August 9, 2025
Hello people who have Pomeranians and know how important it is for their fur and skin and body image to brush them almost daily. And hello people who own Pomeranians and refuse to brush them daily because it isn’t fun fighting with your dog daily.
Happy Saturday!
I started off the week by getting a last minute request to host a comedy show at Gotham Comedy Club. The show went well. Jim Gaffigan stopped by and did 20 minutes. I get to introduce him pretty frequently at Gotham, and I always find watching him to be instructional. In most other fields, you’re not privy to the inner workings and the creative process of those who are at the top of their game. Could you imagine sitting next to J.K. Rowling while she worked on Harry Potter? Actually…that might be kinda boring…just a lot of her sitting, quietly writing, daydreaming about what she’d do with the billions she was sure to make from the Harry Potter franchise. So to watch another comic come in, week after week, and test out and refine material is pretty cool.
The other day I was talking with some comics about how hosts can run the risk of being pigeonholed into hosting. I think it’s a valid point, I know several comics who host more than they do spots. But it’s also kind of a pointless problem. Because when someone asks if you want to host a show, you can just say, “No” and/or ask other people for regular spots. I find a lot of would-be problems are like this. If you’re worried that drinking too much might mean you’re becoming an alcoholic, just stop drinking. If you’re worried people will think you’re too hilarious because you’re always cracking them up with your jokes, stop making jokes. I guess what I’m saying is stress is make believe.
Moving on.
On Tuesday I had a callback for a commercial that will most likely appear on cable news channels watched exclusively by elderly people. I can’t tell you exactly what product the commercial was selling, but suffice to say it probably hangs out with its friends Reverse Mortgages, Buy Gold Bullion, Mesothelioma Class Action Lawsuit, and the ever-popular, Self-Catheter. During the callback, the casting director and director told me I exuded warmth. It was a compliment, but not as huge of one as you might think. The bottom of their casting email says “Casting emphasizes authenticity, warmth, and relatability across all roles.” Am I generally a warm guy? Yes. But was I doing my darnedest to make sure that warmth came through the callback because I desperately need to book something to make it to the age where I can buy the product I might be selling? Also yes.
Moving on.
I got a hair cut on Thursday. My barber slash hairstylist and I have been in a cold war. For as long as I’ve been seeing him—since about the beginning of the year—he’s left a chunk of hair long to cover up where my hair is receding. I don’t want the chunk long, because it takes extra time to style that chunk. I have to blow dry the chunk to seal it into place, when all it wants to do is to fly free and let my true hairline show, no matter how far back on my head it’s gone. I’d had enough of the cold warring this week and asked him—nicely, he had scissors—to cut it off. He did it so quickly and without any pushback it would almost make you think there was never a cold war in the first place.
Moving on.
Wiff and I had friends over last night which meant we spent most of the day cooking and cleaning. I like having an excuse to clean but also wonder why I need an excuse to clean. Here’s the menu, in case you’re curious:
THE MENU
Mixed nuts, cerignola olives, and Cheez-Its with Pol Roger
Sous vide filet mignon roast with heirloom tomatoes, grilled serrano salsa verde, and fresh horseradish dip
Roasted tricolor potatoes
Blanched haricot verts
They brought dessert, a “tiramisù” from Whole Foods that was more like a tiramisù spongecake. It was tasty—I ate my entire portion with such reckless abandon it made me forget about my growing paunch until this morning—but I wouldn’t call it tiramisù. Speaking of tiramisù, I went to Rome in December and learned how to make really good, really easy tiramisù. I should probably put that up on my website, eh?
Anyway, hope all’s well.
Chow for now,
Anthony
