Friday, August 12, 2022

My Weekend Crush

Janeane Garofalo has always been a bit of a hero of mine. I’m a Gen Xer through and through, and besides Winona few actors were as Gen X as Janeane. Witty, outspoken, independent, sarcastic, intelligent and, fine, those glasses. I think more than anything she embodied my generation’s aversion to selling out. It’s a concept I understand intrinsically, down to the marrow of my 90s kid bones. Don’t be a sell out. It’s why, to this day, I’ve always refused to have ads or sponsorships on my blog. This is my safe space, where I’m never trying to sell you something. I just like it that way. We have so few commerce-free spaces in this world as it is.

Anyway, last month The New York Times ran a column about Janeane, noting how she still constantly plays dinky comedy clubs around NYC. Such contempt for commerce and capitalism seems almost unthinkable from today’s roster of YouTube/Instagram/TikTok stars. Turning yourself into a brand is just how it’s done now. It’s the influencers’ world and we’re just living in their sponsored posts.

The column is both complementary and contemptuous of Janeane’s path. Also, I don’t think they actually interviewed her. They just went to one of her small shows and then had a lot of thoughts and feelings that concluded with an “Atta Girl, But Isn’t She Also Sorta Sad” kind of way. Well, screw that. Celebrity and all the trappings of fame aren’t for everyone. And they aren’t the only signs of a successful life. Nor is your net worth. I only wish I lived on the other coast, so I could pop in sometimes to see Janeane at one of those little clubs. Not all heroes wear capes, some of them stand in front of two-drink minimum crowds and just hope they’ll laugh. Happy weekend, all.

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5 comments:

  1. Anonymous8:59 AM

    OMG the idiocy of dragging a talent that you’re only too lucky to be able to see in a smaller venue!! it is incredibly rare after someone becomes a ‘name’ - I haven’t read the article but sounds like a real miss, like, don’t go to the show maybe? Those are not reflections worth the pixels try actually commenting on the art. Also I call bs on doing this to a woman when there are countless dudes doing the same things and zero press cutting them down (weird al to name but one). Boring misogyny again, find a new hobby seriously :-/

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  2. Carmen San Diego2:47 PM

    I need to rewatch The Truth About Cats & Dogs

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  3. Anonymous4:15 PM

    Wait, a solid week of news about Anne Heche and nothing?

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  4. Anonymous11:39 AM

    I’m not giving the paper the click but I trust your opinion. Anyone dissing JG is a fool. To me she’s always embodied someone doing life right. Well apart from the drinking thing, but thankfully that’s behind her.

    She’s just cool. I generally don’t think that about the hets so high praise indeed ‘)

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  5. Anonymous11:49 AM

    PS Meant to add, the lack of ads on here is appreciated *kudos*

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