Sheplives

Last Summary Update: 08-12-2020

Jersey Tales: Jean Shepherd Style
Airdate: Tuesday - December 7, 1976

audio

I need a copy of this show. Do you have a copy? email me

First Spoken Line After Theme Ends

Not Determined Yet

Show Description

MADISON - Why is New Jersey Funny? "Jersey is extremely exciting to me. When I come over the George Washington Bridge I can feel a pulse beat. . . Two Guys. . . that's the epitome of Jersey." That doesn't answer the question. But it does define the sparkle in Jean Shepherd's eyes. "I can't explain it," Shepherd says later after 2-1/2 hours of tales of Jersey, the adventures of Flick and Schwartz and on-going commentary on society at Fairleigh Dickinson University Sunday night. A lot of comics and humorists tell Jersey jokes, Shepherd makes a career of it along with his boy-hood tales of growing up in South Chicago, Hammond, Indiana, places where the sky is hazardous to your health. "There are a lot of theories about it," he continued. Finally, Shepherd sums up that Jersey is as funny as Brooklyn used to be. Shepherd is by his own definition a humorist, as opposed to a comic, an improvisational performer, as opposed to an ad-libber, a professional who's "in command at all times." "I guess kids think I just come in and talk," said Shepherd. When asked how long last night's performance took to prepare, he replied, "probably all my life." Dressed in a blue denim leisure suit, Shepherd, with glasses tinted just right, is perhaps just tired. But he also seems a cool, controlled contrast to the animated performer who moments before was striding in large loping movements, flaring his arms to make a point, wrinkling his nose while digging his hands deep into his pockets to become little Jeannie who wanted a Red Rider BB gun and almost shot his eye out in the end. (You might call the extended story a Shepherd morality play.) The audience Sunday, largely college age, with a fair sprinkling older, is a contrast to what Shepherd says is his normal audience. "Seventy-five percent of my readers and listeners who are probably under 13." Kids, Shepherd said don't ask if he ever thought of changing an ending to a story. Kids, he said, also understand the humor better that adults do. Although, perhaps it is difficult to understand that children would better understand his attack on phoniness in media. It seems beyond kid-level when he declares the media teaches us "Life is a Robert Redford movie," making us feel inferior to the movies where people "pretend they are something they are not, written by a writer who never experienced it either." For those familiar with Shepherd's nightly appearance on WOR radio, he comments that "radio is just a hobby with me." His "most important performing is done onstage." What makes Shepherd laugh? "Life in general." As a humorist, he said, he doesn't go to see humorists or comics work. He says there are no good young humorists, he does not listen to radio and has never heard - he says - the Barry Farber show.

So far there is no Description for this show

Commercials (All times approximate)

Not Determined yet

Music (All times approximate)

Not Determined yet

Needs to be ID'd

Engineers, Staff, and Guests in Booth

Not Determined Yet

Instruments and Special Effects Played During the Show

Not Determined

Rating

None Yet

Related Plots / Story Lines and Other References Used

Time	Category	Date	Title	Comments
•	Live Shows	December 5, 1976	Fairleigh Dickinson