Seth Meyers is discussing his new HBO stand-up special, “Dad Man Walking,” when his 8-year-old son Ash visits. He was trying to remain calm while his father was on the phone.
“He has a helpful toe-toe gait that is 1/10th his normal speed,” Myers said. “Now he’s taking papers out of the printer one sheet at a time. He’s finally leaving… He’s also wearing pajamas that look like prison stripes.”
It’s no surprise that Myers faces a typical parenting hiatus while answering questions about “Dad Man Walking.” The film is primarily filled with wry observations on modern fatherhood and is in contention for the Golden Globe Award for best performance in stand-up. . Although his day job as host of “Late Night with Seth Meyers” is mostly political comedy and celebrity interviews, he enjoys the different muscles he uses while honing his stand-up skills.
“I feel like the whole staff is really good dance partners on ‘Late Night,’ where we all know what we’re looking for,” he says. “It’s such a thrill to be doing a stand-up special and suddenly come to Philadelphia and realize, ‘Wow, if I were at Studio 8, a lot of people would help me out,’ even if it’s just for one day. Hair and makeup. But there’s a rush to get on stage and make people laugh. And fine-tuning your words is something you can do in a stand-up special, and that’s what I’m really drawn to.”
The process of crafting and perfecting a joke is important to Myers as a writer. He was able to hone his stand-up skills during this time through a series of co-headlining gigs and a stay in New York with his friend and fellow talk show host John Oliver. Meyers says he’s constantly jotting down interesting ideas and real-life situations on his phone, and can tell what’s working by reading the nuances of his audience’s reactions.
For example, while many of the jokes are affectionately poking fun at his three children (Ash, 6-year-old Axl, and 2-year-old Adelaide) and wife Alexie, Myers is quick to draw the line if he goes a little too far. can be found.
“It’s how you feel when you deliver it. Sometimes it’s even just the way people laugh,” he says. “You asked her out and she’s like, ‘We’re talking about my wife!’ But if you’re worried that she won’t like it, try it first and make it work. If it doesn’t, there’s no reason to bring it up to her. To her credit, she’s always very supportive if it works.”
After all, giving viewers a look back at their lives with their families is an important part of Myers’ love language.
“I love stand-up because it’s so different not only in format but also in subject matter,” he says. “There’s something universal about my family, and even though I lash out pretty hard about them, it’s important to note that I love talking about them. They’re my favorite people. Sometimes on Late Night, which is a show I love, we spend a lot of time talking about people we don’t have much love for. That’s why I’m happy to spend an hour sharing anecdotes and observations about my family, who are the best people on the planet. ”
When our conversation ended, Ash re-entered the room, still wearing his prison striped pajamas, and attempted to say goodbye to both me and his father. We all wish each other good night. Myers is rested and ready for some more silly time before bed.
