After a memorable performance on a network known for creating comedic superstars, this comedian may have a problem paying her electric bill for a while because, at the moment, her brand of comedy is shining too bright. As part of We Own The Laughs.com’s Comedian of the Day, have a few laughs and get to know comedian Meredith Casey. The Montgomery, NJ native shares some of her favorite moments in stand-up comedy and lets us know how she always owns the laughs.
Name: Meredith Casey
Hometown: Montgomery, NJ/Los Angeles, CA
Instagram/Twitter/Facebook/Snapchat/Tik-Tok: @murderdeathcasey/@MDeathCasey/Meredith Knesevitch Casey/@murderdeathcasey
Years in Comedy: 12
Haven’t we seen you somewhere before: Comedy Central, The Beta Test on Hulu, Greener Grass on Amazon, & American Airlines commercial
Comedic Influences: Morgan Murphy, Dave Attell, Kat Williams, Louie Anderson, Louis CK, Sarah Silverman, Ellen DeGeneres, Joan Rivers, Amy Schumer, Garry Shandling, Gary Gulman, Sebastian Maniscalco, Doug Stanhope, Marc Maron, John Mulaney, & Bob Dylan, Phish.
Favorite Comedy Album: Mitch Hedberg “All Together”
Favorite Comedy Special: Kat Williams “The Pimp Chronicles Pt. 1”
Favorite Comedy Movie: The Princess Bride
Favorite Comedy TV Show: Arrested Development and The Sopranos (people forget this show was written as a comedy)
Favorite Comedic Character: Lucille Bluth AND all of Amanda Bynes’ characters on The Amanda Bynes Show
Favorite City to Perform In: NYC
Favorite Topics to Joke About: Parenthood & Mental Health.
Favorite Type of Audience for a Comedy Show: A willing crowd
Favorite Comedy Club: The Comedy Store (Los Angeles)
How did you discover your passion for comedy:
In High School. I played a lot of sports growing up, and I loved making the soccer and lacrosse girls laugh.
What do you remember most about your first time performing stand-up comedy:
I remember not doing very well and being very nervous! But I also remember hearing one person in the crowd softly mumble, “hmm, she’s funny” and it kept me going for years.
How would you describe your comedic style:
Conversational
Describe your process for comedic writing:
I always carry around a notebook to jot down ideas or in my notes app on my phone while I’m out. I write in the mornings, anywhere between 2 to 4 hours, depending on my day and work schedule. Then in the evening, I go to an open mic and work out the material I wrote that day or something else I’ve been trying to crack.
Describe the comedy scene in your area:
Ripe with talent.
How do you judge success in the world of comedy:
Am I doing work that is true to me? unique to me? and makes me happy? Am I expressing myself fully? unafraid of what the audience or my peers think? If I am, I’m a huge success.
Who are some of your comedic peers that you enjoy watching perform or inspire you personally and professionally:
Eli Lutsky, Cooper Lyden, Dylan Subiza, Maddie Connors, Shane Bianchi, Amy Silverberg, Milan Patel, Noah Findling, basically everyone who works out at the Oeno Vino Wine Shop open mic in Atwater Village.
What’s been your most memorable moment in comedy:
Smoking a cigarette with John Mulaney.
What have you learned most from your failures in comedy:
Failures should be called ‘learnings’. I love to fail because it means I tried something new and authentic to me and when it doesn’t work, all that means is that I’m now closer to figuring out how it does work.
How do people react toward you when they realize that you can make people laugh:
Hmm, this is a strange question. Everyone reacts differently. To quote one of my favorite comedic actresses, Jessica Walter, on one of my favorite shows, Arrested Development, “I don’t understand the question and I won’t respond to it.”
Describe building a career in stand-up comedy:
It takes a long time and when you finally “get something” that you wanted, like a credit or show or festival, it’s always going to feel too late, like you should’ve gotten this years ago. Don’t focus on that crap. Be kind to your peers and work hard, but make sure you have a well-rounded life outside of comedy. The best comedians, in my opinion, are the ones with children, who travel, who take time off, who go see live music, who live a full life. This business is heartbreaking, it’s thin, it’s a facade, it’s sand-it will slip through your fingers. START A FAMILY, LIVE A LIFE, BE A GOOD FRIEND, BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR. DO NOT COUNT ON THIS BUSINESS TO MAKE YOU HAPPY BECAUSE IT WILL NOT, IT CANNOT, IT NEVER HAS.
If you could change one thing in the world of comedy, what would it be:
I would unionize! There should be a stand-up comedian’s union.
Best advice you’ve ever received from a comedian:
Get out of your own way.
If you were releasing a comedy special this week, what would it be called:
“Great, considering”
Funniest encounter you’ve ever had with a celebrity:
I worked on a commercial that Martin Scorsese was directing and after we wrapped he walked right up to me and said, “Hello, I’m Marty. Great Job. What’s your name?” And I was so starstruck I mumbled my name and ran away. It’s the biggest regret of my life. Not funny but interesting, no?
Weirdest place you’ve ever performed any form of comedy:
An alley
A Meredith Casey Fun Fact:
I’m double-jointed in my armpits.
Where would you like your laughs to take you:
I’d like to be paid a fair, or more than fair, amount of money to make a comedy special.
What would you tell a potential comedian if they ask you how they can own the laughs:
Don’t be afraid of silence, don’t be afraid of the laughs.
What are your thoughts on the future of comedy:
I think the social media comedy clip boom is ultimately going to make comic material way less funny and powerful, but who knows?
If you could write an episode for ONE classic TV sitcom, which show would it be and give a brief detailed sentence on the episode:
This feels like work. You’re gonna have to pay me if you want this answer.
If you could choose ONE comedy club and THREE comedians to perform with on your perfect comedy show, how would it go:
Hmm, come to the comedy show I co-host in Los Angeles called Asbury Park (@asburyparkshow on IG), and find out!
What’s next for you:
I’m heading to the Prize Festival in Shreveport, Louisiana on October 21st.
Why should a person always laugh at life:
Because it’s all you can do.
Follow Meredith Casey’s comedic journey on these social media websites:
Instagram/Twitter/Facebook/Snapchat/Tik-Tok: Meredith Casey
