HUMOROUS-PHILOSOPHY (AKA) STAND-UP COMEDY
Stand-Up Comedy: Embracing the Chaos
“I love doing stand-up. It’s like walking a tightrope over a pool of hungry sharks while the audience hacks at the rope with machetes.” – JD Shapiro
From 2005 to 2010 Shapiro lit up stages at comedy clubs in The USA, blending his "NYC-NJ-LA-Irish-mumbling-as a child had a speech impediment" accent into mischievous delivery. In less than a little over a year-and-a-half Shapiro was made a Paid Regular at The World Famous Comedy Store on The Sunset Strip (and San Diego) by Mitzi Shore. He's also a Paid Regular at Stand Up NY, The Yellow Door in SD and The Blue Note in Napa Valley. Shapiro's comedy, infused with Bugs Bunny’s wit and a belief that failure only counts if you quit, resonates with raw charm.
After a hiatus of twelve years, he returned to stand-up in 2022 by performing a one man, one hour show at The Edinburgh Festival Fringe in The Gilded Balloon, one of the top three venues at the festival. He received many great reviews and word of mouth spread. He was asked to return in 2023, which he did, and again in 2024, which he did not.
In 2023 jD perfermed a revised version of the show. He was asked back in 2024 & 2025 but was too busy with other projects and felt:
"Before I went I heard and was told the festival was a great venue to highlight yet unknown comedians and give people in Scotland (and those who traveled to that absolutely beautiful and majestic country), a chance to see A-list comedians at a great price. When I performed in 2023 something felt off. As I soaked it in and spoke to newbee's and veterans, almost ever newbee felt as I did. As I spoke with veteran, some having gone there for 10 years, performers and those who worked for the venues and eating establishments, said the same thing: 'The festival had become a money grab. A far-left woke (I don't like labels but you can say I am progressive and understand nuances), make as much money as they can ("they" being most of the venues and the festival brass) from the performers (comedians musicoians etc.) and the audiences - jD
Yup, in spite of my Pub not wanting me to say this publicly she knows I speak my truth. Which often gets me in trouble. As Bugs Bunny would say, "Cool!" Okay, he might not say 'Cool!"'He'd say 'What's. up, Doc?' Which in Bugs speak...means 'Cool' 'I don't care what you think of me because 'People like the truth as much as they like poetry. And people fucking hate poetry.' - The movie Vice. Written & directed by Adam McKay.
I like poetry.
Ok, Pub, my rant is over.
In this hour-long performance, (sometimes almost two hours in 2023), jD reflected on his life and diverse career in a humous manner, which included him telling never told stories of how he grew up in Hell's Kitchen, considered one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in all the USA in the 1980's, run by an Irish gang called "The Westies," who jD became friends with and...
Growing up in North NJ with his Mom and three sisters and all that goes with being the only boy among women and girls and their femal freinds.
Being the writer of the original screenplay for "Robin Hood: Men in Tights" and how it went from concept to release in a littleover a year. All the inside stories of how a movie gets made and almost doesn't.
The many projects and money he was offered and turned down because jD has this strange belief that he will only work on things he's passionate about.
How he lost a vast amount of the money he made (I didn't "lose." it. I know exactly where it all went and I have no regrets- okay I have some regrets of what I did with it).
The daptation of L. Ron Hubbard’s Battlefield Earth," his relationship with John Travolta and Kelly Preston and many of their famous friends, and how he was threaten by The Church of Scientology unless he... And he do not.
His relationship with Stan Lee (But not a "tell all." But there are stories that are not public knowledge that jD feels Stan would not but upset at all if he told them).
As well as his friendships or association Neil Armstrong, Sir Sean Connery, Smokey Robinson, Michael Jackson (not going into what I know), Mel Brooks, Anne Bancroft, George Lucas, Frank Darabont, Dave Chappelle, Marlon Brando, and others, including Robin Williams, who was one of the key people who convinced jD, after almost five years of trying to, to pursue stand-up comedy.
jD did not and will not dish dirt. But he has and will tell inside stories that people find interesting, entertaining and funny.
jD talks about people he either worked with, or became friends or friendly with, or spent time with (When he does bring up someone he has only had brief encounters with jD makes this clear. He realizes, and was uncomfortable, dropping names. But all of us on his team pointed out he has to in order for the stories to make sense. Otherwise, no one knows who and in some ways what he's talking about and the stories are not as interesting or funny).
Too often people in Hollywood act as if they know someone because they saw them across the street. Or waved to them in their car. Or had a brief encounter. Example of many:
jD had a someone tell him that he and his wife had dinner with Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie at The Ivy. Knowing this person said things untrue, jD wanted a laugh so he called a friend who worked at The Ivy. After giving a description, jD's friend said"Yes, that guy and his wife had dinner with Brad Pitt & Angelina Joie- if you consider the person you know and his wife at one table, and Brad and Angelina at another table in a different area of the restaurant."
Welcome to Hollywood, folks!
- REVIEWS FOR jD'S ONE MAN SHOW COMING SOON -
jD's acceptance speech for Razzie Award Worst Movie Of The Decade ("Battlefield Earth"):