Tom Papa’s latest book “We’re All on this Together . . . So Make Some Room” (St. Martin’s Press), is a set of comedic essays that just may additionally be a roadmap to a greater life.
Papa, whose recent standup special is “What a Day,” now streaming on Netflix, joined The Post for a Zoom chat to speak about what all of it might mean.
So, you’re a Jersey boy?
I grew up in Park Ridge and Woodcliff Lake, and sitting at my desk as a boy doing my homework — or pretending to do my homework — I could see the Empire State Constructing through the treetops.
From there, Latest York City was every thing. It was life, it was comedy, it was theater, it was the Yankees.
I liked where I grew up, but I knew if my father was going to drive us in on the weekend, it was gonna be exciting. We might see more in two blocks than we’d see in six months in Woodcliff Lake.
And also you ended up living here?
Just about my whole adult life, until about five years ago. It was magical.
You’re thinking that back, in case you told me I’d must live to tell the tale the Upper East Side and make it on the $5 an evening I used to be making on the Comic Strip, needed to stretch that cash ’til you went back there the subsequent day, I might quit. But I didn’t even take into consideration that due to the inspiration that Latest York was, especially in stand-up comedy.
I remember I used to be hosting shows and bringing up, on the time, Ray Romano, Jon Stewart, Brett Butler. These people had shows, and I used to be saying their name and so they were shaking my hand. I felt prefer it was a backdoor into show biz that only Latest York could provide you with.
Latest York Post reader?
After all, especially after I was writing “Weekend Update” jokes for Colin Quinn. This was such a Latest York thing, but every morning we might get up, go to the corner, get coffee from The One Stop and stop on the newsstand. Get The Post, get the Times, and back together with your stack to start out writing jokes, hoping Colin would use them on Saturday night.
Tell me about “We’re All in This Together…So Make Some Room.”
I don’t just like the fracturing of the culture, on a national level and just as a human being. I believe people could be smart to recollect you’re not the primary person to undergo all this and you possibly can actually learn from all of the people around you — the dumb ones, the smart ones, and everybody in between. People have done this all before.
Your stand-up is funny, however the book looks like it’s greater than just funny.
The thing about comedy is you’re all the time going for a similar result, the laugh, but even when you would like to say something thoughtful or meaningful you continue to want that laugh. It’s that one metric only. That’s why I began writing the books, because I had more to say.
All of it still goes through my comedian head, but I do like having the ability to explore other emotions. A number of the stuff would find yourself stepping into act but most was like, this isn’t gonna make it within the stand-up but here’s one other place I can feature it.
One funny line in there was, “Don’t order a martini in a decaying barroom full of offended old men or they may punch you within the mouth.”
I like martinis, but I actually went against that advice recently. And, no, don’t order a martini in an Irish bar. That’s not their specialty. Know your home. In Soho, in a stylish place, that’s your time for a martini.
I used to be in Latest York recently, did a sold-out show at Town Hall, and there’s this great Irish bar right across the corner. All my friends got here out after and so they know I like martinis in order that they’re like ‘Have a martini!’ nevertheless it was a mealy olive, oil from I don’t know what in it, tons of vermouth. I believe I could have been the primary person ever to order a martini in that place.
In conclusion?
I’m really pleased with this book. It’s funny, I never sell merch on the road, but in any respect my shows I’m signing books.
I just had a man in Denver tell me he was on a cruise with my last book, “You’re Doing Great,” and he said he’d be reading stuff aloud to his family the entire trip. He said, “I don’t know in case you understand but persons are on a cruise, reading your book and sharing it with family.”
It really, really touched me. That’s why I write these books.
