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During the pandemic, I got to connect with some incredibl people on social media who made things better (at least for me). Some made me think. Others made me laugh. Paul Rudnick made me do both.
In addition to being an award-winning writer of plays, movies and books, Paul is one of the funniest voices I’ve encountered on Twitter. Deploying his razor-sharp wit, he is a master of the platform and has one of the most genuinely worthwhile feeds that makes me laugh out loud every day.
When I decided to let go of my fear and finally ask someone to be a guest on my podcast, I thought of Paul. We’d never met in person, and the idea of talking with someone who impresses me as much as he does was intimidating as hell. But growth only happens outside our comfort zones. So I asked, and Paul said yes.
We sat down in my office studio in Rockefeller Center and talked about so much. Twitter, Elon, Donald Trump, Ivanka Trump, Lindsey Graham, our mutual love of New York City and how he writes jokes only gay dogs can hear. We also talked about his forthcoming novel Farrell Covington and the Limits of Style, which I’m really looking forward to reading.
Of the many things I wanted to ask Paul, one was about the power of humor, particularly in these sometimes frightening, often infuriating and seemingly precarious times. He offered this:
There is a certain power in ‘group’, even if it’s comic protest – even better if it’s comic protest – because that somehow becomes a little more inescapable. The Republicans, having no sense of humor, really can’t fight back on that level. It may even involve the way in which the Trump support seems to be softening a bit. Because… if the Trump family had a sense of humor, they’d be unstoppable.
Brilliant. And a great reminder of why I love humor and regard its makers so highly.
It was a genuine pleasure and privilege talking with Paul. I hope you enjoy listening to him as much as I enjoyed talking with him. And I look forward to doing it again.
Follow Paul Rudnick on Twitter: @PaulRudnickNY
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Photo of Paul Rudnick by David Gordon.
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