Mike Larsen "Comedy Stage to Congress" Interview Show #155

I get a chance to interview an old comedy Friend...Mike Larsen, who not only went from the comedy rooms of the Bay Area and working for me, to Television Writer for the likes of Drew Carey & Ellen DeGeneres. Mike also used to punch up speeches for politicians, to the point where he became the Communications Director for Congress Woman Jackie Speier. Top that off with a run for Congress representing Ohio, and Mike has had quite the career...all shared with us, so listen, enjoy, and share!

Hosted by: R. Scott Edwards

Transcript

Announcer: 0:04

This is another episode of stand up comedy, your host and emcee, celebrating 40 plus years on the fringe of show business, stories, interviews and comedy sets from the famous and not so famous. Here's your host and MC. Scott Edwards.

Scott Edwards: 0:22

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to another special episode of Stand Up Comedy hosted MC. And I've been having so much fun doing these interviews and connecting with old friends in the business. Well, I've done a lot of work. It took a little extra effort to get this young man on the show for us today. He is not only used to be a terrific stand up comic, he was a huge success on TV and won an Emmy Award for his writing for HBO is Bill Maher special. He wrote for The Ellen Show, The Drew Carey Show, as I mentioned many years as a stand up comic. But wait, guess what? He ended up in politics. That's right, ladies and gentlemen. He not only has run for Congress, and other positions, but he was the communications director for Congresswoman Jackie Speier. He is a terrific guy. We're so happy to have him on the podcast. Ladies and gentlemen, Mike Larson.

Mike Larsen: 1:24

Wow, the crowd cannot believe it. Comedy to politics. Right. You Scott? Yeah, it was it. Now you were saying actually, there was a little bit of politics before comedy. Wanted to tell the audience about your exciting days in San Bruno. Well, yeah, honestly, it was all one in the same. It was all what you do when you're, you know, when you like telling stories, I guess. But yeah, I was involved in politics as a candidate ran for my city council at 19. And there's there's more to that. In fact, my my college freshman internship was on a in 1978 was on an initiative statewide initiative campaign that was being run by Harvey Milk at the time. And it was right before he was it was the same month that he was still in fact, politics, I was an and it was through politics, that I got a reputation reputation as being a funny kid. And people started asking me to give them jokes for speeches and stuff. That's really how, and then I started doing open mics here in there. So the fact that it kind of circled back around and now it's kind of both at the same time was kind of normal for me, even though I know from an outsider as well as weird. Let's just say Mike, I've interviewed a lot of old friends that used to play for my club. And Mike Larsen, I want to tell everybody was a terrific comic and worked for me for many years. But I it's so funny, because back when you were doing comedy for me, I don't think we ever discussed your previous history in politics. And then once you started focusing on comedy, now, San Bruno for everybody around the world is in the Bay Area, San Francisco Bay Area. Did you kind of get your feet wet playing clubs like the holy city zoo? Yeah. So I started doing open mics in San Francisco, maybe while still a student in SF State or shortly after. So the original cobs a holy city do the other cafe and the hate. Those are like, the local open mics at the time. And of course, the local acts were like, the comedy Hall of Fame. You know, Paula Poundstone. Dana Carvey, Robin Williams, so it was a wonderful place to learn how to be a comedian.

Scott Edwards: 3:47

Yeah, those of you were really hit that starting point. It's the right time. It what he's alluding to is the same time he was getting his feet wet and common in San Francisco. People like Paula Poundstone Dana Carvey, Robin Williams, in many many others were doing the same such a great pool of people to work with now, do you remember any of your early material did you keep it at that comedy first shots around in your brain?

Mike Larsen: 4:17

I'm I don't know. And my while I want to picture myself having been brilliant. I think my first US deaths were ripped off Lenny Bruce and George Carlin material that I tried to change a little bit I don't remember but I kind of have a feeling of that's how I started. It was like, This is what a joke is let me work from that. You know, and then you realize that, you know, there if anything works, and we go that's sorry, tireless.

Scott Edwards: 4:51

Well, it is interesting. A lot of people just getting into comedy will use what I'll euphemistically call a template. which is a setup, formulated maybe by some other entertainer. But I believe you would be the first honest politician to share the fact that you were borrowing or leaning on the talents of George Carlin to get started.

