--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was just trying to blend the standup…" description: "\"I was just trying to blend the standup that I do almost with like the visual sketch stuff that I did on \"Saturday Night Live.\" And so in terms of how e..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d58/john-mulaney-7291_comedy_i-was-just-trying-to-blend-the-standup-t_2685854.jpg" --- # I was just trying to blend the standup that I do almost… ![“I was just trying to blend the standup that I do almost with like the visual sketch stuff that I did on "Saturday Night Live." And so in terms of how elastic in the world is, we'll see what we can get away with [in John Mulaney show].” quote by John Mulaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d58/john-mulaney-7291_comedy_i-was-just-trying-to-blend-the-standup-t_2685854.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d58/john-mulaney-7291_comedy_i-was-just-trying-to-blend-the-standup-t_2685854.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d58/john-mulaney-7291_comedy_i-was-just-trying-to-blend-the-standup-t_2685854.jpg) > “I was just trying to blend the standup that I do almost with like the visual sketch stuff that I did on "Saturday Night Live." And so in terms of how elastic in the world is, we'll see what we can get away with \[in John Mulaney show\].” [John Mulaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mulaney/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Blending comedy with visual art reflects the fluid, elastic nature of creative expression. **In simple terms:** Comedy and art can merge creatively. Key Takeaway Experiment across mediums. Themes creativity cross‑disciplinary elasticity Mood humorous insightful Type comedic creative When to use this quote - show writing - visual design - advertising - education Key Concepts performance art media studies Questions to Reflect On - How can you maintain coherence when mixing styles? - What audiences benefit from hybrid art? A Different Perspective Cross‑genre work may confuse audiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night/) [Saturday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saturday/) [Saturday night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saturday-night/) [Saturday night live](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saturday-night-live/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [There's different kinds of improv. There's Second City improv where you try to slowly build a nice sketch. There's stuff you do in college…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-willard/there-s-different-kinds-of-improv-there-s-second-city-improv-where/) [Fred Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-willard/) > [ With the first episode \[of John Mulaney Show\] I tell a story that happened to me accidentally chasing a woman down the subway. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mulaney/with-the-first-episode-of-john-mulaney-show-i-tell-a-story-that/) [John Mulaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mulaney/) > [ I definitely look like a toddler. I feel comfortable and I have a lot of fun out there \[John Mulaney Show\]. And if I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mulaney/i-definitely-look-like-a-toddler-i-feel-comfortable-and-i-have-a-lot/) [John Mulaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mulaney/) > [ There's \[John Mulaney Show\] jokes that I have in stand up that I wouldn't try to put in, I would try to have someone… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mulaney/there-s-john-mulaney-show-jokes-that-i-have-in-stand-up-that-i-wouldn/) [John Mulaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mulaney/) > [It's weird because standup can be like therapy. Comedians can't be satisfied with just having fun with our friends. We've got to figure out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/artie-lange/it-s-weird-because-standup-can-be-like-therapy-comedians-can-t-be/) [Artie Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/artie-lange/) > [I get burned out on standup. But I like acting. I do like it. But sometimes you just feel like a monkey. You just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-galifianakis/i-get-burned-out-on-standup-but-i-like-acting-i-do-like-it-but/) [Zach Galifianakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-galifianakis/) > [Even though standup seems like one-way conversation, if you're doing it right, it's actually a two-way discussion between the comic and the audience... the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-rubin/even-though-standup-seems-like-one-way-conversation-if-you-re-doing/) [Dave Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-rubin/) > [I am not a big fan of very prepared standup. I like when Dave Attell writes and I appreciate it but I much more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bert-kreischer/i-am-not-a-big-fan-of-very-prepared-standup-i-like-when-dave-attell/) [Bert Kreischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bert-kreischer/) > [Everyone kept telling me I should go into standup, and I was like, 'They look broke and sad, I'm not sad and I like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-buteau/everyone-kept-telling-me-i-should-go-into-standup-and-i-was-like-they/) [Michelle Buteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-buteau/) > [Standup is like shorthand. Every bit must be both brief and profound or the audience will lose interest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-lever/standup-is-like-shorthand-every-bit-must-be-both-brief-and-profound/) [Johnny Lever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-lever/) > [People have come up to me and been like, 'You ever get that you look like John Mulaney?