The show fell on Bill Schell's birthday, so we turned it into a celebration - dinner at one of his favorite restaurants, followed by the show. It was Carter's first comedy show (probably one of the only acts Mama could take him to, since the inappropriate material and cursing is minimal).
Mama: I kept wondering who the opening act would be. As it turns out, there wasn't one. The lights went out, an announcer said, "Ladies and gentlemen, Steven Wright!" The lights came back up, and there he was, already dropping one-liners.
Carter: I hoped there would be a lot of cursing. However, there wasn't a lot. Sadly.
Mama: There's more to comedy than using bad words. In fact, I admire comics who can perform on prime time television, because they have to be funny without using profanity, which might be a little more difficult.
Carter: I fell out of my chair laughing a lot of the time, but other times I didn't get the jokes. I would like to get an album of his so we can pause it when I don't get it and Mama can explain, because I bet those jokes are funny, too.
Mama: That's a good idea. I knew you'd like Steven Wright's sense of humor. I wonder how he remembers all those jokes. There is no transition between them and he hardly pauses at all.
Carter: Yes, it was quite amazing.
Mama: Do you think you could remember all that?
Carter: Yes. No. Maybe. Only if I was a waiter. Waiters have to remember a lot of stuff.
Mama: My favorite joke was when he said that next week, he's getting an MRI to find out whether he's claustrophobic.
Carter: My favorite joke was the one where the punchline was "pardon my French."
Mama: Of course you'd pick the only joke he told in a two-hour timespan that included bad words.
Carter: My love of bad words comes from your side of the family.
Mama: Hey! Wait, you're right. That's definitely true.
