Touring with Seinfeld: Mark Schiff's 50-Year Comedy Journey

Mark Schiff returns to give us an update on his comedy career spanning almost 50 years, discussing his ongoing tour with Jerry Seinfeld, creative projects, and reflections on finding fulfillment in stand-up comedy. Scott and Mark reconnect over memories from Laughs Unlimited while exploring how Mark has maintained both a successful career and personal integrity throughout decades in the business.

• Currently touring with Jerry Seinfeld, playing to audiences of 6,000+ people
• Co-hosts a podcast called "We Think It's Funny" with Danny Robell
• Published author of two books: "Why Not?" and "I Killed: True Stories of the Road by America's Top Comics"
• Writes biweekly humor articles for the Jewish Journal
• Discusses the different career paths comedians take and why he stayed focused on stand-up
• Shares his approach to representing Jewish identity through comedy during challenging times
• Currently working on a Christmas movie screenplay with Brian Ross
• Concludes with a hilarious bit about shopping at Costco

Check out Mark's biweekly articles at JewishJournal.com, listen to his podcast "We Think It's Funny," and look for his upcoming projects including a Christmas movie co-written with Brian Ross.

Chapters

• 0:00 Introduction to Mark Schiff
• 2:15 Career Updates and Touring with Seinfeld
• 6:05 Creating a 50-Year Comedy Career
• 9:40 Finding Your Comedy Path
• 13:05 Jewish Identity and Advocacy
• 17:05 Future Projects and Costco Comedy Set

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 emcee, scott Edwards.

R. Scott Edwards: 0:21

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to the podcast. Man, oh man, I'm so excited. One of a terrific comic great friend, been on the podcast many times, but he's coming back for this second short interview so we can kind of catch up on what's going on. Let me bring him onto the show and then I'm going to tell you a little bit about him. Ladies and gentlemen, originally one of the funniest men in the universe out of New York City, now working regularly in Los Angeles, my good friend Mark Schiff. Wow, Mark, so good to have you back on the show.

Mark Schiff: 1:02

Boy that sounded like the crowd used to have at Labs Unlimited 6,000 people.

R. Scott Edwards: 1:08

Yeah, we crammed them into the room that sat 200. It was amazing.

Mark Schiff: 1:11

By the way, you had the worst dressing room in the history of our show business. I remember sitting in the back there. There was a little ramp, wasn't there back there or something? Yeah, and you stored the beer and everything in there. I was just sitting there freezing in there. Thank you very much.

R. Scott Edwards: 1:29

Well, I tried to keep it real. Hey, let me catch the audience up on who you are. Ladies and gentlemen, Mark Schiff is a longtime friend of Jerry Seinfeld. In fact still tours with him from time to time. He has been on the Letterman show. He's been on the Carson show Well, the Tonight Show, Letterman show. He's been on the Carson show Well, the tonight show with Johnny Carson. He's had his own HBO special and if that wasn't enough, you're kind of a Renaissance man, Mark. You've written a book called why not? That's doing very well. And you have a terrific podcast called you don't know, shift. Ladies and gentlemen. Yes, go ahead. I was just going to say Mark Schiff is a gentlemen actually. Yes, go ahead. I was just gonna say Mark Schiff is a very funny guy and it's so nice to have you back on the podcast. Mark, I see that you're doing shows all around. You're touring with Jerry. You're doing a lot. How's comedy treating you?

Mark Schiff: 2:19

so it's never been better. And let me just say my podcast. I have a uh, that was the old name. We have a new podcast called we think it's funny. I have a new co-host, danny robell, and uh, it's doing very well. This podcast we've had on jerry's uh, so I thought it's gonna be on soon. We said bull rise, we had reno, we had, uh, margaret show. Yeah, everybody it's it's doing, so it's called we Think it's Funny. That's what they should tune into. My book is doing great and I'm always touring with Jerry. In the last two weeks I was with him in North Dakota, in Grand Forks, north Dakota, houston, texas, indiana, and I can't ever remember the fourth place. And last Saturday night we played 6,000 people in Houston in an outdoor theater. Thank god jerry's good so he can follow me.

R. Scott Edwards: 3:09

So that's all I got to say well, that's true, and it's apparently. If you want to see the world uh tour with jerry seinfeld, you're going to some amazing uh, exotic places rand, forks, north dak. I know I mean I just get goosebumps thinking about it.

Mark Schiff: 3:28

Yeah, no, we're having a great time in Victoria. Jerry and I are friends and we've been friends. We started together in 1976. His first day of comedy. He met me at the comic strip. We became friends in 1976 and we remain friends. I've had the pleasure of touring with him nonstop the last 25 years.