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-faist/people-have-come-up-to-me-and-been-like-you-ever-get-that-you-look/) [Mike Faist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-faist/) > [When I started, I was very deliberate about making friends with people like John Mulaney who were really funny and wanted to go up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-holmes/when-i-started-i-was-very-deliberate-about-making-friends-with-people/) [Pete Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-holmes/) > [When I got divorced, the first people I called were Nick Kroll and John Mulaney and T. J. Miller - all the pals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-holmes/when-i-got-divorced-the-first-people-i-called-were-nick-kroll-and/) [Pete Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-holmes/) > [ John \[Mulaney\] likes to say I'm like a district attorney with absolutely no jurisdiction whatsoever. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nasim-pedrad/john-mulaney-likes-to-say-i-m-like-a-district-attorney-with/) [Nasim Pedrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nasim-pedrad/) > [Stand-up for me is just my opinions on things, so it wouldnt be as fun translated into a sketch. Nor would a sketch be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mulaney/stand-up-for-me-is-just-my-opinions-on-things-so-it-wouldnt-be-as-fun/) [John Mulaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mulaney/) ## More by John Mulaney > [I don't know if there's a strategy really so much as, like I learned doing standup and had to learn fast, you always just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mulaney/i-don-t-know-if-there-s-a-strategy-really-so-much-as-like-i-learned/) [John Mulaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mulaney/) > [I never turn on the crowd. Sometimes, you think it's a terrible show, and then afterward, sometimes people say they really liked it. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mulaney/i-never-turn-on-the-crowd-sometimes-you-think-it-s-a-terrible-show/) [John Mulaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mulaney/) > [If I was at the Comedy Cellar at midnight you yelled at the back of the room. But you, for television, play it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mulaney/if-i-was-at-the-comedy-cellar-at-midnight-you-yelled-at-the-back-of/) [John Mulaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mulaney/) > [Ill book a ticket on some garbage airline. I dont wanna name an actual airline so lets make one up, lets just call it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mulaney/ill-book-a-ticket-on-some-garbage-airline-i-dont-wanna-name-an-actual/) [John Mulaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mulaney/) > [You can't always see both sides of the story. Eventually, you have to pick a side and stick with it. No more equivocating. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mulaney/you-can-t-always-see-both-sides-of-the-story-eventually-you-have-to/) [John Mulaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mulaney/) > [ With the first episode \[of John Mulaney Show\] I tell a story that happened to me accidentally chasing a woman down the subway. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mulaney/with-the-first-episode-of-john-mulaney-show-i-tell-a-story-that/) [John Mulaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mulaney/) > [Part of standup is being loose and having a good time yourself and that translates to the audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mulaney/part-of-standup-is-being-loose-and-having-a-good-time-yourself-and/) [John Mulaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mulaney/) > [Maybe I just have high self-esteem, but I have a lot that I really enjoy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mulaney/maybe-i-just-have-high-self-esteem-but-i-have-a-lot-that-i-really/) [John Mulaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mulaney/) > [I have a lot of stories about being a kid because it was the last time I was interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mulaney/i-have-a-lot-of-stories-about-being-a-kid-because-it-was-the-last/) [John Mulaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mulaney/) > [Going on the road for long stretches can seem daunting, and I certainly miss being home sometimes, but the chance to see so many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mulaney/going-on-the-road-for-long-stretches-can-seem-daunting-and-i/) [John Mulaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mulaney/) > [I do longer runs on things, a lot stories. I really like one-liners, I like a lot of different kinds of standup but I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mulaney/i-do-longer-runs-on-things-a-lot-stories-i-really-like-one-liners-i/) [John Mulaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mulaney/) > [I look back on being 17 and think, 'Oh my God, how did I not die?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mulaney/i-look-back-on-being-17-and-think-oh-my-god-how-did-i-not-die/) [John Mulaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mulaney/) > [ If you’re comparing the badness of two words and you won’t even say one of them \[the n-word\], that’s the worse word. