Stand-upComedyin

Theory,or,Abjectionin

America

John Limon

Duke University Press Durham and London 2000

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The chapter ‘‘Analytic of the Ridiculous’’ is based on an

essay that first appeared in Raritan: A Quarterly Review

14, no. 3 (winter 1997).

The chapter ‘‘Journey to the End of the Night’’ is based on

an essay that first appeared in Jx: A Journal in Culture and

Criticism 1, no. 1 (autumn 1996).

The chapter ‘‘Nectarines’’ is based on an essay that first

appeared in the Yale Journal of Criticism 10, no. 1

(spring 1997).

© 2000 Duke University Press

All rights reserved

Printed in the United States of America on acid-free paper 5

Typeset in Melior by Tseng Information Systems, Inc.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

appear on the last printed page of this book.

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Contents

Introduction. Approximations, Apologies, Acknowledgments 1

1. Inrage: A Lenny Bruce Joke and the Topography of Stand-Up 11

2. Nectarines: Carl Reiner and Mel Brooks 28

3. Analytic of the Ridiculous: Mike Nichols and Elaine May 50

4. Journey to the End of the Night: David Letterman with Kristeva,

Céline, Scorsese 68

5. Scatology: Richard Pryor in Concert 83

6. Skirting, Kidding: Ellen DeGeneres and Paula Poundstone 104

Notes 125

Works Cited 139

Index 145

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