What comedy most inspires you?
Whatever makes me laugh out loud. Comedy has evolved into so many different styles today. I don’t laugh as much I used to.
Which comedian most inspires you?
My top 3 would be Wanda Sykes, Joy Behar and Patton Oswalt. Larry David although he isn’t really a stand up.
Which comedian scares the shit out of you because you know you'll never be that good?
Too many to count. How and why did you get into comedy?
I always wanted to be in the entertainment industry because I was sick and tired of hearing the media telling my story. Not representing my identity properly. Palestinian was a bad word until like 5 years ago.
What drives you to do what you do?
I definitely love making people laugh it’s so rewarding.
Describe your perfect Tuesday.
Good food, preferably off at night so I can binge watch Chopped on the Food Network.
Describe your worst experience on a coach.
I can usually sleep anywhere and taking the overnight bus to NYC when I still lived in Canada was my jam. Until I heard about the poor guy who got decapitated and then his brains eaten on a greyhound I never rode alone again. Get you a wife who’ll ride with you or better yet upgrade you to better modes of transportation.
Best sofa you've ever slept on?
When I lived at home with my parents I often slept on the couch in the basement. It was so cushiony and I loved falling asleep to the TV on.
Best piece of advice a comedian ever gave you?
DON’T DO IT!!
Worst piece of advice a critic ever gave you?
Haven’t had any.
Tell us a joke.
This joke (not mine sadly) made my parents laugh so hard so I love it:
The CIA is interviewing three potential agents -- two men and a woman. For the final test, they bring one of the male candidates to a door and hand him a gun. "We must know that you will follow instructions, no matter what," says the interviewer. "Inside this room you will find your wife sitting in a chair. Kill her."
"You can't be serious," the man says. "I could never shoot my wife."
"Then you're not the right man for the job," says the interviewer.
The second man is given the same instructions. Five minutes later, he emerges with tears in his eyes and says, "I can't."
Finally, the woman is given the test, but with her husband. She takes the gun and enters the room. Shots are heard, then screaming, crashing, and banging. After a few minutes, she comes out and wipes the sweat from her brow. "You didn't tell me the gun was loaded with blanks," she says. "I had to beat him to death with the chair."
What's the furthest you've travelled for the least amount of money/open spot?
I took an overnight bus to Washington DC to perform my biggest show then. 1500 people but no pay. It was snowing in DC so the town was shut down. I had suede boots on that were soaking wet by the time I got to the show.Thankfully the set was fun, I got a gig out of it but I was stuck in DC until I took a train out that night to go back home. It was the Stinkiest and filthiest I have ever been. I still don’t understand how and why I stuck to this business.
Best chicken you've ever tasted?
We have a Lebanese grocery store In Canada called Adonis. They sell rotisserie chicken with garlic sauce on the side. So good!
On a scale of 1-10 , how hungry are you right now?
Always 10.
How has lockdown been for you?
I especially enjoyed the first couple of months since the pandemic started at the end of a couple of months of touring for me. So perfect timing? But I didn’t expect it to last this long. Now I’m crying whenever I watch TV shows and movies based in NYC, longing for my old life and wondering if we’ll ever get back to normal.
Have you been more or less productive?
Considering live performance came to a complete halt. All the projects that were on the back burner for my wife and I, like working on a pitch for a sitcom, recording a podcast (Comedians Vs The News on The BBC World Service) and training our new puppy have kept us really busy.
Anything else you'd like to say?
Please wear a mask!!
To find out more about The El-Salomons and Eman El-Husseini's stand up, click below
Twitter: twitter.com/theelsalomons
Comedians vs the News (BBC Radio show) : www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3ct0x37
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