Wow dude! You're still a favorite to me but I'm also in wooded Connecticut. I'd love to book you for a comedy workshop at a comedy theater in Hartford if you're game. A short drive, I think?
Good on you for making this decision of your own free will. I think many of us are too scared to stop (not necessarily stand-up as I am very much not a professional comedian) doing what we've been good at, even when we know the clock is running out. It's why so many beloved shows end with a whimper--they end after too many seasons instead of sticking an ending.
Michael, you probably don’t remember me, but I once interviewed you for a now-defunct comedy website called Laughspin. (My cat’s name was Michael Ian Cat). You’ve always been one of my favorite comics, as a standup and an actor, going back to my teenage years. I’m sorry to see you go but respect the wisdom of your decision. You’ve made your family very proud and fans like me tremendously grateful. And, if you get bored, you can always roll the “dice” and come back. 🙂
Ok. Saw you live 5 times or so and considered going to NY for the taping last week but it was too short notice. You are such a good writer and so good at interviewing people. I hope the lack of shitty flights and trips to Beverly MA bring you peace and well being!
Thank you for this post. Fascinating, informative, and thought-provoking as I think through my next steps. Your honesty and openness is greatly appreciated.
Sorry to never have seen you live, but thankful for HIGNFY! (And this substack.)
I'm glad I got the chance to see you in 3 different rooms in Grand Rapids, including one adjacent to a distracting traffic signal 🚥 always a fun night out 😊
Oh man, I felt bummed and lame at the time, but now I also feel guilty for the couple of times you performed within my general vicinity and I didn’t have anyone to go with so I didn’t go. Ugh.
You sound at peace with your decision, so I hope it works out for you. 💙
While your 9 years (and 2 rings) in the NFL were impressive, I still say you were better at stand-up. Saw you in SD in ‘22 and you had the room in the palm of your hand. Thank you for that night and all the other cool stuff you’ve put out into the world, including these essays.
I was at the taping, and you were great. I’m glad I got to see you live before you hung it up. Watching you when I was growing up was a big reason for why I got into comedy.
My 43 yo son looks for your shows in New England and when he finds one buys 2 tickets to take his old mom to see one of their fav comedians. Last time in Providence. We’ll still look because maybe with everything being so difficult, you just need a break.
Wish I had gotten the chance to see you live, but I always thought of you as a sketch comic first, stand up second anyhow. There are lots of ways to make people laugh.
Thank you, Michael. I saw you at the Comedy Attic in Bloomington, Indiana a few years ago. My days were spent caring for my Dad who was dying of cancer. Needing a break, my sister and I bought tickets to your show. You made us laugh and enjoy ourselves for a couple hours. I am grateful that you were in town that month. You provided me relief during a very stressful time. Thank you for that. 🩷
Michael- this hits hard. If, indeed, you are really hanging it up, know that you are one of the few comics out there who routinely make me laugh…hard. Can’t catch my breath, can’t stop giggling, laughing. Thank you.
Wow dude! You're still a favorite to me but I'm also in wooded Connecticut. I'd love to book you for a comedy workshop at a comedy theater in Hartford if you're game. A short drive, I think?
You are an exceptional stand-up comedian and very much still a weirdo and malcontent. That said, welcome home.
Good on you for making this decision of your own free will. I think many of us are too scared to stop (not necessarily stand-up as I am very much not a professional comedian) doing what we've been good at, even when we know the clock is running out. It's why so many beloved shows end with a whimper--they end after too many seasons instead of sticking an ending.
Michael, you probably don’t remember me, but I once interviewed you for a now-defunct comedy website called Laughspin. (My cat’s name was Michael Ian Cat). You’ve always been one of my favorite comics, as a standup and an actor, going back to my teenage years. I’m sorry to see you go but respect the wisdom of your decision. You’ve made your family very proud and fans like me tremendously grateful. And, if you get bored, you can always roll the “dice” and come back. 🙂
Ok. Saw you live 5 times or so and considered going to NY for the taping last week but it was too short notice. You are such a good writer and so good at interviewing people. I hope the lack of shitty flights and trips to Beverly MA bring you peace and well being!
Thank you for this post. Fascinating, informative, and thought-provoking as I think through my next steps. Your honesty and openness is greatly appreciated.
Sorry to never have seen you live, but thankful for HIGNFY! (And this substack.)
I'm glad I got the chance to see you in 3 different rooms in Grand Rapids, including one adjacent to a distracting traffic signal 🚥 always a fun night out 😊
Oh man, I felt bummed and lame at the time, but now I also feel guilty for the couple of times you performed within my general vicinity and I didn’t have anyone to go with so I didn’t go. Ugh.
You sound at peace with your decision, so I hope it works out for you. 💙
While your 9 years (and 2 rings) in the NFL were impressive, I still say you were better at stand-up. Saw you in SD in ‘22 and you had the room in the palm of your hand. Thank you for that night and all the other cool stuff you’ve put out into the world, including these essays.
Dude, your comeback tour will be EPIC!
“they grow content” has an apt (and sad) double meaning nowadays
I was at the taping, and you were great. I’m glad I got to see you live before you hung it up. Watching you when I was growing up was a big reason for why I got into comedy.
My 43 yo son looks for your shows in New England and when he finds one buys 2 tickets to take his old mom to see one of their fav comedians. Last time in Providence. We’ll still look because maybe with everything being so difficult, you just need a break.
Wish I had gotten the chance to see you live, but I always thought of you as a sketch comic first, stand up second anyhow. There are lots of ways to make people laugh.
Thank you, Michael. I saw you at the Comedy Attic in Bloomington, Indiana a few years ago. My days were spent caring for my Dad who was dying of cancer. Needing a break, my sister and I bought tickets to your show. You made us laugh and enjoy ourselves for a couple hours. I am grateful that you were in town that month. You provided me relief during a very stressful time. Thank you for that. 🩷
Michael- this hits hard. If, indeed, you are really hanging it up, know that you are one of the few comics out there who routinely make me laugh…hard. Can’t catch my breath, can’t stop giggling, laughing. Thank you.