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November 2011
Natalie Cox: Worst audience member ever
Juan Salinas photo
Like all comics, Natalie Cox is a procrastinator. I say that with a certain degree of bitterness, because it took her forever to answer my interview questions.
Still, I can’t hate too much. Because Cox is funny - she’s been a fixture on the Austin comedy scene for years, and will pretty much talk about anything on stage.
You like jokes about religion? Unplanned pregnancies? Terminal disease? She’s your girl.
Cox, who is a multi-time finalist in the Funniest Person in Austin contest, is featuring at Cap City this week for Scott Kennedy. We chatted about comedy and why Los Angeles is a breeding ground for awesome roommates.
What got you interested in standup?
I watched stand up all of the time when I was a kid and start jotting ideas down in junior high, but I never really thought it would be something that I would pursue. It wasn’t until I graduated from college with a degree in film that I decided to pursue another impossible career in comedy.
When I graduated, I went to open mics, just to watch at first, but because I’m super cocky I ended up leaving thinking that I was funnier than most of the people performing. There is nothing like the failure of others to instill confidence in yourself. So, after watching two open mics, I wrote exactly three minutes of material and surprisingly didn’t bomb, so then I was hooked.
You’ve been on the Austin scene for a while - what’s your take on where the scene is currently?
There are a lot of nice people in the scene now, it’s weird. Most of the old guard that was around when I started has moved away now. Austin has formed a good reputation for standup comedy over the years and has become a place where industry comes to look for new talent. Therefore, a lot of out-of-state comics have moved to Austin in recent years. So, there is a lot of good new talent, but they are all a bit too nice. I remember when I started, The Velveeta Room used to be a place where the comics would harass and heckle you for doing material that sucked, or old material at an open mic. That doesn’t happen anymore. I wish it would, because that is what pushed me to constantly write and try new things. It also made the bad comics stop coming, which is a nice bonus.
You’re one of the Sandstone comics, right? Can I come hang out with you guys sometime?
Yes and No.
Yes, I live at the Sandstone Apartments where 12 other comics live at any given time. I moved into the Sandstone when I came back from L.A. My L.A. experience made me unsure about doing comedy anymore, but I think being around the community of comics at Sandstone helped me get back into it. There are just a lot of talented comics that live there and I think we push each other just as much as we distract. I mean, the first year that I lived there, eight out of the 12 comics made it into the finals of the Funniest Person in Austin Contest.
You’ve referenced your L.A. voyage in your standup; what was that experience like?
The Cliff’s Notes version is, I moved there for film production, got my car stolen the first week, started dating a heroin addict that I met in a cemetery during a screening of “A Clockwork Orange”(didn’t know he was a heroin addict at the time), had 20-year-old model roommates that would have sex in my shower and use my Loofah, exchanged those roommates for someone that ended up being a coked-out squatter, and then moved back to Austin after two years of that.
So, I would say that the experience is what I needed in order to appreciate Austin.
Your material has typically been a little on the dark side, is there a particular reason for that?
I’ve heard that before, that I’m dark. I always thought that sometimes I’m dark but most of the time I try to be accessible. I never try to shock or offend, although I’m not sure it may come off that way.
It’s just the way I think, I guess, because I will really try to write a joke that is just funny to me and won’t think that it is dark at all. I guess I just don’t have an accurate perception of people, because I think that I am normal, so I assume that everyone thinks the same way as me. I’ve tried to retrain my brain to not go to a dark place, but it’s impossible. I’ll start writing a joke about my dog and it will turn into a joke about my fear of death or commitment (kind of one in the same). I don’t have an answer for this one Brian, sorry. If you do, let me know.
Favorite Hall & Oates song?
“Rich Girl” and “Private Eyes.” If you play them at the same time it kind of sounds like a creepy Police song.
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John Ramsey: Still good
Elizabeth Brown photo
Let’s say you spent nearly a year in Kenya on a human rights trip.
After returning home, you’d probably want to kick back and spend a few weeks watching Netflix, right?
Well, that’s why you’re not John Ramsey. (Loser.)
Since returning to the States earlier this year, the Austin comic and attorney has been a flurry of energy. Besides diving back into comedy, Ramsey also recently became a father and launched a podcast with fellow comic Doug Connolly.
I caught up with John and got the rundown on his trip and the new podcast.
You recently returned from Kenya. I wondered if you could tell me a little about your experiences there (I realize that’s a huge question).
It is a huge question.
To really sum it up, I generally say the experience was hard and good. And that I feel very at ease about the decision to go. It’s not like my wife and I changed the world, obviously. But we were able to help some of the people we went there to help. I think you know I went there as a human rights attorney and my wife as a nurse. And I believe there are men and women in Kenya who would still be wrongfully incarcerated if I (or someone else in my place) had not gone.
And I definitely saw my wife helping orphans with ear infections and burns, and plenty of other things. I don’t know how to say it — we did very little in the big scheme of things, but we did the very little we were called to do. And there’s a real contentedness that results from that.
Was it a weird transition, coming back to the U.S.?
Yes, H-E-B Plus stores blew our minds. Just like, “Look at all this cheese?! Look all these kinds of cheese.” Next aisle. “Look at all this cereal. Look at all these kinds of cereals.” Next aisle. “Look at all these deodorants…”
It was also a weird transition because we came back seven months pregnant. And as a result of that, we were frantic to get settled back into the American life. So, we did not really get to process much of what we learned and we still don’t get to dwell on it. I’m not sure how I feel about that, especially as we buy things for our baby that we absolutely know he does not need — having just seen exactly how little most babies in the world have. But, whatever, we totally have these diapers that sing a song any time they get pooped in. This is America.
