An Interview with Scott Blakeman - Political Comedian. Liberal Pundit. Talk Show Host. Nice Jewish Boy From Brooklyn.

Scott Blakeman has performed his political humor from a liberal Jewish point of view around the world, including the Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal, the Jewish Historical Museum in Amsterdam, and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland. Scott was featured on MSNBC's live coverage of the 2010 and 2011 White House Correspondents Dinner.
He appears weekly as a liberal pundit on FoxNewsLive.com. Blakeman is an original member of Laughing Liberally and appeared in the Off Broadway comedy revue Laughing Liberally: This Ain't No Tea Party at the Midtown Theater at HA! in New York. He hosts a political comedy talk show The End Of The Week As We Know It at The Tank in New York, with a panel of liberal and conservative pundits. Blakeman co-hosted with Keith Olbermann, a celebration of James Thurber at the 92nd St Y, where he has also interviewed Robert Klein, Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara and Lewis Black.
Blakeman tours with Palestinian-American comedian Dean Obeidallah in Standup for Peace: The Two Comedian Solution to Middle East Peace. Scott was the warmup comedian for the Late Show with David Letterman. Blakeman teaches the Standup Comedy Workshop at The New School, and his former students include Jon Stewart and Caroline Rhea.    

           

Last year "The Standup Comedy Center" had the privilege to interview Scott.

The Standup Comedy Center: The most important question first – who do you think will be the republican presidential candidate and who will win the next presidential election?
Scott: Romney: Obama.

The Standup Comedy Center: Complete these jokes "A Jew and an Arab walk into a bar", "Two Jews walk into a bar" & "Two Arabs walk into a bar".
Scott: "A Jew and an Arab walk into a bar", and they talk so much that they close the bar. "Two Jews walk into a bar", then they realize it's a bar and go to a deli instead. "Two Arabs walk into a bar", and they decide to meet the two Jews at the deli.

The Standup Comedy Center: Any plans on bringing "the Standup for Peace" tour to Israel / Palestine?
Scott: We would love to but no plans at the moment.

The Standup Comedy Center: What will be you dream gig? Performing at the ANNUAL WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENTS' ASSOCIATION DINNER?
Scott: That would be an honor to do, but it's a tough room for a comedian. Right now my dream gig would be doing a show for President and Mrs. Obama at the White House..

The Standup Comedy Center: As a person who teaches comedy workshop what is the single most important tip you can give someone who want to do standup?
Scott: Be yourself. Talk about what you want to talk about and not what you think people want to hear.

The Standup Comedy Center: Do you think about running for political office?
Scott: I've thought about it. Maybe some day.

The Standup Comedy Center: What do you think about the fact that most young Americans get their news from shows like "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart"?
Scott: Considering the fact the Daily Show covers the major stories in a way the real news media should but doesn't, I think it's fine if they get their news from the show. But they should look at other news sources as well.

The Standup Comedy Center: In your opinion who is the best Conservative Comedian?
Scott: I don't know of any comedian who does conservative political humor. I know conservatives who are comedians but they don't do much, if any, conservative political humor. The conservative writer PJ O'Rourke is funny.

The Standup Comedy Center: What is your favorite joke / comedy bit that you do?
Scott: Usually my newest joke that gets the biggest laugh is my favorite, so it constantly changes.

The Standup Comedy Center: Since you deal with political issues how do you handle political hecklers?
Scott: I rarely get hecklers, much less political hecklers. It's not common for any comedian actually, even though movies and TV shows always talk about hecklers. If I do get one, I try to talk to them in my own voice, in a non-confrontational way.

The Standup Comedy Center: Why do you think there are so many Jewish Comedians?
Scott: Jews come from a history of oppression, so humor has been a way to survive. Also Jewish families tend to be colorful inspirations for comedy.

The Standup Comedy Center: What is the best thing and worst thing that can happen to the US political system?
Scott: The best would be for Obama to be reelected. The worst is if he isn't.

The Standup Comedy Center: Thanks for answering my questions, any final words of wisdom?
Scott: Whether you're a comedian or not, it's important to take an interest in what's going on in the world. It's not about being interested in "politics", it's about caring about your life and the lives of others.