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Ari Shaffir on Early Jobs, Arlington Cemetery, and Comedy Special

Ryan SicklerDecember 6, 20221h 9min85,849 views
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Ari Shaffir's Comedy Special "Jew"

  • 🚀 Ari Shaffir's new comedy special, titled "Jew," is now available on YouTube and is described as his "Opus," representing five years of mindful preparation.
  • 💡 The special was filmed in various locations to ensure its humor resonates with diverse audiences, and it has achieved over a million views in its first few days.
  • 💰 While the special is offered for free, a donate button is available for viewers who wish to contribute to its production costs.

Early Jobs and Humorous Anecdotes

  • 🏛️ Shaffir recounts his first job at Arlington National Cemetery at age 16, where he worked in horticulture, laying pipe and watering flower beds.
  • 🧠 He learned about "black humor" from his colleagues, describing it as jokes that are repeated with equal laughter, and also shared stories of their clever ways to game the system at work.
  • 💥 A memorable incident involved accidentally putting out the Eternal Flame at JFK's memorial with a hose, a mistake that caused significant tourist attention.
  • 🍕 His experience delivering pizzas for Domino's led to him being fired for skimming money by exploiting a 30-minute delivery guarantee, showcasing his early entrepreneurial spirit.

Life Lessons and Observations

  • 🤝 Shaffir shares an experience of returning an $8,000 check he found, only to have the recipient shut the door in his face, highlighting a surprising lack of gratitude.
  • ✈️ He recounts a time he masturbated on a Qantas flight into a sock, a bizarre act stemming from a desire to experience new things.
  • 🏥 A lady who moved into his old apartment returned a $3,000 check from Blue Shield that had been misdelivered, refusing any reward and emphasizing her desire to help him reclaim what was owed.
  • 🚗 He also describes finding a lost driver's license and returning it to a woman who turned out to be an assistant on Dr. Drew's show, leading to a positive outcome.

Comedy and Career Reflections

  • 🎤 Shaffir discusses the evolving landscape of comedy, noting the shift from simply telling jokes to understanding "the algorithm" and social media's impact.
  • 🌍 He expresses his amazement at selling tickets internationally and the surreal experience of performing in places like Canada and Europe.
  • 😂 The conversation touches on the humor found in everyday life and the importance of finding fun even in challenging work environments, like his time at UPS and an auto auction.
  • 🎤 He encourages fans to watch his new special, "Jew," and also promotes his upcoming live shows, emphasizing his commitment to authentic stand-up comedy.
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What’s Discussed

Ari ShaffirComedy SpecialStand-up ComedyArlington National CemeteryEarly JobsPizza DeliveryHumorStorytellingComedy TourYouTubeThe HoneyDew Podcast
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