Eddie Pepitone

The sad clown used to be a trope because it seemed like such an irreconcilable contrast—someone who keeps all of the doubt and depression bottled up, only letting out the parts that entertain. Now that there’s less stigma about finding humor in one’s own uncomfortable failings, the sad-inside comic has mostly been replaced by scores of uncomfortable, energy-sucking stand-up acts discussing how depressing and pathetic life (theirs in particular) can be. There are a few people who do it well, though, and Eddie Pepitone manages to balance the inherent downers in his material with a manic, insane momentum and a complete lack of self-pity. Listening to Pepitone mocking himself is almost like watching friends who’ve been ribbing each other for 50 years; he’s long since stopped taking it personally. 

Updated 09/09/2011