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Show ('OUKviv Steve Mart in found it paid to be a jerk by Jerry Buck Associated Press Writer Steve Martin is like the in the movie, The Jerk" in one way He's discovered how to make millions out of LOS ANGELES character he plays nonsense. As Navin Johnson, Martin makes $5 million out of a ridiculous nose grip for eyeglasses. Thats peanuts compared to the mother lode Martin has mined from absurdities Besides, Navin had to give it all back Martin does it on records, on stage, in the movies and on television. His second TV special, Comedy Is Not Pretty," airs Thursday on KUTV at 8 p.m. I have an affinity for television since I started in Movies have character, plot it, says Martin. development, all those novel qualities, and on e television I can do a sketch, a sketch, and get those ideas out of my head. Its a great place to put them. They're not big enough for a movie but theyre funny enough to deserve something. Martin, 34, is the countrys hottest comedian. His first movie, The Jerk, has already earned $40 million. In the last five years his performances have grossed $150 million. HE IS THE point man for a new wave of absurdist Robin Williams, Chevy Chase, Martin comedy Mull that is neither relevant nor topical. It is in fact, a throwback to the heyday of Red Skelton and Jerry Lewis. He took the trite and made it funny, such as nose glasses, bunny ears and an arrow through the head. On stage he wears white tailor-mad- e suits and portrays a character who is amoral, pompous and insensitive. I think there was a comedy revival about 1976," says Martin. Comedy was in a whole other world It just sort of disappeared after Bill Cosby Big comedians, big comedy and the funny movies I think it had a lot to do with the war, the mood of the country. And the comedians who were successful then, like Richard Pryor, George Carlin, were topical, nega tive. Im not saying that comedy was dead It was a negative approach and then it became a positive thing again, what its normal state would be Thats not to speak ill of Pryor or Carlin because theyre great. MARTIN SAYS it was deliberate on his part to steer his humor in another direction. I'll tell you why I felt that way Because during the late 60s and 70s everything was topical. Music. Movies. Records, Television. It became a cliche almost to be topical. So I said the time is now to do what I do." Off the stage and away from the camera. Martin is like another person. He is a quiet, introspective person and unlike comics of another age feels no compulsion to be on" all the time. He says, 'To me its impolite to draw attention to yourself at a party. On stage, its okay. I could never be that character HE SAYS, offstage. I wouldnt have any friends, everyone would hate me, I wouldn't be invited anywhere. The proper place for that kind of person is on a stage doing an act. If you did that in private life it wouldnt even be funny Martin grew up in Orange County. Calif., and by the time he was 10 years old he was "performing" at nearby Disneyland He says, "I started selling guidebooks I was shouting, yelling, talking to people Then I worked in a magic shop and learned to do three-minut- two-minu- tricks A kid who wants to be funny and get into show-busines- can't really stand up there and do a monologue. He has no material, hes got nothing So its easy to get a magic set, set up vour act, read the patter and you've got an act. I think a lot of comedians started that way Johnny Carson. Dick T 12 See Page Column 1 Stove Martin: Comedy is No! Pretty w that dapper dingbat with the arrow through his head ? Or with the rabbit ears ? Or with the happy feet 9 " It 's the sensational modem master of absurd comedy, Steve Martin. The star of the motion picture, The Jerk, will in an appear hourlong special on KUTV Thursday at 8 p.m. with guests: Marty Allen, Steve Allen, Joan Collins, Peter Who is Joyce DeWitt, Graves, Carl Reiner, and a cast of three or four tunless the budget is spent on cheese sandwiches). Caricature is the artistry of Tom Crabtree. |