I must admit I am nervous about getting Alzheimer's. Once it hits, I might tell my best joke and never know it.
Joan RiversRead
We don't apologize for a joke. We are comics. We are here to make you laugh. If you don't get it, then don't watch us.
Interpretation
Comedians are not obligated to justify their jokes; their primary role is to entertain.
In this quote, Joan Rivers emphasizes the role of comedians in society as entertainers who aim to provoke laughter without the need for apology or explanation. Rivers suggests that humor is subjective, and if a person does not appreciate a joke, they are free to choose not to engage with that comedic content, underscoring the artistic freedom associated with comedy.
In practice
This quote can be used in a stand-up comedy show to remind the audience of the nature of humor.
I must admit I am nervous about getting Alzheimer's. Once it hits, I might tell my best joke and never know it.
"I've learned what's funny verbally ain't so funny on e-mail: They don't hear your intonations. Melissa broke up with somebody over that. She tried to tell him: "That was a joke!" But he just didn't get it. Mick Jagger said, "F- 'em if they don't get the joke." And I love him. That comes with age: Knowing it's their problem, not mine."
I enjoy life when things are happening. I don't care if it's good things or bad things. That means you're alive.
Life goes by fast. Enjoy it. Calm down. It's all funny.
Life is so tough. I don't know how old you are, but I've seen so much in a wink. One phone call and your life is changed forever. We all know that. You better laugh at everything.
I walk on a stage, and I know if it's been a good show or not. You know when it's been a good interview. No one has to tell you. You know it. You feel it. You can feel the air. You can feel everything about it when it's a good show. And you know when you've messed up.
And off we go, out onto the highway looking for a little fun. Perhaps a flatbed truck loaded with human cadavers will explode in front of a Star Trek reunion. One can only dream and hope.
I was the first woman to burn my bra - it took the fire department four days to put it out.
She looked at nice young men as if she could smell their stupidity.
It is very vulgar to talk about one's own business. Only people like stockbrokers do that, and then only at dinner parties.
The laughs mean more to me than the adoration. If two girls walk up to me and one says 'you're cute', I'll say 'thank you', but I appreciate it much more when the other one says 'you make me laugh so much'.
I've found nothing but support and generosity from older comics. I think comedians are a lot nicer than the stigma is, at least from my experience.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.