Brandon Jernigan
Marina Franklin has paid her dues climbing the ranks of stand-up with her never ending city shows, spots at some of the biggest comedy festivals in the country and appearances on Chapelle’s Show and Last Comic Standing. This summer, she’s got a new movie called The Awkward Kings of Comedy—it premieres on May 30 at 92YTribeca—and she’ll be taking the stage at the Comedy Cellar, Comic Strip Live and Caroline’s. Adam Wisnieski talked with her recently about comedy, house music and flip-flops.
What was it like making your first movie?
Surprisingly it wasn’t a nervous feeling because I had been on Chappelle’s Show and I work most nights performing live in front of audiences. I have been friends with Victor Varnado, the director, for over 12 years and this was my first time being in a movie directed by him. He made the experience comfortable and fun! He told me the reason he picked me for the part as host was because I was the first black female comedienne he knew that was not afraid to show her goofy and nerdy side as well as to be freakin’ hilarious!
What shows do you have coming up this summer?
I’m mostly at the Comic Strip Live—that’s my home club. And then I also perform at the Comedy Cellar.
What’s your favorite place to do a show?
My favorite place to play is really the Comedy Cellar. I say that because it’s the top comedy club in the country—I would love to be there more.
Where do you like to hang out in the city during the summer?
Like, outside of comedy do I have a life? I have a life! I’m actually a house head; I love house music and that’s very rare. My favorite place to hang out would be Cielo. I love that club for house music on Wednesday nights with Louie Vega.
What do you do to stay cool when it gets really hot?
I have lots of sex and then I cool off. You know cause the sweat actually helps you. I stay in my cool apartment in Harlem with my beautiful cat and we just cuddle up. I don’t have a man so that’s what I do, the other part was fantasy about the sex thing.
Is there anything that pisses you off about the summer?
The first day of summer. There’s so much pressure to go outside, especially in New York. Sometimes I don’t like nice days because everybody comes out and I don’t like everybody. [Also] I can’t stand flip-flops. Even right now, the first day that’s even 60 degrees, I see people with their flip-flops. I’m like, OK seriously, I don’t want to see your toes and I think it’s disgusting.
What was it like making your first movie?
Surprisingly it wasn’t a nervous feeling because I had been on Chappelle’s Show and I work most nights performing live in front of audiences. I have been friends with Victor Varnado, the director, for over 12 years and this was my first time being in a movie directed by him. He made the experience comfortable and fun! He told me the reason he picked me for the part as host was because I was the first black female comedienne he knew that was not afraid to show her goofy and nerdy side as well as to be freakin’ hilarious!
What shows do you have coming up this summer?
I’m mostly at the Comic Strip Live—that’s my home club. And then I also perform at the Comedy Cellar.
What’s your favorite place to do a show?
My favorite place to play is really the Comedy Cellar. I say that because it’s the top comedy club in the country—I would love to be there more.
Where do you like to hang out in the city during the summer?
Like, outside of comedy do I have a life? I have a life! I’m actually a house head; I love house music and that’s very rare. My favorite place to hang out would be Cielo. I love that club for house music on Wednesday nights with Louie Vega.
What do you do to stay cool when it gets really hot?
I have lots of sex and then I cool off. You know cause the sweat actually helps you. I stay in my cool apartment in Harlem with my beautiful cat and we just cuddle up. I don’t have a man so that’s what I do, the other part was fantasy about the sex thing.
Is there anything that pisses you off about the summer?
The first day of summer. There’s so much pressure to go outside, especially in New York. Sometimes I don’t like nice days because everybody comes out and I don’t like everybody. [Also] I can’t stand flip-flops. Even right now, the first day that’s even 60 degrees, I see people with their flip-flops. I’m like, OK seriously, I don’t want to see your toes and I think it’s disgusting.
