Tom Brady, Stand-Up Comedian?
In the history of all-time bad ideas, this may take the cake.
https://popculture.com/sports/news/tom-brady-delays-fox-sports-job-pursue-stand-up-comedy/
February 28th, 2023 at 11:37 AM ^
Now that's funny!
Stick to football Tom and be funny when interviewed or commenting.
February 28th, 2023 at 11:41 AM ^
divorce is kicking this guy's ass.
February 28th, 2023 at 11:45 AM ^
MJ, Tiger, Brady --- they all have seemed to have the same initial difficulties once they're no longer the best at their sport.
MJ and Tiger seem to have gotten over it, so Brady will probably get there. It is a transition that takes time though.
February 28th, 2023 at 3:21 PM ^
As a career counselor to super wealthy retired athletes, I typically steer my clients towards owning car dealerships and/or steakhouses, and away from sports gambling, politics, drug trafficking and stand-up comedy*.
P.S.: Tom, your assistant won't give me your direct number
*those last two always seem to go together
February 28th, 2023 at 4:39 PM ^
As a career counselor to super wealthy retired athletes
Um, can I hang out with you?
February 28th, 2023 at 5:11 PM ^
Not sure Tigers trajectory is similar to MJ and Brady. TW suffered the Escalade beatdown, then the injuries/drugs derailed him. He won the Masters in 21. Now a year after the horrific accident he just played 4 good rounds at the Genesis open. TW deserves his own category.
February 28th, 2023 at 11:44 AM ^
Tom! You fell victim to one of the classic blunders! The most famous of which is 'Never get involved in a land war in Asia,' but only slightly less well-known is this: 'Never go into stand-up comedy when you're the GOAT!
February 28th, 2023 at 4:39 PM ^
Baad idea!
Fixed it.
February 28th, 2023 at 11:44 AM ^
Nothing like having a bale of FU money to sharpen one's focus.
February 28th, 2023 at 11:56 AM ^
Also, while unrelated to this post, I have decided to update my avatar from the cute little puppy trying to escape from a hole in a brick wall to something better suited to my user name. I met this iguana at the desert museum yesterday and he seemed to capture the notion of an old man yelling at clouds much better than my cute little puppy.
February 28th, 2023 at 3:47 PM ^
Kinda looks like a rock formation with a coating of algae.
February 28th, 2023 at 11:47 AM ^
From my limited understanding of the process, becoming a stand-up (for most people) requires years of open mics and lousy gigs to find your voice and learn how to do it effectively. This is fine if you're not a public figure.
Tom Brady bombing spectacularly would become a meme in about 15 minutes. What a nightmare.
February 28th, 2023 at 11:59 AM ^
Ever watched Chris Rock's Bring the Pain special? I love how exposed he is in that, talking about how he was upstaged by Martin Lawrence which led him down a path of resetting and finding his voice, which led to his signature style. He talks about adjusting his tone, his cadence, his sentence structure, trying out new material in small clubs and absolutely bombing and being super-humbled. It's a fascinating look on the inside and surprisingly relatable.
There are definitely parallels to football, although that also means you'd need to put in that level of work coming from a place of humility to get there.
February 28th, 2023 at 4:20 PM ^
I have not watched that, but I will check it out. The process fascinates me, even though I wouldn't seriously attempt it in a million years.
February 28th, 2023 at 12:02 PM ^
I listen to a few comedians' podcasts and that's exactly how they describe it. They also did it for about a decade before gaining a lot of popularity and making real money at it (although TB doesn't need the money part).
February 28th, 2023 at 3:34 PM ^
Is Fly on the Wall one of them? I’ve really enjoyed that inside look to the craft (admittedly sketch more so than standup). If not that particular podcast, any recs? I need to pass the time while commuting down from northern Indy suburbs.
February 28th, 2023 at 4:28 PM ^
I really like Working It Out, which is Mike Birbiglia's podcast, and Good One from Vulture, where they usually take a joke and trace the evolution of that joke over a period of time.
February 28th, 2023 at 12:07 PM ^
Coming to an open mic night at a rural casino near you, Tom Motherfucking Brady!
February 28th, 2023 at 3:17 PM ^
It’se Ye Ye Casino. Kemiah Idaho. As rural as it gets.
February 28th, 2023 at 11:49 AM ^
Probably a bad idea. In addition to the difficulty of the job, learning to do it requires LOTS of mistakes in front of people. It doesn't mean you're bad, it means you're learning. Fortunately for most stand-ups, it's in small venues in front of few people. But with Brady's fame, the small-time, low-key start is impossible.
[EDIT: PoseyHipster, above, just made this point.]
BUT if Brady wants to do it, why not? There are worse things in the world than getting embarrassed, and few better things in the world than trying new things.
February 28th, 2023 at 11:52 AM ^
This absolutely has to be fake news
February 28th, 2023 at 11:53 AM ^
i swear to god, i thought this was a (really lame) joke.
the list of interesting and / or funny things tom brady has said is just so small as to be nonexistent.