It’s also just been kind of tiresome. Ever since we got back, we really look down on people who aren’t as enlightened as us. So, it’s be exhausting having to be so condescending to people I used to respect.
You also recently became a father (as in, a week ago). How soon can we expect baby material?
I had the baby material pre-written. So, as soon as I get some sleep, you can expect them.
Tell me about the new podcast, what prompted it?
Doug Connolly, another standup comic in Austin, approached me about doing a podcast when I was in Kenya. And it seemed like a good way just to record some of what was going on there, and also keep me in touch a bit with comedy, give me something to work on. It wasn’t something we thought was really good at first, honestly, but we wanted to do it and see if it went anywhere.
Now that I’m back, we’ve switched the format and kind of interview other comics about faith, God, atheism, their spiritual journey, really whatever they want to talk about it as it pertains to beliefs. It’s a good podcast, I think, because I’d love having these conversations even if we weren’t recording. So it’s kind of just an excuse to hear from other people talk about something I love to talk about. So far, we’ve recorded three episodes like this (only one released so far) and I have a blast. If I’m allowed to say - the podcast is a good mix of really funny and just interesting. I think it’s really enjoyable and I’m glad we stuck with it, even as the time difference meant I was getting up at 5 a.m. to record in Kenya.
Does talking to comics about their religious beliefs feel like going into a den full of depressed, atheist lions?
So far, we’ve had three conversions to Christianity and our guests have all changed their names to more accurately reflect their newfound faith. No, it’s not like that, obviously. When you hear what we do, you might think it just devolves into name-calling or something. But it’s been awesome.
Talking about religion reminds me about driving a little bit. I’ll see if I can explain what I mean, but I’m not hopeful.
When people are in their cars, they just kind of see everyone else driving as cars — not people. And they drive aggressively, kind of rudely, without regard that inside those cars are other actual human beings. Like my mom was telling me one time about this young dude who flipped her the bird — and I was like, “Who flips the bird to a 50 year old grandmother of five?” It seems like a tool.
But most people don’t treat people the same way in person as they do when they’re driving. Granted, some people are just jerks — but that same dude would probably open the door for my mom in a circumstance when he was viewing her as a human being, not just the operator of some piece of metal that was in his way.
All that to say, people talk about people who are religious, non-religions, or of a different religion with the same kind of impersonal view. They aren’t putting a face to it, or they are putting the wrong face to it. Just viewing people with differing viewpoints as opponents. But when we sit down with people, like we do on the podcast, and it’s people you know and respect, it becomes very difficult to just hate on each other’s beliefs. Keeping in mind, of course, that some people are just jerks.
But to answer your question more directly: Comics are comics because they have something to say. And that makes the podcast really interesting.
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Your mother wants you to date Bob Khosravi
Kestrel Lancaster photo
Comics are generally a competitive lot - a depressed group of smart, self-loathing people who are jealous of others’ success.
The exception to this rule is Bob Khosravi.
I honestly don’t think think any Austin comic is more beloved than Bob. He’s one of those guys who greets you with a bear hug and you think, “Man. I would probably give Bob a kidney if he needed one.”
I realize this has nothing to do with comedy, but trust me on the niceness. And besides, Bob is a fantastic comic, with a conversational, self-deprecating and genial (natch) style that largely centers around his failed relationships.
Which I don’t understand; why is a human treasure like Bob Khosravi still on the market? He’s headlining the Velveeta Room (and guest-hosting my Friday night show) this weekend, so I took the opportunity to get to the bottom of things.
How did you get started in comedy?
I heard an ad on the radio.
For serious. I have always loved hearing people laugh, but I had been told during my formative years that Stand Up was dead. Then, one day, there was a comedian doing a guest spot on the radio who mentioned that he was teaching a free class. So, I talked all of my friends into going, and then the day of I ended up at the class alone. The minute he finished his opening spiel I was hooked. I just needed someone to tell me it was a thing people could do.
You’re from Dallas originally, did you move down to Austin for the standup scene here?
I actually moved here for a job. An amazing job. A job that has been since sent to India (Bangalore, if you’re looking to apply).
I had seen a couple of the Austin guys at the Improv (and during Last Comic Standing auditions), so I knew there was a great scene here, and that made the choice of moving to Austin even easier. I was excited about the prospect of getting to play here. I have never regretted the decision (stand up wise, the job I feel differently about).
You’re known as one of the nicest guys on the comedy scene and you have a joke about how almost nothing could make you want to fight someone. Why the long fuse, Bob?
Nihilism. I dated a girl that told me I suffer from it, and it’s why we had to stop dating. I’m pretty sure she got her “isms” mixed up, but it sounds good so I’ve kept it.
Much of your material is centered around dating and relationships and that you’re perennially single. Do girls not like nice guys?
Hah! No. I think girls like nice guys. I just think they get tired of THIS particular nice guy. I used to be annoyingly considerate. There was a guy I would go out of my way to avoid because I knew he didn’t like me, and I figured why make his life more difficult by running into him. I’ve gotten better about that. I average only moderate consideration now…. How does that sound, ladies?
Did you really try to break up a 3 a.m. fight at Dennys? WHY ARE YOU SO NICE?!!
Haha, yes. It was at Kerby Lane (hope they don’t get mad), and I really had had too much to drink, and there really was an old couple sitting in front of me, and all I could think was, “if I don’t protect this old couple from this fight they may never leave the house late at night again.”
And I really was saved by a tiny, spikey haired waitress who broke it up before I got tangled up in it. So, truthfully, I just shielded an elderly couple from an impressive display of managerial aptitude.
