2019-07-01_Readers_Digest_UK

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Stand

• Up

We laugh with American comic,

Jena Friedman

WHAT’S THE BEST PART OF YOUR

CURRENT SHOW? I’m still figuring

that out. But probably the end.

WHO INSPIRES YOUR COMEDY? The

current political moment in America.

DO YOU HAVE ANY FUNNY TALES

ABOUT A TIME YOU BOMBED ON

STAGE? It wasn’t necessarily

bombing, but I performed for a bunch

of people who were Trump

supporters, and it was a funny set. It

was funny in a “meta” way because

they weren’t really laughing but I got

them to laugh a little bit in the end,

which was cool. Right now it’s hard to

talk about certain things in certain

parts of the US. We’re pretty divided

so if you can get people to laugh it’s

always a good thing, but it’s also

always funny when no one laughs.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE ONE-

LINER? The comedian Mark

Normand has a joke that goes,

“I don’t know why everyone is afraid

to die alone, I’m afraid to die in a

group.” I think that’s one of the

funniest lines and it’s true. It’s

terrifying to die.

WHAT’S YOUR MOST MEMORABLE

HECKLE? I like when the heckles are

weirdly positive—but they’re still

interruptions. When someone says,

“Yeah I totally know what you mean!”

It makes you think, You’re not helping,

but thanks.

HAVE YOU FOUND ANY PLACES TO

BE FUNNIER THAN OTHERS? No, I

think everyone is funny in their own

way. The crowds I do best at are

usually in New York, San Francisco

or DC, for whatever reason.

WHICH SUPER POWER WOULD YOU

HAVE? Well I’d say invisibility but I

just have to wait until I’m in my sixties

for that. So, flying. n

“Jena Friedman: Miscarriage of Justice” is

playing at Assembly—George Square,

Studio 5 at 9:20pm throughout August as

part of Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Go to

jenafriedman.com for information

and tickets

JULY 2019 • 143

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