R. Scott Edwards: 3:45

Yeah, it's pretty amazing. In fact, ladies and gentlemen, if you go back and find the interview with Mark, you'll hear some great stories about Larry Miller, paul Reiser, jerry Seinfeld a great group of guys that all got started in New York, and I'm glad that you caught the podcast name up for the audience. By the way, you't know, shift is still out there, so if you want to hear some early interviews, it's still out there. But look for the new podcast. We think it's funny. It sounds like a great idea. Mark, you're always bringing the funny, whether it's an hbo special tv. Uh, you've done some stuff. You've really been around as a comic entertainer. Stand-up comedy has been your whole life. Would you say that you've been fulfilled. You know, creatively speaking.

Mark Schiff: 4:38

Good question. So yes, it has been since I was a little, you know, like 23 years old. I've been doing this for 50 years, almost, you know, 48 years. I have done something that most people don't get a chance to do I've worked nonstop in show business for my entire career. This is actually an amazing thing to do. I never got the big sitcom, but I don't care. I've worked, and creatively, that's up to the individual.

R. Scott Edwards: 5:02

Stand-up comedy fulfills every creative need possible if you're willing to put the time and work into it yeah, I think that's a truism and I think that, uh, it is a salute to your humor and your success and that you've been able to go. You know your whole life, your career, in comedy, because we both know a lot of people that got in and out or had huge success, like your buddy jerry or it, um, didn't make a living.

Mark Schiff: 5:30

So you've seen both spectrums, yeah, and I would say making a 50-year career out of stand-up comedy puts you in the top five percent, the of the funniest people out there so let me say you know, one of the things that Jerry and I specialize in is we've never wanted to entertain a select group, we've always wanted to entertain everybody, and comedy now is bigger than ever before in history. Nate Bargatze is selling at 18,000 seats two shows in one night. It's unbelievable. But a lot of comedians are doing their story now and it's about reaching their little group and we've never felt like doing that. We want to reach it. You know our goal was to get into Vegas, where you know everybody was there, not just you know this group or that group. You understand what I mean, scott. Like you had at the club, all walks of life people were there and that's who we had to reach to be successful at Raps Unlimited.

R. Scott Edwards: 6:34

Yeah, I think that's true and I think, as a producer of comedy, that reaching a broader audience was not only good for me as a business owner, because you want everybody of various incomes and backgrounds to come in and be entertained self to a broader audience also for the comics. Like you said, you can play in Idaho or Texas or the south or LA or New York and you're still going to find the funny with your audience, as opposed to somebody that is a little too niche and they're only going to do well in the south or they're only going to do well in the big cities, right right, that's right.

Mark Schiff: 7:17

That's. That's exactly we want. We want to, and all we care about is entertainment. We I just had this conversation with jerry the other day we're not into teaching anybody. We're not into showing people. All we want to do is send them home with a belly full of wraps and that they had a good time.

R. Scott Edwards: 7:33

That's it well, I think. I think it's a a great to have. And what's interesting is that, even though you and Jerry have had slightly different paths, you you both understand the value and you get something personally out of performing for a room full of strangers every night. And that has to be true because, as we just talked about, you're both still doing it. You know, 50 years later, and we both know that Jerry doesn't need the money. I don't know about you, but you're doing it because you love the industry.

Mark Schiff: 8:11

Yeah, no, absolutely. We just love doing what we're doing right now. One area I've never succeeded at and I think you remember when you used to pick up the comedians to take them to do radio at 6 am.

R. Scott Edwards: 8:25

Right.

Mark Schiff: 8:26

For some reason when I did those there were some comedians. When they did radio they would fill the room. When I did radio I just never really was able to pull a group of extra people in. I don't know why. I mean on the podcast it worked, but when I went to radio at 6 am in the morning those people didn't seem to come out at night. So I've got to work on my radio skills, scott.

R. Scott Edwards: 8:48

Either that or you're just not a morning person.

Mark Schiff: 8:52

I mean, you know, maybe radio is going to have research and come back. I'm going to be ready next time, Scott.

R. Scott Edwards: 9:00

Well, there you go. Next time. Hey, uh, mark a couple of your buddies uh, paul reisner and larry miller.

R. Scott Edwards: 9:07

Both went into tv and movies mostly movies but got off the stage as as stand-up comics. I know you had an hbo special. You've done some spots on some shows and you've written for some. Tv is, at what point does an entertainer choose a path, whether it's going to be, you know, stay on the stage or go to film and video, or maybe go into directing and writing. Is it, uh, something that the person chooses or does the career choose you?

Mark Schiff: 9:41

that's also a good question. So I was never offered. I had a pilot uh deal that that I had. But the truth is I was never able to really perform like these guys in a tight situation and auditions and stuff like that. I was very bad at it and Jerry actually, luckily when he auditioned he got on the show Benson he did a couple of. They fired him, but when he had his own show where he just stepped in there and he was able to put together the best show on TV, risers are natural In the room. You know he could wow anybody he's auditioning for and I just never had that skill and I got too nervous in the rooms and it just never happened.

