Brevity Fest IV to benefit The Rubber Room

The first NYC-based Brevity Fest will be held this Sunday evening, January 30 as a benefit for the upcoming production of The Rubber Room, co-written by E.C. authors Gary Garrison and Roland Tec. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased through Smarttix. There's a link at the bottom of this post.

Here's the current lineup that we've got confirmed:

To write for theater or not to write for theatre

To write for Theatre or not to write for Theater THAT is the question

So I wrote this one act play over 10 years ago where I let myself 'at it' no holds barred. Brought it to my writing group. They all loved it and thought it was 'typical Yvonne' but probably would never get produced being so edgy, 'out there', adult only humor, as I thought as well.

My New TV Talk Show on BCAT

Hey fellow Extra Critcum Dudes and Dudettes,

A lifelong dream of mine has now materialized...I am a talk show host of my very own talk show on BCAT public access television - in Brooklyn yo !

So if you can check it out... I've been compared to the following of which I admire them all in one way or another:

My fascination with Reality TV (fast food) and then my hunger for TV of substance (Showtime, AMC, etc.)

Ok...I don't believe it's a secret that I am a TV addict and have been since my early days of game show and sitcom watching i.e. Match Game '75, Password (with Allen Luden and a young Betty White) and of course That Girl, Bewitched and the like.  As I've gotten 'older' I strayed away from television and became a 'movie snob' seeing at least 5 movies a week in the theaters back in the 70's and 80's and then when Indie's became 'the thing' my snobbery only heightened as I 'swore' I would never (if offered) write for TV - 'so beneath me' - and would only write hardcore, very dark plays and/or screenplays.

This being said, nowadays I can barely keep up with the saved shows on my DVR and the list is long.  I look so forward each week to the following REALITY SHOWS: ANTM, Survivor, Project Runway (which does involve a lot of talent - COME ON !), The Celebrity Apprentice, A.I. (can't let this one go, it's killing me)... Shear Genius and so forth.  My rationale is that I watch to view the psychology of people, some regular and some yes celebrities without a script... Oh I forgot to mention Celebrity Rehab and Celebrity Fit Club - haunting and mesmerizing.

Yes it's true I'm a Certified BCAT TV Producer and I need YOUR HELP

Firstly, I am thrilled to be a BCAT (Brooklyn Community Arts Television) Producer and am now about to live a vision I had 10 years ago on public access television.

My actor/comedian/musician friends and I are working on a "Talk/Variety" show with me as the Host - hoping it will be a cross between Chelsea Lately, Craig Ferguson (The Late Late Show) and, yes it's true, Howard Stern (I am known for my potty humor and mouth).  There's only one major difference and we're not ready to reveal that just yet.

Thank You SHOWTIME for NURSE JACKIE

So who's been watching the new greatest show on cable?  NURSE JACKIE starring Edie Falco is the next best thing to dark chocolate truffles for this lady writer.

As I struggle working on my own original tv series (and other female predominant 'vehicles' since I am a female) I am grateful that SHOWTIME (the new HBO) has put together someone of her stature and talent, a wonderful show starring a wonderful actress, and a woman in the lead role.

Make Me Whole (my piece in Where Eagles Dare One Page Play Festival)

February has been quite a month for me.  I was asked to participate in the documentary "ENVY" as one of 16 performers each telling a 90 second monologue re: an envious moment in our lives and now this.  Well hey, it's nice to have back to back projects going on, I believe it's a sign of things to come (looking at the glass half full?  Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa?)  It's a fun little project and my piece is being directed by my friend and talented ex-Theatersports member, STOMP performer,etc. Peter-Michael Marino.  Hope you can make it.

Spring Cleaning or "It's Time to Use the Shredder"

Yes folks, it's been way too long since I went through my 'files' and cleaned out the 'no longer necessary.'  This includes not only bills and receipts of the past seven years (isn't that what everyone's accountant recommends?), but looking at files titled "New Ideas", "contacts", "Flyers-mine and others" and the like.  So far I've catalogued all my bills, i.e. cable, cell, Con Ed, etc. in binders for the last seven years and a binder for 'Rent' that includes all my leases for the past 6 years (since moving to Bay Ridge, Brooklyn yo) and the letters I've sent back and forth to the landlord re: 'yes I accept the new rent increase and wish to sign a lease for another year' and the back and forth letters re: the noise complaints from my downstairs neighbor who happens to work for the landlord - now there's a story in itself for another day.

Craig Ferguson How Could You Do This To Me?

Yes it's true Craig Ferguson or Craig-i-la as I use to lovingly refer to him has married.  I knew he was involved with someone for like the last 3 years but then he took it to the next level and married 'her'.  I'm sure I'm not the only one to have admired him in this way, but I knew once we met the sparks would fly.