You went from takingThe Old Man and the Poolon Broadway to an Emmy nomination.
This feels produced like a play more than a stand-up special.
And the ending…
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MIKE BIRBIGLIA:The endings wild.
Craig Schwartz Photography
And then our set designerBeowulf Boritthas won multiple Tonys.
So the people, Aaron Copp is the lighting designer.
Toni-Leslie James is the costumer.
And so I think were all proud of it, that its a unique jot down of thing.
BIRBIGLIA:Yeah, the ending.
And this one I spent about four years on because of the pandemic.
And the ending was this thing where I kept trying, What if the ending is this?
What if the ending is this?
What if the ending is this?
And he goes, Try it.
Which is our mantra with these shows.
Lets put it on its feet.
And then the first time I did it, people gasped.
And I was like, Oh, thats really interesting.
DEADLINE: I jumped in my seat on my couch watching it.
One of my favorite movies of all time is Noah BaumbachsThe Squid and the Whale.
And yeah, I get choked up even talking about that.
DEADLINE: About the metaphor in Noah Baumbachs work, or about making this work generally?
BIRBIGLIA:Yeah, aboutThe Squid and the Whale.
DEADLINE: Tell me about some other things that you are deeply drawn to?
BIRBIGLIA:The other one is most of James Brookss movies.Broadcast NewsandTerms of Endearmentare major touchstone films for me.
I can watch them over and over and over again.
Its in the family, I guess, but I feel that way about Greta Gerwigs movies too.
I feel that way aboutFrancis HaandLady Birdand I get choked up atBarbieas well.
I mean,Barbies a great example.
If there hadnt been streaming platforms, what do you think you might have ultimately done with your writing?
BIRBIGLIA:Its so funny.
And all of a sudden people were coming up to me going, I saw your special on Netflix.
And I was just like, What is Netflix?
I dont even know if its this now, but for years it was just edgy.
And then Netflix came along and really embraced what Im doing.
And at this point, I think Ive done five or so specials on there.
And the cast was phenomenal.
It was Nick Kroll and Bob Odenkirk and all these people who were fantastic.
And I think artistically it was death by a thousand cuts.
And then it didnt get picked up, and that was… And one of the things theyre so good at is producing.
Just the way in which Hollywood is so tenacious about season after season after season.
And I was like, Well, why dont I apply that to what my shows are?
And I think its better for all consumers of comedy because its closer to the authenticity that people crave.
People come to stand-up comedy for authenticity, I think, often.
Tell me about mining your health situation for this confessional material.
Stephen Merchant was on my podcast this week, and hes a comedian I really admire so much.
BetweenThe OfficeandExtras, those are two of my favorite all-time series.
And its so funny because we talk about this exact thing.
He once walked through a plate glass window at a party, Sarah Silvermans party.
Theres something there when I get on the other side of this.
And its the old adage, comedy is tragedy plus time.
DEADLINE: As with your journaling process.
Those journal entries that I project in the show, theyre real.
You host a podcast now, so why not host a show?
Have you thought about that in any determined way?
DEADLINE: Well thats a truth bomb for us all isnt it?
BIRBIGLIA:So, the things I love, I love a stand-up special that makes me feel something.
Ill always remember seeingSquid and the WhaleorFrancis HaorBroadcast Newsor all these things.
DEADLINE: But I think some people arent fortunate enough to ever really love anything they do.
I think thats true.
DEADLINE: Back at Georgetown, you entered the funniest person on campus contest and won.
Do you think that changed your trajectory or would you have done this anyway?
BIRBIGLIA:I think so.
And it never left my head.
I couldnt believe it.
And along the way, Ive had a handful of people give encouraging things like that.
Steve Martin says some encouraging things that are really meaningful to me.
And I have a go at pay that forward.
And I was lucky enough to get them along the way.
BIRBIGLIA:Well, its funny.
Its just encouragement of, No, no, this is what youre meant to do.
This is what youre supposed to do.
I remember early versions ofDont Think Twice.
He just goes, I dont think this is a movie.
And its been my rock through my career.
DEADLINE: You talk very honestly with real vulnerability about your reluctance and uncertainty about having kids.
I imagine youve had a lot of people thank you for your honesty over the years?
Heres all the reasons no one should ever have a child.
And then heres the way I was right, and then heres the way I was wrong.
And we always talk about how if youre not telling secrets on stage, then who cares?
Were all experiencing the same madness of being alive.
Its just a lie to me.
DEADLINE: Whats next for you?
BIRBIGLIA:Im filming my next special in March, and Im really excited about it.
Im on tour right now.
Im doing a 50-city tour of America.
Thats a little bit in the vein ofDont Think Twice.
DEADLINE: Youre directing, writing and producing?
BIRBIGLIA:Yes, Im doing all those things.
DEADLINE: Are you acting in it?
BIRBIGLIA:I dont know.
I cant tell you anything about it other than to say its about friends.
I just think Im really obsessed with small movies about relationships.
These are my friends.
And thats what I feel like the next movies going to go deep on.
