Part 4/12:
Joe discusses the treacherous path of writing for sitcoms versus stand-up, warning that many comedians fall into a trap where they lose their essence, becoming town-centric writers who never develop their on-the-road material. He cites Owen Smith and Tommy Johnny as examples of talented comics caught in television writing careers, which can hinder their stand-up growth.
He echoes Mitch Hedberg's bit about how comedy is the only job where someone asks you to do another job, emphasizing how stand-up is about honest, immediate expression. He admits that sometimes he wastes time writing scripts that feel futile and describes the temptation to surf social media or masturbate instead of writing jokes, highlighting the struggle with discipline and addiction.