Mike Larsen: 5:17

George Carlin, Lenny Bruce, Allan King, so I steal from the best. Yeah, you know, if you if you get a steal, those are three of the best. So you were rambling around doing open mics, while you were at San Francisco State. And you was tough getting stage time. Of course, there was so many clubs at that time. You know, it was tough. I mean, it's always tough, right? I mean, where you're gonna find an open mic, or that tells you life is wonderful, you know, but it was always tough. You know, and this is my own chip on my shoulder. Because I was a kid from the suburbs. And the comics in San Francisco were mostly people who've moved there from New York and Boston. And you know, they were I had a big chip on my shoulder that I because I was a local even though there were great and Rob Snyder's like, grew up in the town next to me Pacific though, so they're same time. And, you know, Greg Proops, Dana Carvey, we're all local Peninsula people. But yeah, it was hard. But I gotta say it's a kind of, it should be hard to be a comedian.You know, it's the type of thing you have to pursue. When it's not fun, in order to get to the point where it, you know, becomes more fun than not, you know?

Scott Edwards: 6:38

Well, I think it's true in any career, that there's a certain amount of sacrifice, I'm sure even working on those early campaigns. It's a lot of footwork and hard energy to get something going. And the same with comedy. You have to kind of pay your dues.

Mike Larsen: 6:54

But you know, it's also and I know, you've you've certainly as a club owner for all those years as a performer, that the moth to the flame thing. No, it doesn't matter, right. I mean, you're paying your dues, but you're in the show. And even if you're, you know, like the guy, you know what, following the candles in the parade, you know, at least you're in show business, you know, so even the worst parts of open mic night meant, you know, I got bumped because Paula Poundstone, did 40 minutes. That's not a bad night. So, you know,

Scott Edwards: 7:24

right, right. And you're getting an opportunity, yeah, to share stage time with some other comic geniuses, which, as I mentioned in my recent book, that it's important to watch others because you can learn and in Garner talents and and thought processes in in interactions with the audience by watching other comics. And you were right there in the hub of where it was all happening. Well, do you remember what year you came to? laughs Unlimited,

Mike Larsen: 7:55

I believe Laughs, I remember last, seeing one of my first I was sitting in as a middle class, and maybe it was 90 maybe.

Scott Edwards: 8:06

Yeah, well, we've had a number of people mentioned that laughs might have been their first paid gig, or at least their first full week gig for the audience. A lot of the San Francisco clubs, being open showcase rooms, where a number of acts would rotate through the evening, where one night or you know, you do one or two nights, you would not get booked for a week. And for a lot of the Bay Area acts and other talent, like Gary Shandling when he came out of Phoenix, their first full time week, getting paid as a comic was laughs unlimited. And you were one of our regulars, because we thought you were smart, and funny and clean.

Mike Larsen: 8:47

Yeah, no. And you were I have often mentioned your name and other podcasts of every artist needs people who believe in him early on, you know, and no, you definitely were.

Scott Edwards: 9:05

You're welcome. But you earned it.

Mike Larsen: 9:06

Yeah, well, thank you. But you know, stage time is so valuable. And you can go drive just up to, you know, a couple hours in the city or, you know, six hours from LA, and get eight shows in front of good audiences, and then do it again, the following week, 20 miles away, and your app would grow by leaps and bounds if you were any kind of writer at all, you know, so I was, Oh, God, I love it and the audiences were hip. The whole show was always fun. You know, there was there was room to have him do improv, you know,

Scott Edwards: 9:42

so So you've kind of morphed out of the open mic situation. You're starting to get some paid gigs. Was there anybody you got a chance to work with in those early years that was really exciting for you or taught you something?

Mike Larsen: 9:57

Quite a few people very, very Early in my career like when I was still an open maker, it was will Durst and and maybe will gave me your number. I got some of my very first contacts from Wilbert. So that might be even how I met you. I don't know. I don't remember. But Will was a huge, huge he actually sat next to me craps on my house one night. And he opened up his address book the next day and taught me how to call a club afterwards. So very, very basic comedy one on one.

