Stand-Up Guy

Comedian David Steinberg turns 70 today. (When he turned 40 he said no one could ever call him cute again. Wonder how he feels now?) In his early days he performed in Second City where he realized he was more interested in jokes than meaningful improvisation.  Good for him.  So he struck out on his own and became a top, new-style comic.

He became well-known for the humorous sermons he did on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour--CBS never got so many complaints.  But comedy was changing, and what was cutting edge on TV in the late 60s was soon seen as yesterday's news. Thus, Steinberg--unlike George Carlin, Richard Pryor, Lily Tomlin, Robert Klein and other contemporaries--was not asked to host Saturday Night Live in its first year, or, indeed, ever.

Steinberg became a popular presence on Johnny Carson and segued into becoming a top TV comedy director, helming shows like Newhart, Seinfeld, Mad About You and Curb Your Enthusiasm.  He's also recently been hosting Inside Comedy, where he interviews fellow comic minds.  But he'll always be a stand-up comic to me.