DotComedyDotComedy - HomeViewer MadeTotally ViralStand-Up StraightThe MultiplexThe Idiot BoxDigital ShowsGot Feedback?Sign Up for the DotComedy Newsletter
Read This or Die
  • John Mulaney and I discuss Brooke Astor at an audition
  • Posted by Sean Crespo @ 05:49 PM

  • So I ran into my pal John Mulaney (who by the way describes himself on myspace by saying, "I am a comedian and rat-bastard living in New York.") at an audition today. It was for some spot involving a "kooky" office guy, a megaphone, and repeated, forced hugging of a very understanding actress. Riveting stuff.

    Anyway, I had brought with me a copy of the NY TIMES and had been reading a front page obituary titled "Brooke Astor, Wry Aristocrat of the People, Is Dead at 105."

    Beside the fact that few if any socialites are ever described as "of the people" let alone "wry," John and I were having a hoot discussing the Astor family history. It turns out the Astors made their initial money from fur trading. I think our shared thought was that "fur trading" was such an anachronistic path to wealth, the Times may as well have said that the Astors made their original fortune in, well, steam.

    mulaney.jpg
    Photo by Mindy Tucker, drinkatwork.com's resident photomancer.


    John and I then had a fun conversation (that I think went pretty much like this) where we pretended to be an interviewer speaking to the heir to the "(insert wealthy sounding name) Steam Billions."

    "So your family made its fortune in steam?"

    "Yes."

    "You mean in steam engines?"

    "No, just steam. Raw steam. My great grandfather collected steam from the air and sold it to factories."

    "Wow that's amazing."

    "And tragic. He died in a sauna..."

    "The very thing that made him rich..."

    "...took his life, yes. Ironic."

    "Not really."

    "No it isn't, is it?"




    So that was fun.


Your Comments
Add Your Comments
    Name:
    Email Address:
     Remember personal info?



They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Well let us cut out that middle man for you and "paint" you approximately 1/10 of a picture right here.

Imagine it, a whole juicy chunk of DotComedy dedicated not to video, no, but to glorious, glorious WORDS and pictures. We know, right? Words and pictures of all things! It's almost retro to use them in this age of VIRAL VIDEOS. So if you find that you're better able to appreciate the nuanced pleasures of a well-turned phrase while all the kids are off GAWKING at their fancy STREAMING WEBCASTS, READ THIS OR DIE may be just the place for you.

Plus you'll get to know the DotComedy writing staff one mean-spirited, celebrity skewering, pop culture and politics eviscerating dotblogedy at a time. Enjoy!