Scott Edwards: 10:31

But boy to get mentored by Will Durst, ladies and gentlemen Will Durst, one of the best political satirist ever to hit his stage. And what was great about Will was that he was able to talk politics on a level that everybody could relate to. In fact, I mentioned in your intro, you won an Emmy, by the way, congratulations, as one of the FBI was nominated for an Emmy, but it was the year that the Daily Show was also nominated. So they weren't, well, we'll just go with it. We're just gonna say you won. It's my podcast. But you are nominated for an Emmy for writing for Bill Maher. But I think what's interesting, and I want to use that as a reference Bill Maher is is a famous and nationally respected political comedian. However, I always felt that he sometimes spoke over the crowd and to the crowd as opposed to with the crowd will Durst I felt really had a way of making politics relatable to the regular audience. And to be able to be mentored by him and get help from him to get started is huge. Well, Durst is a hero in my mind.

Mike Larsen: 11:45

Oh, god, yeah. And, and for me, at that time, in my life, when I was just starting doing stand up, my politics was not in it at all other than that, it's who I am, you know, I'm a productive person, whatever, but I wasn't wearing it on my sleeve. You know, guys like dirt. And, and then another guy, another, you know, Bill Hicks from Texas who I got to travel with a lot to right guy. They both of them, just, you know, believing in me as a kid and saying, Hey, you should be doing this. You know, I think if not, or if it were other comics that maybe weren't as deep as those who were? Or are film abilities. Yeah, I was very, and but you know, got a big part of it was, I had a good 15 minutes at the, during the comedy boom, when they had a million headliner. And no middle action, no opening. You know, every town had a comedy club, and they needed and I I was there at the right time. And I was a good, like, a clean, funny opening. That could do my I could stretch if I had to.

Scott Edwards: 12:56

Yeah, well, it benefited you. Because not only did you start working, getting paid gigs at clubs around the country. But you weren't clean. And you were fun. And you had enough time. I know that you did at least two appearances on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Right. And you were starting to pivot? And what at what point did you decide it might be time to get off the road and start doing taking your comedy writing skills and turn it towards television, like the Ellen Show and The Drew Carey Show?

Mike Larsen: 13:30

Well, I don't know that it was so much as a as a career decision. So much as I you know, you get to a point, I always tell young comics to enjoy it because being broke in your 20s is a piece of cake, it's up. But if he's being broke in your 30s in your 40s Forget about it. You know, you get to a point where you're like I need you know, there's gotta be a way of doing comedy and having you know, so I had been, you know, trying some spec scripts, but not having a lot of luck. And then boy, you know, I got a break. Somebody the right person, Jim Doyle, who was running grace under fire, ran a script I wrote, oh, but even that was shooting at the time used to write a spec script, he would write a sample episode of an existing show, as a calling card, you know, as a writing sample, right, right. At the time. The Larry Sanders Show was a huge hit. We're very having played, you know, late show comic and every show started with a monologue. So for me, I'm like, This is awesome. I can write the first page of my spec script is going to be the best stand up I have ever written. So, you know, it was it was very opportune. For me. It was the smartest move I ever made professionally, was leaning into what I do. Where jokes For the first two pages, and then get into story, and so it worked. I mean, it was a it was a good lesson for me, but also a move I made on my own that I've been very proud of that I did.

Scott Edwards: 15:14

Well, and I think that you made a good point there is that comedy, especially road comedy, as much as it can be fun and rewarding when you're young as you get older, and you want to be started thinking about a family and stuff. And you have to make a living, that everybody needs to try to find their path. Some go into writing some go into corporate work, some going deeper into television, some stay on the road, but can increase their their bank with their celebrity. In your case you took to your talents as a writer, and your humor is a comic, put them together and you're able to do these scripts that got you some business in fact, didn't you end up producing your own show Crash and Burnstein?

Mike Larsen: 16:03

I ran you that was a kids show at Disney that I was the show runner. I didn't create another writer Eric fragrant, crazy. But yeah, I was exec producer on that show. But I got the right on that got the right on Ellen. After she came out. I wrote the first LGBTQ dating episode on network television. By coincidence, it was my turn to write a script. There are these things where I'm like, oh, that's kind of cool. Human rights campaigns and my name showed up on the list somewhere first says like, oh, you know, so yeah, I you know, and Doctor work with and still Still, I mean, I still do stand up. But, but got to work through television was just brilliant people that, you know, a kid from San Bruno had never had any business to think he was gonna meet. But also, you know, I asked a lot of questions. I was oh, no, I, you know, Larry Miller, who was a comic I met at your club, I opened to Larry Miller, an old Sacto, one of my personal favorites. And one of the best joke writers in the world, and a person who politically could not be more different than me. And we had some wonderful late night discussions about tests that were hilarious. But I asked Larry to teach me how to write a joke as if I didn't know how to run jokes. And of course, the answer is you don't. But I still use it to this day, just the basic beliefs in what a joke is.

