Brightest Young Things

Jared Logan and Kara Klenk are appearing this Friday at the Velvet Lounge for its first all Cool Dude Comedy Show (Lady Dudes Included).  They are both fantastic up-and-coming comics, so when we heard they wanted to interview each-other for us, we were totes excited to see how such a delightful pair would do as simultaneous griller and grillee. Unfortunately this interview didn't descend into petty bickering, but it does ascend into lovable quips about the other's incessant facebook updates and love of Jumbo Slice. Let's listen in shall we?

On Mon, Jan 10, 2011 at 2:10 PM, Jared Logan <jared@XXXXXX.com> wrote:
Hi Kara!
Thanks for doing this interview with me for Brightest Young Things.  I think you'll find that, as a reporter, I'm ruthless in my never-ending quest for The Truth, but also fair.  If you promise to be honest with me, I promise to manipulate the public into liking you.  Feed me a line of bullshit and I'll ruin you.  That's a promise.

First question!  Kara, you've been working in entertainment a while.  You starred on a weekly Spike television series,  you've worked backstage at Conan O'Brien when he was at NBC, you even worked at a production company where you helped to create a The Princess Bride computer game.  What's the weirdest/best creative endeavor you've ever been involved in.  (And please don't say 'helping sick kids in the hospital' or something boring like that).

Love,
Logan

On Mon, Jan 10, 2011 at 3:04 PM, Kara Klenk <kara@XXXXXX.com> wrote:
Hey Jared,
Congrats on joining gmail! Did somebody finally hack hobgoblin69@prodigy.net? I'm glad you took the time to do some research on me, by remembering three things I've told you, because no one likes to sit down (virtually) with an amateur reporter. Unless it's for a podcast. The gang always says, "Jared loves a podcast. And the sound of his own voice."

Anyway, I've had a few bizarre experiences in the entertainment biz, one of the weirdest moments was at Late Night With Conan O'Brien when I misplaced Abe Vigoda. I know he's a person, not a set of keys, but I was responsible for delivering him to the studio at a certain time and he disappeared. I finally found him crouched in the corner of the cafeteria trying to get a cell phone signal, but for a good 20 minutes I was frantically running around asking everyone "You haven't seen Abe Vigoda have you?" But I did get him to the studio where they decorated him as a Christmas tree.

So Jared, you hang out with a lot of jackasses who think they're better than everyone else, how do you handle it when other comedians and/or non-comedians give you notes on your jokes or suggest topics?
Hit me back,
Kara

On Mon, Jan 10, 2011 at 3:45 PM, Jared Logan <jared@XXXXXX.com> wrote:
Yes, Kara, I have been featured on NBC'S Last Comic Standing, as well as Comedy Central and College Humor.  Thanks for asking about those things.

Per your question: Some comedians don't like it when audience members have ideas for their act. I've always loved getting notes from people.  I've never understood why anyone would be perturbed by this.  First, the person giving the note was watching your act very closely and analytically.  That's flattering.  They give a shit about YOUR act!

Second, it's not like you HAVE to follow the advice they give you.  I mean, they can't control what you do up there just by giving you a tip.  So with that in mind I say the crazier the advice the better.  I like it when people have really crazy suggestions because that's entertaining for ME.  Like when an audience member comes up after and says something like "Hey you should do more jokes about Eskimos."

"Really?  I don't do ANY jokes about Eskimos.  So you're saying I should do some?"
Kara, I want to know if you're excited for our trip to Washington D.C.  You've got a lot of friends there, right?

On Mon, Jan 10, 2011 at 4:37 PM, Kara Klenk <kara@XXXXXX.com> wrote:
Jared, with your combination of worldliness and cultural sensitivity, it's pretty safe to say society needs you to do some Eskimo jokes. And my apologies for not plugging your televised accomplishments, I figured seeing them listed behind your name in 10 Facebook invites a day would be sufficient, but you're right, I should have validated you here.

