“ Here’s the thing: Eugene is his own man. He doesn’t listen to you or me or the audience, most importantly. He knows what’s funny and that’s that. If you’re not having a good time too bad for you. Truly, too bad for you. You will be left out. He certainly wishes you thought what he was doing was funny, but that’s all right if you don’t; he’ll live (for three and a half more years). Eugene is of that rare breed of comics whose shows have a beginning, middle, and an end. He pioneered the now-common practice of starting at the beginning, wending his way through various ideas (both verbal and visual) and approaching from the northeast (where he’s sort of from if you choose to ignore Russia as most people do) to get to the middle of his set. By the time you realize that you’ve reached the middle, it’s too late!! Before you know it, you’re approaching what you can only be considered the end! Thus lending a “beginning, middle and end” to his set. This is why in your time it’s known as the Mirman method. This is only one of the stand-up innovations that Eugene spearheaded. He was also the first to use the now antiquated “power point” media. He started the trend of shoeless comedians popular in the early 21st century, and coined the phrase “Now that’as what I call a hairy pussy!” (Not to be confused with the animated series of the same name, which came much later.) Eugene is clinically prettier and sturdier than most of us and that’s fine; we’re all used to it and bear him no ill will. He is much loved in this day and age and valued as a viable commodity to be traded on the world market. He is like silver or corn. Silver corn would be nice but impractical so I won’t bring it up. In closing, sirs, I know shortly you will be off to cast your ballots about this fine, fine man. Please regard him as you would a slightly retarded, but super sexy grandma. That’s what we do and it works for all of us.
— A Letter from David Cross on Eugene Mirman’s Album The Absurd Nightclub Comedy of Eugene Mirman (2004)
