Shelley Berman

I will always love to perform standup comedy.

Incidentally, I'm still looking for acting work, my first love.

I believe it is important for comedians to know who came before them.

I was an actor before becoming a comedian.

My first job was at a Chicago night club called Mr. Kelly's.

The Steve Allen Sunday night show had the right to two options after my first performance.

I am presently in my thirteenth year of teaching a graduate course at the University of Southern California.

I am in the Master of Professional Writing program teaching Humor Writing, Literary and Dramatic.

While you're improvising, you may come up with something which will break him up. As soon as that smile comes out, you know that, hey, we're having fun.

The old problems - love, money, security, status, health, etc. - are still here to plague us or please us.

Though it sold very well, I hated The Edge.

As much experience, education and awareness as one can attain is important for a comedian.

As a culture I see us as presently deprived of subtleties. The music is loud, the anger is elevated, sex seems lacking in sweetness and privacy.

I quit smoking well over twenty years ago.

The old problems love money security status health etc. are still here to plague us or please us.

Outside came in '60. The Edge in '61. All three made Gold, but the biggest seller was Inside.

My whole act is confession.

So that this thing that aired in 1963 would result a few years later in personal bankruptcy, would result in having people be on edge with me, wondering when I'm going to blow up.

Inside was the second LP album of a comedian's performance before an audience.

The most memorable performance was my appearance in concert in Carnegie Hall. The first standup to do so.

I am careful with my material and presentation.

Unquestionably, standup comedy is and has always been an art form.