Yes, I am very excited for my trip to DC! I used to visit DC once a month because I had so many friends living down there and I always had such a blast. Plus, have you ever had a Jumbo Slice? It's glorious. I haven't been able to go back as much as I'd like but I did perform in DC last October and the audiences were great so I'm psyched to go back!

I know you've performed in DC, you started in Chicago, currently live in NYC, and you've performed in many different cities. Do you have a favorite city to perform in?

On Mon, Jan 10, 2011 at 5:11 PM, Jared Logan <jared@XXXXXX.com> wrote:

My favorite place to perform is the Seychelles.  You haven't lived as a comedian until you've done a private show for Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes and their small staff of sixty.

(By the way, Kar, what did you think of that copy of Battlefield Earth that I loaned you?)

Apart from my parties with Tom and Katie, I can say I love performing in Chicago and DC, which have very sharp but not-stuffy audiences.  You can really let loose and have a good time.

I also like performing in the southwest.  Arizona, New Mexico, southern Colorado. I love the audiences and I love the landscape.

Kara, I think my next question to you is: What is a Jumbo Slice?  And are you implying that it's better than New York or Chicago pizza? Sacrilege.  I'm going to find that hard to believe.

On Mon, Jan 10, 2011 at 6:42 PM, Kara Klenk <kara@XXXXXX.com> wrote:

Hey Jared,
You know, I was really into Battlefield Earth for a few chapters but it soon began to offend my Mennonite sensibilities so I shan't be finishing it.

It's very cool that you have performed in so many states, I hadn't even heard of some of those.

To answer your question, Jumbo slice is sold at various locations mostly in the vicinity of DC's most aggressive watering holes, like on 18th street in Adams Morgan, where college grads frolic and shameful social behavior abounds. One slice is a quarter of a pizza. I can't really speak to the taste, I'm usually in the midst of a brown out when I eat it and it's always tasted like amazement. Then late at night, 18th street is always covered in paper plates and toppled slices, and I like to imagine all the little Templetons of DC having a little Jumbo Slice fiesta around 4am.

Now Jared, I know you are super busy bringing laughter to New York City, nay, the world, but what do you do to relax?

On Mon, Jan 10, 2011 at 6:59 PM, Jared Logan <jared@XXXXXX.com> wrote:

I find the best way to let off some steam is to just take a bunch of muscle-relaxers and then go swimming.  Preferably in the ocean.  At twilight when the tide is going out.  That's never gone badly for me.

I also like reading fiction and playing Dungeons & Dragons with my friends.  Seriously.

I'll give you the final word, Kara.  Why should people come and see our show?

On Mon, Jan 10, 2011 at 6:42 PM, Kara Klenk <kara@XXXXXX.com> wrote:
If nothing else, they should come to hang out with us and witness this enchanting repartee first hand. Also, my good buddy from when I ran cocker spaniel dog fights, Disney Doug, lives in a studio apartment nearby and wants to have an after party sponsored by Four Loko and CUTCO. Everyone is welcome (no shoes, please)! This is gonna be fun!

We agree.  The show also stars local wunderboy Brandon Wardell, Jeff Maurer, and our favorite nostalgic impresario Hillary Buckholtz. Say Hi on Facebook, or we'll just see you Friday, k?

Previously in Funny As Fuck:

• 12/8: Tom Arnold - Up Close & Very Nice
• 12/5: Lauren Weedman-BUSTED
• 12/1: R.I.P. Patrice O'Neal - brilliant 1969 to 2011
• 10/4: Laugh Track: Joe Rogan @ Warner Theatre
• 9/23: BYT interviews: DANA GOULD
• 9/14: A chat with Pauly Shore
• 9/8: Hannibal Buress: Extraterrestrial Humor
• 8/23: Reggie Watts Is The Sun
• 6/17: Chris Hardwick: Lord of the Nerds
• 6/3: Eli Sairs is Not a Prop Comic