Mark Schiff: 10:27

But you know something, I don't care. I mean I've always worked and I'm proud of the work that I've done. I've maintained long friendships, long marriage. You know that's another thing that I'm proud of. Going on the road a lot of guys lost their families. They started scooting around. Jerry and I have talked about it. That's something we're never interested in. We're just interested in performing, staying true to the wives and doing the best we can.

R. Scott Edwards: 10:55

Well, I appreciate you sharing the story about Jerry Seinfeld being on Benson the TV show and then getting fired, which is so funny but, of course they got rid of him so fast.

Mark Schiff: 11:06

It was unbelievable but?

R. Scott Edwards: 11:07

but we all know a success having his own show, which is interesting because Paul Reiser, as you mentioned, or Larry Miller could fall into any role and make it work. Jerry had to kind of create his own world and you've done your own world, but all on stage. So we have we're talking for very successful standup comics, but all with a slightly different path. I think that's one of the interesting aspects of our industry.

Mark Schiff: 11:33

Everybody takes a different path. You know, uh, I wrote a play years ago called the comic Larry. Larry Miller starred in it and it was about an Asian comic who is on his down and out and in the last moment before he commits suicide he tries to help another person. It was a terrific play. Neil Simon loved the play. He came to see it. So people said to me Mark, why didn't you start it? You know you're a comic and you know you're in the 50s. Why don't you do it yourself? I said because Larry Miller is a better actor than I am and I would ruin my own play and I didn't want to do that. And you just got to know who you are and what your limitations are and be willing to accept that.

R. Scott Edwards: 12:17

Oh, that's yeah. That's really good advice, Mark. Thanks for sharing that, and it is so true. You don't want to go outside your own comfort zone to force something when there's something an alternative. As a producer, I'm always having to try to find the right talent, the right acts to mix to make a good show, and you don't always succeed. But it takes more than just being funny. You have to be able to see the big picture. I also wanted to share with the audience that you do a lot of fundraisers and a lot of specialty shows. You're a real advocate for the Jewish community. There's been some anti-Semitism building in this country. As a comic, I know that you don't bring that to the stage, but how do you find your role in what's going on?

Mark Schiff: 13:10

So I do a lot of Jewish events and there, you know, I not an issue. I don't bring it to the you know when I'm out with Jerry and neither see, but they know. But on on Facebook, you know, I'm very open about my Jewishness. I post up all the time and on Instagram and my podcast, we think it's funny, it's, it's, it's, it's a very funny, uh, honest podcast and we also talk openly about, uh, our Jewish values. So everybody has to do. If everybody did a little more to help whatever situation they think needs help, it would be a much better world. And I'm doing uh, and I'm going to Israel for the 10th or 11th time in October with my wife, so we do what we can.

Mark Schiff: 13:53

Yeah, that's amazing, mark and I'm going to Israel for the 10th or 11th time in October with my wife.

R. Scott Edwards: 13:58

Oh, that's cool, yeah, that's amazing, mark, and I think you bring up a good point that to fight anti-Semitism, I think just be a good Jew, be yourself and show the world through in your case, through your comedy, through your podcast and through just who you are all the important aspects and positive aspects of the jewish community and, uh, my hat's off to how you stand up to what's going on and are being yourself, which I think is so important so, and, by the way, if you're good, my hat's on, not off.

Mark Schiff: 14:31

so there you go, your yarmulke is on. My yarmulke is on, so I got you there.

R. Scott Edwards: 14:40

Well, I appreciate the position you take and what you're doing, so thank you for that. And, of course, I've had a chance to see some of your work in the Jewish community as a stand-up comic and I know that in these challenging times it's nice to have a positive voice. But, more important, you're bringing laughter to a group of people. In fact, whether it's in Idaho, texas, or a Jewish fundraiser, I think one of the important aspects of being a talented comedy writer and performer is that you're bringing entertainment and kind of a distraction from the world to your audience, and that's important, right?

Mark Schiff: 15:23

Absolutely. Yeah, absolutely. You know, by the way and I don't even know what to say I write biweekly, not bisexual biweekly. Every other week I write a story for the Jewish Journal. So if people go to jewishjournalcom and put my name in, mark Schiff, I have over a hundred articles that I've written for the newspaper over a hundred and most of them is not about being Jewish, it's just. It's kind of in the Dave Barry humorous type of vein. So if you want to get some good laughs, go to to jewishjournalcom, put my name in 100 articles. By the time people hear this, it'll be 120 articles. So enjoy yourself.

