My favourite characters are people who think they’re…
““My favourite characters are people who think they’re normal but they’re not. I live in Baltimore, and it’s full of people like that. I’ve also lived in New York, which is full of people who think they’re crazy, but they’re completely normal. I get my best material in Baltimore – you get dialogue that you just couldn’t imagine. I asked this guy in a bar what he did for a living and he said he traded deer meat for crack. I never realised that job even existed. You could make a whole movie about that person. And he was kind of cute too, if you could ignore his eyes rolling around his head. Although I did crack once, accidentally, and I thought: Oh my God, what, am I gonna rob my parents now? I prefer poppers – they’re legal in London, right? I used to do them on roller coasters. They’re illegal in Provincetown, which is the gay fishing village where I live in the summer. In the airport there are signs warning you to get rid of your poppers.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Waters highlights how ordinary people in different cities can seem eccentric, providing rich material for his dark humor and satire.
In simple terms: Everyday folks can be oddly strange, inspiring comedy.
Key Takeaway
Seek humor in mundane quirks.
Themes
humor
culture
observation
identity
eccentricity
Mood
witty
irreverent
observational
Type
anecdotal
satirical
When to use this quote
- stand‑up comedy writing
- screenwriting
- character development
- improvisational jokes
- social commentary
Key Concepts
social satire
character study
urban contrast
Questions to Reflect On
- What everyday detail could become a comedic hook?
- How does setting shape perceived normalcy?
A Different Perspective
His focus on oddities may overlook deeper systemic issues.