I grew up with a very funny father who was a fan of good stand up comedy. I still remember watching TV with my dad and the way he would laugh out loud at comedians he liked. He would also sit in silence when stand ups were mean, unimaginative, or unfunny.
During the 1980s, when stand up comedy really exploded in clubs all over Boston, I spent hours laughing at the greats there, including Steven Wright, Kevin Meaney, Ron Lynch, Mike Donovan, Jack Gallagher, and Barry Crimmins. I took a stand up comedy class taught by Ron Lynch and got lots of laughs at my two appearances at Open Mics, one of which also marked the debut of an unknown named Bobcat Goldthwait.
Because I love stand up so much, I introduced it to my only son when he was very young. We would watch “Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist,” which featured the incomparable Jonathan Katz and wonderful comedians (including Steven Wright, Ron Lynch, Kevin Meaney, Jack Gallagher, Ray Romano, Jon Stewart, and Garry Shandling) delivering their stand up routines lying down or sitting up on the psychiatrist’s couch. Years later, my son Aaron got into stand up comedy and was eventually introduced by my teacher and friend, Ron Lynch, for Aaron’s first appearance at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe when he was 17 years old. Since then, Aaron has appeared many times as a stand up in Edinburgh and his mother did some sit-down comedy at her own show at the Fringe called “Group Therapy with Ann.”
I still love good stand up. Just the other day, Aaron and I watched Richard Pryor Live on the Sunset Strip, which I remember seeing with Aaron’s father in theaters when that amazing movie first came out. While the only stand up Aaron is doing these days is standing up at his computer in our basement applying to PhD programs in mathematics, we can still enjoy stand ups together.
Do you see any stand ups in my images for today?
I love the way I’m featuring my child Aaron (who is one of my favorite stand ups) in my blog on National Love Our Children Day.
Here’s an episode of “Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist” featuring Steven Wright and Kevin Meaney.
And here’s another one featuring Ron Lynch.
Stand up thanks to all who help me create these blog posts, including YOU.
The Year(s) of Living Non-Judgmentally 
I’ve never heard of Dr Katz, Professional Therapist — And it’s wonderful!!
How lucky you were to grow up with a father who was funny and also caring, who introduced you to comedy so young. I think that comedy is a unique literary art form, not unlike music, and requires a natural ear, lots of practice, and a resonant soul.
Good luck to Aaron with his applications.
Thank you, Maureen, for your natural ear and your resonant soul.
I love stand up and one year, my daughter and I each bought each other a year’s pass to our local comedy club for a Christmas present, and I only found out because the person who sold the passes told me she had been in a day earlier to buy me a pass. we both thought it was hilarious and we went to lots of shows that year. I look forward to seeing live shows again soon.
I love that story, beth.
thanks for sharing, Ann!
I love reading all about it!
I grew up in Greece and comedy was big. Stand-up comedy was not known to me back then, I now enjoy it very much!
I love reading your comment!
I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve watched the entire series of Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist, but even before I started reading your blog I was a fan of Ron Lynch. Often when people say they’re “rolling on the floor laughing” they don’t mean it literally but the first time I saw Ron Lynch in Dr. Katz’s office I was literally doing just that.
It’s hard to stand up when Ron’s amazing routines have you rolling on the floor. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve laughed out loud at your writing too, Chris.
I used to buy stand up comedy albums when I was growing up, Ann, along with my beloved music bands. Bill Cosby and his Noah, build me and Ark routine wore out on my turntable in junior high. Cheech and Chong became the rage when I was in high school. During my time covering entertainment for the big daily in Syracuse, I got to develop a working relationship with Bobcat Goldthwait and Tom Kenny, interesting entertainers and people for sure. I think you and Aaron should appear together in Boston!
I think you are a stand up guy, my friend!