R. Scott Edwards: 16:01

Well, I appreciate you sharing that. Well, ladies and gentlemen, a man that stands on his principles and brings comedy to the world, our Jewish friend, Mark Schiff. Great job, Mark.

Mark Schiff: 16:14

Thank you, Scott.

R. Scott Edwards: 16:17

And thanks for coming back on the podcast and sharing a little bit about what's going on with you. I'm going to make sure everybody knows about. We Think it's Funny. The new podcast what's coming up for 2026? Do you have any big shows? Are you planning any projects?

Mark Schiff: 16:33

I've got about 15 shows scheduled with Jerry coming into the next year, At least up until December. I'm writing a movie with my friend Brian Ross and, believe it or not, two Jews writing a Christmas movie. That's funny, let's face it. Who wrote the best Christmas songs? The Jews. So if they can write the best songs, we can write the best Christmas movies. And I just keep writing my articles, doing my stand-up and doing my podcast. That's pretty full-time for me.

R. Scott Edwards: 17:04

Well, that is terrific. And one last thing we want to make sure we plug is your book why Not? Which I know has done well since it came out. Have you thought about doing any of their books, or is that one enough to fulfill your need creatively?

Mark Schiff: 17:20

Great question too. I have enough stories for another book, so once I get a chance to pull it together I'll send it to my agent in New York and see what they have to say. Maybe there's another book, and if not, you know I wrote two books, don't forget. I wrote I Killed with Rich Scheidner, the quintessential road stories book. You know there are a lot of young comedians who find that book, so it became the road Bible. I Killed True Stories of the Road by America's Top Comics, which I wrote with Rich Scheidner.

R. Scott Edwards: 17:50

I'm so sorry I forgot that I have a copy sitting right in front of me. I had so much fun reading it, being in the industry those stories really touched that generation of the 80s and 90s and being a road comic. So, ladies and gentlemen, you got the book I Killed and you have why Not? You got the podcast. We Think it's Funny. We Think it's Funny and you have an upcoming special with Brian Ross about Christmas. You are a busy, busy, creative man and the fact that you took time to share with my audience is much appreciated. Ladies and gentlemen, the one and only Mark Schiff. Thank you, sir, for being on the show.

Mark Schiff: 18:27

Thank you, sir, my hat's on to you.

R. Scott Edwards: 18:32

And his hat's still on. Wow, what a fun short interview with my good friend Mark Schiff right now.

Speaker 4: 18:39

Danny mentioned Costco. I'm a big Costco fan. You like Costco. You like going there? Yeah, my wife and I go there. Dayton, we go to Costco Before I go to Costco, I'm an idiot. I think I'll spend $70, $80, $1,700 later.

Speaker 4: 18:56

I'm buying mustard for the next 111 years, just cases. I bought 200 batteries, aa batteries. I don't even own a flashlight. People come to my house, I give them here. Take some mustard with you and take some batteries. It's on me. I gotta get rid of these so I can buy some more. I looked in this one guy's cart. He had six cases of Drano and six cases of toilet paper. I'm thinking what kind of diet is this guy on that? He needs this type of firepower and they sell everything at Costco. This is absolutely true. They sell coffins at Costco Coffins. What is this? An impulse?

Announcer: 19:44

buy.

Speaker 4: 19:47

I'm online with my wife. I go honey, I don't feel good, I've got a headache, my feet hurt. I'm going to go have a coffin while we're here. You know you look a little pale yourself and it's 30% off the second one. Just keep it in the garage. We need them.

Speaker 4: 20:02

You know, right before COVID I bought a brand new car and I didn't have. I don't have a place to park in my house. I got a little house, you know LA, you know 1,600 square foot, $40 million house and it's very expensive to live near other Jews. It's very expensive. So I bought. So I had a park in front of my house. I got a brand very expensive, so I had to put it in front of my house. I had to bring the car. So I bought a car cover for $160. I covered the car, came out the next morning Somebody stole the car cover. So I figured this is a one-off. I bought another one, I covered the car, next day gone. Then I bought the third one and I figured I covered the car and I got in the car. 17 hours.

Speaker 4: 20:49

I lift it up, I go ah.

R. Scott Edwards: 20:51

There's a heart attack, drops dead.

Speaker 4: 20:56

I pull out the Costco coffin and bury it in the backyard. Sometimes life has a way of working itself out.

R. Scott Edwards: 21:02

All right, ladies and gentlemen, we'll be back next week with some great stand-up comedy. Thanks, Mark.

Mark Schiff: 21:08

Thank you.

Announcer: 21:08

Scott, bye, bye. 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 wwwstandupyourhostandmccom. Look for more episodes soon and enjoy the world of stand-up comedy. Visit a comedy showroom near you.