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mulaney/if-you-re-comparing-the-badness-of-two-words-and-you-won-t-even-say/) [John Mulaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mulaney/) > [In every case, I find pre-planning noble, but not always that useful in comedy. You know comedy once you're doing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mulaney/in-every-case-i-find-pre-planning-noble-but-not-always-that-useful-in/) [John Mulaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mulaney/) > [Most open-mic experiences I had were okay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mulaney/most-open-mic-experiences-i-had-were-okay/) [John Mulaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mulaney/) [Explore all 92 John Mulaney quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mulaney/) ## More Comedy quotes > ['Mad TV' is one of my most favorite shows of all time and is a huge part of my obsession with sketch comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-dawson/mad-tv-is-one-of-my-most-favorite-shows-of-all-time-and-is-a-huge/) [Shane Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-dawson/) > [You can laugh at me, but I understand show business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ksenia-sobchak/you-can-laugh-at-me-but-i-understand-show-business/) [Ksenia Sobchak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ksenia-sobchak/) > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [I wouldn't want people to laugh at me. That's why I have to give all that I can, and at least produce something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhao-wei/i-wouldn-t-want-people-to-laugh-at-me-that-s-why-i-have-to-give-all/) [Zhao Wei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhao-wei/) > [“Our world will not die as a result of the bomb, as the papers say, it will die of laughter, of banality, of making a joke…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/our-world-will-not-die-as-a-result-of-the-bomb-as-the-papers-say-it/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [I've been funny my whole life. This is a gift God gave me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-morgan/i-ve-been-funny-my-whole-life-this-is-a-gift-god-gave-me/) [Tracy Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-morgan/) > [“Laugh and grow strong”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ignatius-of-loyola/laugh-and-grow-strong/) [Ignatius of Loyola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ignatius-of-loyola/) > [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. Perhaps comedy, which is something I have done in theater but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/in-the-future-i-would-like-to-do-more-films-with-contemporary-themes/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [There's a difference between delivering real funny and just silly funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-rel-howery/there-s-a-difference-between-delivering-real-funny-and-just-silly/) [Lil Rel Howery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-rel-howery/) > [Oh to that corkscrew, the useful tool to unlock the treasure of wit, the treasury of laughter, the front door of fellowship, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-guzaldo/oh-to-that-corkscrew-the-useful-tool-to-unlock-the-treasure-of-wit/) [Andrew Guzaldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-guzaldo/) > [“Men circle like bees around honey, buzzing to communicate their sexual despair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-h-krueger/men-circle-like-bees-around-honey-buzzing-to-communicate-their-sexual/) [Carla H Krueger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carla-h-krueger/) > [I do love to laugh!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-giudice/i-do-love-to-laugh/) [Teresa Giudice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-giudice/) > [I really enjoy making people laugh; I've discovered that's a great technique. That's as powerful as stirring their sorrow, stirring their compassion, because that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/i-really-enjoy-making-people-laugh-i-ve-discovered-that-s-a-great/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) [Browse all 19,795 Comedy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was just trying to blend the standup that I do almost with like the visual sketch stuff that I did on \"Saturday Night Live.\" And so in terms of how elastic in the world is, we'll see what we can get away with [in John Mulaney show].", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Mulaney" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mulaney/i-was-just-trying-to-blend-the-standup-that-i-do-almost-with-like-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Comedy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mulaney/i-was-just-trying-to-blend-the-standup-that-i-do-almost-with-like-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d58/john-mulaney-7291_comedy_i-was-just-trying-to-blend-the-standup-t_2685854.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d58/john-mulaney-7291_comedy_i-was-just-trying-to-blend-the-standup-t_2685854.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d58/john-mulaney-7291_comedy_i-was-just-trying-to-blend-the-standup-t_2685854.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I was just trying to blend the standup that I do almost with like the visual sketch stuff that I did on…” — John Mulaney", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "John Mulaney", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mulaney/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I was just trying to blend...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mulaney/i-was-just-trying-to-blend-the-standup-that-i-do-almost-with-like-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mulaney/i-was-just-trying-to-blend-the-standup-that-i-do-almost-with-like-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```