Scott Edwards: 17:39

Again, it sounds like you really lucked out. Or we're had somebody looking over you, Mike, because to go from welders to Larry Miller, in people that are sharing and mentoring you in these ways, are two of the comic geniuses I ever got to work with. And I've worked with 1000s of people. So how lucky you were while doing the television writing for the listening audience? Is there anything kind of behind the scenes? People you enjoyed working with? Or aspects of the job? That's extra difficult? What what did you really enjoy as a TV writer?

Mike Larsen: 18:17

Well, we're writing can differences. One is scared me to death, because I had just been, you know, loser project comedian writing jokes at the Comedy condo like everyone else, you know, really, you know, that's the image we all have of art, you know, and I didn't know that I could work 20 hour days. I you know, and so, so early on when I learned the first day, I think the first hour I pitched the joke, I remember what it was, but it got a laugh in the room. And I remember I have that same feeling as getting your first lap on stage. You're like, Alright, here we go.

Scott Edwards: 18:55

Can you share that moment? What was the joke?

Mike Larsen: 18:59

You know what, it wasn't a joke. The story kicked. It was a it was the show was there. There was a little girl on the show, who got hit by a squirrel. And the character the sitcom episode was they have to find the squirrel to find out if it's rabid. And she says I would know it if I saw it. So I just get What if they catch all the squirrels in the neighborhood and have a lineup but I do remember that this day, and it got a huge laugh. And it was like, yeah. Like the comedy kind of getting a laugh amongst comedians, or like the green room was a place like the Comedy Store, you know, it's like, oh, yeah, all right. I belong here.

Scott Edwards: 19:46

Interesting how it is we get into this difficult art form, but when it works, the validation of others is so refreshing or so invigorating. see that it just makes you want, you know, you could bomb 10 times and you get that one big laugh, or that one big acceptance by your peers. And it just makes you did drives you it makes you want to keep going.

Mike Larsen: 20:12

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. No, because they're the perfect yo, at the perfect time. There's just nothing better than there might be another perfect one somewhere else, but it's not going to take away the perfect to this one. It's not like someone's gonna get 10.1. And the next joke, you know, there is there is a perfection that you can get and humor and you know it when you hear it or even better when you say it and get the response. It's like, oh, oh,

Scott Edwards: 20:41

yeah, when all the stars align in the audience and the comedy in your presentation, all work together for that precious moment. And what I like about comedy, unlike some of the other art forms, it that can't be repeated that moment is a moment forever. Right? Right. Like, right? You know, I mean, you can you can write a great song. And every time it plays, you go, Well, I enjoy that song. But that pales in comparison to that specific moment when everything lines up. The audience the joke, the timing the material. I mean, it really is a unique gem.

Mike Larsen: 21:24

Yeah, you know, musicians talk about being in the pocket, you know, when a band plays together, and they're just all they just everybody knows they're exactly grooving in the right way. That I don't know, I'm not a musician that way. But yeah, it's that way when you know, that automatic self criticism that we have, because we're funny people, as soon as it kicks in and trying to find to tell your brain what you just did wrong with that. And you're like, Nope.

Scott Edwards: 21:56

Well, that's true. Now, you were in television for a number of years as a writer, and he did some producing another work. Was there anybody you got to work with? That was extra fun. I've talked to a couple other writers. And they said it was interesting putting their words into the mouths, you know, into the voice of a particular actor. Was there anything that was extra fun or scary for you?

Mike Larsen: 22:23

Well, I'm working. I mean, mostly, it's the shows. I mean, again, their timing for me is that the shows in the late 90s, early 2000s, a lot of shows being driven by comedians, with big personalities. And so they needed joke writers, you know, so. So, you know, I got to work on the few carry show and the amazing people, other people that were in that show, and

Scott Edwards: 22:48

I'm gonna interrupt you, Mike, maybe what I'm saying is, it's got to be a little different writing for Ellen on the LGBTQ news topic versus writing for Drew Carey.

