I remember going to Bob Preston’s dressing room because I was losing a laugh – as you do in a long run. He said, ‘Give me the script. That’s where you’re going off the road.’ That’s comedy. It’s never the line itself; it’s in the foundation.
Meaning of the quote
The quote explains that comedy is not just about the specific words you say, but about the way you say them. When Jeffrey Tambor was performing a long-running show, he started to lose some of the humor in his lines. His co-star, Bob Preston, helped him by looking at the script and showing him where he was straying from the foundation of the comedy. This suggests that the true essence of comedy comes from understanding the deeper meaning and structure behind the words, not just the words themselves.
About Jeffrey Tambor
Jeffrey Tambor is an acclaimed American actor known for his memorable roles in TV shows like The Ropers, The Larry Sanders Show, Arrested Development, and Transparent. He has also had a prolific film career, appearing in movies such as …And Justice for All, Mr. Mom, and The Hangover trilogy. Tambor is a versatile performer who has earned numerous accolades, including two Primetime Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe.
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