Hey there.
Ever since I threw my hat into the race for 2012 President of Chicago Comedy back in January, I was aware, well prepared as it were, for a tough campaign trail. I expected many a veteran to the scene, stalwarts of the silly, to step up and challenge me, to bring lively debate, discussion, and overall change to the political and professional schema of the Chicago comedy scene. I had high hopes, I was passionate, inspired, I truly believed we could see a great surge in all aspects of comedy and entertainment that would make the "second city" #1!
It takes a great man to admit when he is wrong, and it just so happens that I am a great man, the greatest if you will.
And I was wrong.
We are now just about 4 months away from the would have been election day in November, and not a single man or woman that calls themselves a comedian has stepped up to bring their ideas, their thoughts, their intended leadership to organize a scene that is devastated by anarchy, cliques, and overall chaos. It is not because they don't have their opinions... it is because Chicago Comedy does not want to be better. Chicago Comedy does NOT want to be #1, they thrive off their jaded and jealous natures, they FEED off the insecurity they feel every single day of their lives.
I thought I could change that, but you cannot change the course nor lead the lemmings away from their demise. I was in fact fooled, disillusioned as it were, into believing these comedians both new and old, only needed a strong leader, someone to guide them with a shining light of awesome. But change cannot happen, momentum cannot be gained, when the masses simply refuse time and time again to accept that their world, their nation of comedy... is broken.
That being said, I cannot, nor will not fight for this city any longer. They will not change, they will not usher in a new era of greatness because should the second city, should Chicago become #1 in comedy entertainment, it will eliminate all excuses. As it stands now, each and every Chicago comedian can always rest easy on the fact that this isn't New York or L.A. and can reference that as the reason as to why they're not "making it." With Chicago perceived as a stepping stone, self-accountability is a non-issue... thrown out the proverbial window if you will... replaced with finger pointing. If we made Chicago #1 in Comedy entertainment, then exit articles about our voyage to one of the coasts and how we are immediately more successful because of it, would become obsolete... and then if we are not written about in The Reader or The A.V. Club, how will we measure our successes? For many, they would shrivel up and die without the recognition via blurb within a local paper.
Indeed, Chicago Comedy does not want a President and will fight tooth and nail to NOT be brought together under one banner because the citizens of Chicago Comedy are cowards... and I will not fight for cowards. Chicago Comedy does not need a President... for what they need, my Doobers Swooners... is a baby sitter and/or therapist.
But I will not abandon the audiences, the fans, the people of Chicago as a whole, no way Bobby Flay... no dice Vanilla Ice. They have been made jaded by those comedians who they have loved and lost to the coasts... they have become reluctant to give their support because they are forgotten once comedians "rise up" out of Chicago only to return once in a while. For those people I remain vigilant to the cause of making Chicago a force to be reckoned with. a place where people come to to stay, not simply to work out their craft and then leave.
Indeed I will do it for them... on my own... I will bring the world of entertainment to the Windy City as its sole SUPERSTAR... the rest of you are on your own.
Because together we are not forever... and forever we are not Chicago Comedy.
I. AM. CHICAGO COMEDY.
And who am I?
I'm Darwin "Mother Freakin'" Doobers.
And I'm pretty much.... No.
I AM the best!
:)
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