Mike Larsen: 23:01

Right. There knows Oh, and that was fun. And also, I'm telling you, that that's a talent, you don't know you have until you do it. I mean, the first person I had to write for was Brett Butler, I'm very centerfire who not only was she different from me, but was just because of the type of the mood in that show. The writer, she was like the enemy to do everything good. For and yet, you still have to not only make her funny, but make her look great man make yourself look like an idiot for not like, you know, part of it is. But you know, for me, I found that easier than writing stand up, because stand up has to be true to my soul. And writing jokes to someone else is not what I think works for them and somebody else. Many other people between me and it being on television, I guess, you know, changes if they don't like it, there's something very freeing about that.

Scott Edwards: 23:59

Yeah. And you're the second person I interviewed Karen Anderson, who wrote for Ellen for many years. And she

Mike Larsen: 24:07

did by the way, we work together at Old Sacto that we ever met that day. We're all best friends now.

Scott Edwards: 24:14

Oh, that's great. And well, she was making the point that she enjoyed stand up comedy, but she found it in many ways. Easier, right? Put it you know, writing to the voice of other people. And of course, she's had a great career doing that. Now you did it. You went next level. Let's move forward a little bit because you're taking all these talents as a writer and Intellivision. Didn't you also do some speech writing some punch up for politicians?

Mike Larsen: 24:48

Yeah, so throughout all of that, and throughout the entire time, you knew me as a fan of coming through old tech and set your sights. I was always writing in fact, every time I Performed in Sacramento. I had people from the state capitol coming to see me, you know, coming to see shows. So I still had those connections and Jackie spirit as someone who I later worked for, which was in Congress was in the State Senate. So yeah, I was always involved, I'd say that's kind of how it started for me. So there are people like, Jackie, who's known me long before I ever did stand up comedy. She's always known me as a goofy, funny kid who like politics, you know? So yeah, so I was always doing that. And I just recently finished a contract working at the Department of Agriculture for one of the Senate nominees writing speeches for them for six months. So for me, it's all the same muscle, and I love it. I love. I wish sometimes someone would write me a speech, because I just know that I'm so much better at putting words in someone's mouth than they are. Well, I can I wish someone can fix all my mistakes.

Scott Edwards: 26:00

I think it's fascinating that you were double dipping, and having all those people at the Capitol, come see you at my clubs. I shouldn't have been paying you I should have been charging you like, you know, I'm helping you get other work. Well, once you got into speech writing, how did that morph into? You know, we don't need the every detail. But in short version, how did doing? You know, TV writing and speech writing morphed into being the communications director for Congresswoman Jackie Speier, because that's a very, that was around 2008. That's a very serious job. You're doing more than just speeches you're doing? I'm assuming you're responsible for all of our communications. That sounds like something exciting, but also a little scary.

Mike Larsen: 26:52

It was. Yeah. So like I said, I had known Jackie, when support was used in the state legislature. She got elected in 2008. It also coincidentally, was at the tail end of the writers strike going on for the last year and a half. Were like most writers, that nice little nest egg friends. And, for me, it was it was a lifelong dream to work in Congress. And she kind of posed it over drinks one night almost as a joke. Okay, how about coming to work from the Washington and I said, Okay.

Scott Edwards: 27:30

The jokes you may have regretted No, I'm kidding.

Mike Larsen: 27:34

No, but she said, you know, she's like, right now, the most important thing for a new person in Washington is someone you trust. So we'll learn together to you know, that is what I would tell anyone getting elected to something, have a person who is your personality. And then from there, you know,

Scott Edwards: 27:56

I would think, I'm just guessing here, maybe you can clarify for the audience. But I'm, if I just get elected into Congress, and I'm from, you know, but fort Minnesota, and I go to DC, you don't want to lean on people you don't know in DC, because they're not there to help you. They're there to help their own careers. That's what you're saying you want to bring your own people, right?

Mike Larsen: 28:21

Well, you need to have some one or a very inner circle that you're who, who is there because like, in my case, I was only there because my friend, you know, Jackie here was in Congress. Now. That's why I was there. I mean, yes, it was also just my career, blah, blah, blah. But there's, you know, the people who are who had worked in and over here were our breath. salutely important. They know how the system works. And most of them, I would say, love the fact that there was a new, you know, person from their party elected that they could go work and they want to know that that person has an inner circle that has their back to you know, it's like that. I don't think it's yeah, I just don't look at like those the career people are there to, to do evil so much as they're there to help if you know how to use them.