February 28th, 2023 at 11:53 AM ^
YOU SUCK BRADY!!
February 28th, 2023 at 12:03 PM ^
Is his trainer dude going to massage a bunch of jokes out of him?
What kind of comedian would he be? Observational humor? One-liners (like Rodney Dangerfield, Henny Youngman)? Prop comic? Amazing Jonathan? Would he work blue?
February 28th, 2023 at 3:39 PM ^
I imagine he’d take a Seinfeld approach with entertaining musings on everyday life… “so, there I was, waiting on the valet and he pulled in with a black Ferrari. I was like, ‘dude, I drove the red one today’. I mean, what. Is. Up. With. That?”
February 28th, 2023 at 12:06 PM ^
I don't expect him to be funny, but let's be real: if he went on tour with nothing but dad jokes, half the board would buy tickets just for kicks.
Break a leg, Tom!
February 28th, 2023 at 12:10 PM ^
I'd certainly pay good money to see him try.
February 28th, 2023 at 2:51 PM ^
Actually? I'd probably wait until it's included "Free with my Amazon Prime subscription". For me, it would be a little bit like trying to watch Burr or Chappelle play QB for four quarters for the Pats or the Lions. I wouldn't even want to pay for the parking. 😉
February 28th, 2023 at 12:12 PM ^
I think we’d watch it how a horrified Pesci watched Aces High (Sam Rothstein’s show) in Casino.
Just imagine The Tom Brady Dancers!
February 28th, 2023 at 12:17 PM ^
Honestly...he doesn't seem particularly funny to me. But that doesn't mean he won't have good stuff. I've done a bunch of open mics and, it's definitely not easy. And bombing certainly sucks. But, occasionally you'll be chatting with other comics after the show and you'll be shocked to find out that some of the guys who killed are not actually funny. They can craft and deliver good bits but they're not particularly funny off the mic. So, it's possible that he could be decent at it? Similarly, the funniest person you know, who may be hilarious at parties or in conversation, could be terrible at stand-up. It's a strange world.
I wonder if Brady would be better as like a podcast or talk show host; that's also a rare and difficult skill but I wonder if that's an easier path for him.
February 28th, 2023 at 12:54 PM ^
You've done it? I'm impressed.
February 28th, 2023 at 2:10 PM ^
It can be fun but also nerve-wracking and of course, not fun. But, I honestly think everyone should try it at least once. It's the simplest form of artful expression (if you can call it that). Not everyone can play an instrument or act or create works of art but everyone can speak in front of a microphone.
February 28th, 2023 at 3:04 PM ^
He didn't seem like a particularly good NFL prospect either. I never doubt a guy with crazy drive and resources. Also, this all might be BS too, lol.
February 28th, 2023 at 12:18 PM ^
Bet he can slay ‘em with this one:
What is the main difference between the people of Dubai & the people of Abu Dhabi?
The people of Dubai do not like The Flintstones, but the people of Abu Dhabi do.
February 28th, 2023 at 12:55 PM ^
"It's gold, Jerry! Gold!"
February 28th, 2023 at 6:07 PM ^
Abba Dabba DOO!
February 28th, 2023 at 12:25 PM ^
Haven’t we learned by now to never doubt Tom Brady? Dude’s gonna practice his jokes to perfection. He’s probably watching film of all the greats as we speak.
February 28th, 2023 at 12:34 PM ^
Agreed, but he should be spending his time watching film and getting his son ready to QB @ Michigan.
February 28th, 2023 at 12:46 PM ^
Good for him. Lots of people are terrified of failure, especially when it’s right there on stage where there is nowhere to hide.
February 28th, 2023 at 12:46 PM ^
Love me some G.O.A.T., but this would not end well.
February 28th, 2023 at 1:20 PM ^
Well, at least he can truthfully use the line "Take my wife, please."
February 28th, 2023 at 2:01 PM ^
Unpopular opinion perhaps but the next interesting or funny thing he says might be a first. I struggle to think of anyone else who spent that much time at the forefront of something while saying absolutely nothing.
Perhaps he's been saving it all up for this.
February 28th, 2023 at 2:12 PM ^
Nothing but respect for Brady on this one.
It’s one thing to be brave standing in the pocket knowing you are going to get hit and hitting windows most QBs cant hit even without pressure.
Stand up is a completely different kind of bravery. Where your fear is you will suck, where success is that only 30% of your jokes may work, and where putting yourself out there is the only way to develop your craft.
February 28th, 2023 at 2:26 PM ^
Brady was on Saturday Night Live many years ago and he was awful. It wasn't too long after Peyton Manning was on and it killed me that Brady was so bad.
He's rich enough that he can hire writers and comedy coaches, but I have a hard time believing it.
February 28th, 2023 at 3:24 PM ^
So what's the deal with Grape-Nuts? No grapes. No nuts. Could somebody please explain this?
Thanks folks, you've been a great crowd. I'll be here all week. Don't forget to tip your server.