I was pretty sure it was a surfing term, but I looked it up at Allwords.com:
Hot Dog
(chiefly US)
intr
1. colloq
To perform clever manoeuvres such as spins and turns while skiing, surfing or skate-boarding. Hot dogger; one who hot dogs.

I've usually heard it to refer to somebody who is of average talent, but does a lot of showy stuff to attract attention.

Here's another analogy I will call the "stupid hat syndrome":
Say you go to a party wearing a silly hat that makes you look like a fop. People notice the hat right off the bat and feel obligated to comment, so they say, "hey, nice hat." Maybe one person will say, "Take that stupid hat off," but by that point you think the hat is a surefire social magnet.

Sometimes that attention getting joke is a good one, but it sticks out because it is the wrong tone for the piecee and you have to cut it. Just be suspicious of something in your script that gets all the attention, it could be for the wrong reasons.

Re: In the style of Esquire Magazines, "What Ive Learned.."
 

I have a question about this one. Suppose you haven't actually been published or done anything that would impress the babes. Is it immoral to lie your way into her pants, or is that okay now that Andrea Dworkin is dead?

Mike, I was clicking around on the imdb and noticed that YOU were a writer on "The Chris Rock Show" the year it beat the 4th season of Mr. Show for the writing emmy! Got any stories about this?

Also, I noticed that Vernon Chatman ("Wonder Showzen") was a writer on the show that year too. What's he like?

more Powerloafing-related questions to come. :)

Sorry it took me so long to answer this one, I've been on the phone trying to hook it up. The good news: Bob has agreed to meet you. However, there's a list of 37 other cocks you have to suck, in addition to Bob's. There is also some stuff in regards to your ass that is covered in the paperwork that I'll be faxing to you. Also, Bob may put a bullet in your head just as he "finishes" because he doesn't want it getting around that he associates with "cocksuckers," so, make sure you do a good job Congratulations!

Yeah, American TV has really sucked so far this century, and the Brits have done a few great things in that time. but, I'm with palli in that, ultimately, both countries can be funny and equally sophisticated or base. You can find a counterpart for every variety of good and bad show. I just wish they wouldn't export our crap, it makes me embarrassed as an american. Just as the British were likely embarrassed when Grahm Norton got exported. I heard his show described as being stuck with a bunch of nattering coked up nitwits that you don't know, but have to hang out with. Have been in that situation, and it does feel exactly the same.

I saw Monty Python when I was 9 on PBS and it was a revelation. I actually grabbed a pen, wrote down the time and taped it to the TV so I wouldn't miss it. I've watched every sketch show since, even the ones I don't like, because I just felt a compulsion. SCTV was a big influence, as was SNL and the Kids in the Hall. I would tape every sketch show and then dub "best of" tapes and play them for friends. I guess, like many of the people here I'm a comedy nerd, and proud of it.
Depends on the girl. If she's looking for a rich guy, anything to do with "the arts," means nothing unless you are already mega-successful. But, that granola eating incense burning girl in the VW might be impressed, and the fact that you don't have much going for you may even work in your favor if she's looking for a chance to annoy her straight-laced father.

I worked for Chris Rock for the three years following Mr. Show. The Emmy was a surreal experience. After you win you have to go through a gauntlet of press, print, TV, foreign, Net, etc that takes an hour. There were so many flash bulbs, all I could see were blue spots. It was a rush until the following dawn, and I think I had the Emmy in my hand the whole time, so there was constant hubbub and congratulations everywhere. My date took a picture of me passed out on the bed at our hotel room holding the emmy.

Vernon Chatman is a great comedy writer and a cool guy. I remember the first time I saw his stand up thinking he had a completely unique voice, and the same goes for his sketch. He does consulting for South Park, and sometimes i hear a joke and think it's probably his. i saw Wonder Showzen in it's first incarnation in 1999 when it was called "Kids Show." I haven't seen the new ones yet, but I can't wait. (f'ing Tivo!) The USA network was gung ho when Vernon sold the project to them, and kept saying "we really want this to be dark and edgy..." But, apparently when they saw the pilot they said "this is outrageous!" and dumped it. Vernon had a hard time getting it started up again because of Robert Smigels show that had similar themes, but it's great that he got it going. I'm glad to hear there are so many fans, Vernon deserves it.

Mike, who do you think is/are the most overrated writers/comedy groups? What about the most underrated?

Ahem. I'm right here and I can hear everything. Don't pretend you're not talking about me in your nets language. Is this some kind of dope ring you're referring to?

m

The only "dope" ring I've got is the one that symbolizes my eternal commitment to the woman I married, thank you very darn much.

haha, i love you seth

terris i had no idea! is that sort of stuff legal up there in canada?

well half legal, but if we have a mid spring election and the liberals get voted out its a good chance we could have a shitty conservative government and that means we can kiss gay marriage and laxed marijuana laws goodbye

i thought you guys never had to worry about that stupid crap ever. don't you guys resent america enough to vote the opposite of whatever we're doing anyway?

okay well it turns out that our Liberal gov't "lost" 25 million dollars and it is now being revealed that it all ended up in the pockets of a bunch of Quebec Liberals.

So it looks like we'll be going back to the voting booths soon and the Conservative party has a decent shot at winning.

Our conservative party is really just a big cum rag for the Republicans to fuck with.

Seriously, we're fucked.

But it should help my stnad-up career.

Sigh.

nick is an awesome stnad up, he tells jokes but he fucks them all up because he's dyslexic, most of the time he tells the punch line first