Scott Edwards: 29:11

And I said, I'm coming from inexperience and just guessing, you know, you always we know how cutthroat Hollywood can be. We know how cutthroat it can be it, you know Joe's Bar and Grill between the staff. But when you get to Washington, DC, and you have all these hundreds 1000s of politicians and staffers, all trying to hopefully on the one side, serve the people and do something good, but on the other side have their own careers and bank accounts to think about. And I might be a little jaded or I'm sure there's a better word cynical about it. But I would just think that it would be difficult to take somebody from you know, Wisconsin, California and Nevada whatever whatever in, put them in, throw them into DC and then you know, and then they either flourish or they die slow death, right?

Mike Larsen: 30:08

Oh, yeah. And they're obviously at the people who just, you know, are there for some reason other than I think most people and even the people that I disagree with most of the people in politics, I think are there because there is something that they think would make the world a better place. Unfortunately, for some, for some of them, that thing is the opposite of what I think it's gonna make for a better plan. So I don't necessarily favor evil, they're just wrong.

Scott Edwards: 30:41

Well, it's funny, ya know, I was just gonna say that. One of the great things about that I, sadly, a field we've gotten away from a little bit, but one of the things that made this country great was debate, and being able to have two sides that could discuss something and workout, it what's called a compromise, everybody in DC, if you're listening, you know, and it's does seem like we've moved away from that in recent years, but which I think is sad for the country. But if you've been in the heart of DC, Would would you say that, that there's still that opportunity for debate and compromise? Or is it getting a little whacked?

Mike Larsen: 31:28

I don't know. Well, so here's my little take a while. So in 2008, when I got there, it was the last year, right. So the Obama election was still going on, right? I got into a pickup basketball game played twice a week, and it was members of Congress and staff. Nobody cares what party, Kevin McCarthy plays in that one. That didn't matter. It was a basketball game. You know, someone might might make a joke about that, and you couldn't go to your left, you know, whatever it was.

Scott Edwards: 32:01

But that's kind of funny.

Mike Larsen: 32:04

You always go to the right, you need to go to the left. Right. Right. You don't gotta say, anyway, the, as soon as the election in November happened, the many of the Republican staffers stopped coming to the game. And they said they were told not to socialize. And so for me, that was like, Oh, that kind of stuff. This was like, the only good thing about this is that I, I knew that the push come to shove. And my boss needed to talk to someone on the other to I could get someone on the phone because I play ball with them.

Scott Edwards: 32:38

Yeah, but that see, that's the good ground working.

Mike Larsen: 32:41

I know that like what do I say that? I'm sure it happened. Just the other side, too. But it was. Yeah, it does seem to have gotten to a place where it's where you used to brag about being in the card game with Republicans, that it wasn't like something to be ashamed of, you know, you know, so yeah. But whether or not it's ever gonna change, I don't know.

Scott Edwards: 33:05

Well, I was just making the observation. And I'm not that into politics. And I don't follow it that closely. But I, even as a normal citizen, have felt the change. And I wouldn't have been able to pick a date. But it sounds like the election of Obama. But there's definitely been more animosity and segregation of the two parties, and the people in DC since those years. And I just think that it's a failing for America. And I don't want to get a soapbox, but I wish they could find the way back to, you know, honest debate, compromise and moving the country forward. But let's get away from that. So you did you have? What was? What was the challenge of being the communications director for a congresswoman, was it. I mean, you were still using your humor in speeches, but now it's a lot more serious. And other communication matters, right?

Mike Larsen: 34:06

Yeah. So I had always been writing speeches that were not necessarily funny, and also humor widely. The following. That's the way you tell a story. And there's humor that's supposed to get a laugh and the humor that's supposed to get, you know, and sometimes the heart is even better than a lot, you know? So, like, how you work your, your craft in a way, but But what comms director did, though, that was the writing was the funny part. That's the part I did on my own time on the weekends. You know, the jobs part was building a website. I didn't nothing about that. We were one of the very first 2008 When we were one of the first offices to have a Twitter account. We didn't use it much, but we thought, you know, we should probably get one of these, you know, who knows what we might use it for? At the time. It's still will seem like a silly thing. Now set the clothes really big now but, but again newsletters for like the constituents in writing, you know, you know especially once Obama got it and boiling down things like health care reform and banking reform and writing them in a way that my mom in San Bruno can understand it, that was the hardest and best part of the job, I think.

Scott Edwards: 35:26

And I'm gonna build a bridge and you could tear it down if you want. But I would think that as a artist in stand up comedy, where you have to adapt your material to each and every audience, because every night is different, you know, Friday night, Friday night late shows different than Wednesday, eight o'clock, and it's different than Saturday at eight o'clock. So a comic that's really good at his craft adapts, he has a set bit of material, but he has to adapt to the audience because it's all about relating to the audience. So I'm going to take a leap of faith and say that your trainings as a stand up comic probably helped you writing for the congresswoman in relating to the different groups of like you say, the constituents and other people in Congress and stuff, because you had to adapt your writing to each situation. Yep.

Mike Larsen: 36:18

Well, one, right, read the room. Right. That's what we tell anyone just read, you know, learn how to read a room, you know, no matter what you're doing. Yeah, I think in fact, I stand up but also television writing, television writing, really learn how to write for the audience. And for the, the literal moment, you know, you have 22 minutes to tell the story. And we need a joke that takes us from here to here, but funny and doesn't feel like it's priced. You know, that's the kind of writing you do. It's very precision. And that was really helpful was like, let's say who is his audience? He's speaking to the League of Women Voters, okay. But there's also a group from the Chinese business leaders. Okay, let's find someone who is from the Chinese business so you're able to get a quote from someone local in San Francisco. Okay, now, let's see, how does it you know, script writing on deadlines was, was the real skill I think it's also made me a much better joke writer, I think I'm um, but I know, I'm a much better comedian now than I was and, and I'm happy with who I was then. But a much better writer, I think,

Scott Edwards: 37:27

well, you've been through the crucible, you've grown and matured as a combat and as a writer, and you've taken the skills of stand up, being a television writer, and now a politician. And you've really brought them all together. I mean, in short, congratulations. Because that's not something everybody could do.

Mike Larsen: 37:48

Well, thank you. Like I say, it's kind of the other way around. It's like, I'm a, I have a skill as a storyteller, a bullshitter, a liar, whatever you want to call it. And the things I did well was find a way where there's a place for me, you know, you know, I, we have different skills, I don't hit homeruns. If I did I do that. So now, I appreciate it, though. I, I, I am at a point in my life now. Or I'm allowed still, you know, always looking to make the next buck. But a little bit what I said, Wow. It was scary a couple times. So, ya know, I mean,

Scott Edwards: 38:31

you have a lot of accomplishments to look back on it with pride, Mike, and in somebody that knew you when you were young, and just getting your feet wet in the comedy business back in the late 80s. And early 90s. I think that your last, you know, 3040 years have been very impressive and, and certainly different than a lot of other comics. I mean, you're one of the there's a few out there, but you're one of the few and the only one I've worked with that has taken it to such a serious job in in politics. Now. We should share with everybody that you now have a small ranch in Ohio, right.

Mike Larsen: 39:10

I do have a couple acres in Ohio and I Well, when I left, Ohio yesterday, I still had a few chickens left. We had a raccoon attack right before we left the airport. And there was I did that. So we will see well,

Scott Edwards: 39:28

that that's a funny story will share for next time. Basically feathers everywhere. But I did want to touch on before we leave. That is a somebody that lives in Ohio and into politics. You did take a run for Congress, you've you've taken a couple of shots yourself at not working for Congress, but being in Congress. How's that been for you? And is that a scary or interesting experience?

Mike Larsen: 39:56

You know, it was a great experience for me And I, I have worked with a lot of candidates before I ever thought of running. And one of the things I always talk to candidates about what they always talked about was that you need to have a a definition of success beyond winning the election. You know, because most people who run don't win, especially if you're running against an incumbent, you know, so for me, I went into it with this idea, I wanted to kind of get my name known in Ohio politics, I wanted to increase my social media presence, I, you know, whatever. So it was good. I didn't win, obviously. But you know, what I also, I came out of it, really wanting to change the way we raise money, but not necessarily in the big dollar way. But in the both sides now have these systems where we believe the people who can least afford it for $15, here and there. And very often, it's for losing causes. Like me, there was a point my race, especially in my case, the election was postponed because of COVID. At which point, I stopped raising money, I stopped trying to raise money, like, I'm not going to vote for money. And that's really what brought it home to me was like this is so you know, that's something politically that I am now, trying to find a way where I can keep people involved in politics, but don't let, don't take them for schmuck. You know, whether it's whatever Trump for his legal defense, or Democrats for the abortion rights or whatever, very often we raise money in order to keep, in fact, almost always we raise money in order to keep the money raising campaign going, not gradually doing a damn thing that helps a single person other than the vendors.

Scott Edwards: 41:49

So it's interesting you say that, Mike, because again, I'm not I'm way, way, way, way on the fringe of show business. But you do hear often is, is a normal person, that the whole key to being in Washington, DC and being a politician, is it's all about being able to be a fundraiser. And whether it's city council or Congress, you have to constantly be raising money, because it's an expensive proposition. But I think all that effort to raise the money I'm agreeing with you takes away from the ability to get any work done.

Mike Larsen: 42:32

It becomes the campaign. And you know, the press reports on who raised the most money, not who went to the most, you know, townhall meetings to talk to people or whatever. Might actually matter. Yeah, now, and then we all just something I'm not, you know, this is something where it's where we both sides to let the sellers into the temple. And I think in many cases, they're the same salary for both sides. Because nothing makes them more money than $15 at a time, that's a good business. So, yeah,

Scott Edwards: 43:11

well, it, I think that you've put your finger on a problem in American politics. That's not gonna get solved on this little comedy podcast. But I think I'm going to just say it again, Mike, going from your early Bay Area, stage, open makers, and then working clubs like mine, as a road comic, transitioning to television writer, in all along, be able to keep your toes in the political pool, to the point that when the opportunity came, you were able to actually be a communications director, which is a huge position for anybody in DC is just such an exciting career path. And I totally get that when you look back on it, you're a little in awe, and proud of it, because you should be. Those were all amazing things that for whatever reason, lined up perfectly for you, and is led to the opportunity for you to actually run for Congress. And whether you win or not, it's not really important, the fact that you have a message to get out there, and you're able to share that message in a way that engages but also may, you know, add some humor or make it interesting is going to benefit you moving forward.

Mike Larsen: 44:31

Well, thank you. Thank you, I for me and anyone listening, I would say if you're your kid or whatever, someone who likes telling stories, there are many, many career paths for people who are creative, this idea that you got to be famous or you're not a success in the arts is ridiculous. So please, encourage that because I you know, I don't I don't know where it goes. If you have those skills and you work them You know, they can take you places.

Scott Edwards: 45:02

So Well, I agree wholeheartedly. Go ahead before

Mike Larsen: 45:06

we have fun just quickly again, your your, your, your help a lot of us there's why so many of us want to be on your show now. So you see I'm getting choked up.

Scott Edwards: 45:20

Well, it was my honor to have you work for me back in the day and I was doing my bit of business, I took advantage of your talents to bring in an audience and entertain them, but is a politician. I think it's admirable that you want to find a way to make things better in DC and even for the state of Ohio. And we wish you a lot of luck. But really, thank you so so much, Mike, for taking your time to be on this podcast. And you don't get it. You didn't get a chance to hear the opening. But it is all about interviews, comedy stories in bits from the famous and not so famous. So becoming a celebrity is not what's important. But sharing your talents and your art form is what this podcast is all about. And you've been a perfect person to have on Thank you, sir. Thanks, God, it's really great to connecting you as well. Mike, ladies and gentlemen, that was Mike Larson, comedian, politician, television writer. And if you're in Ohio, next time he's on the ballot vote for Mike Larson. If you're in Australia or Canada, you probably wouldn't care. But we appreciate you all listening to the podcast. Mike, thanks for joining us.

Mike Larsen: 46:37

Thank you.

Scott Edwards: 46:38

Ladies and gentlemen. Stay tuned next Sunday another great show. Thanks for listening. Bye.

Announcer: 46:44

We hope you enjoyed this episode of Stand Up Comedy your host and emcee. For information on the show merchandise and our sponsors or to send comments to Scott, visit our website at WWW dot stand up your host and mc.com Look for more episodes soon and enjoy the world of stand up comedy. Visit a comedy showroom near you