Comedy writer Murphy decided to take her act out on the road
Until last year, Morgan Murphy had a steady job as a writer for ``Jimmy Kimmel Live." She had been gainfully employed since graduating from Loyola Marymount in 2003, writing for Comedy Central's ``Crank Yankers" for six months before being tapped by Yankers' producer Kimmel for his own show. For most comedians, it would have been the vocational holy grail.
But Murphy didn't get into comedy for job security. She traded the office gig last December for a life of fighting for stage time and touring in support of bigger-name acts (she opens for cult comic Neil Hamburger tonight at the Middle East Upstairs).
Born in Portland, Ore., and now based in LA, Murphy has led a transient life, moving among New York, Connecticut, and the West Coast. She figured if she didn't get back on the road now, she might never do it. But she can understand why some might question the move.
``I killed it, I squashed it, I screwed my life," she says, laughing. ``It's almost like you're intentionally throwing yourself back in the trenches. They give you this office job and you're like, why would I give up this ridiculously stable income and go to essentially making nothing and hoping that something comes up?"
It hasn't taken her long to get noticed. The 24-year-old was chosen for the Just For Laughs Festival ``New Faces" showcase in Montreal in July and was also just named one of Variety's ``10 Comics to Watch." She counts comics like Mike Birbiglia and Patton Oswalt as supporters, and she'll join the latter on several fall dates of the Comedians of Comedy tour. (No Boston date, but the tour comes to Lupo's in Providence Sept. 16 with Oswalt, Murphy, Brian Posehn , and Eugene Mirman .)
``I'm incredibly privileged to be able to go do this with people I really like rather than just be put on a show at some comedy club somewhere with a headliner I don't know and struggling through a week," she says. ``This is like traveling with your friends."
While most feedback has been positive, there have been negative reviews. One newspaper critic in Montreal panned her ``New Faces" performance in a single sentence, dismissing Morgan mostly for her delivery and style. ``Her only review was `deadpan to the point of being catatonic,' " Murphy grouses. ``No mention of any jokes. Who knows how you're supposed to take all that stuff?"
She doesn't take it too seriously, but she says the accolades do help to validate the day - to - day struggle when the jokes just aren't coming. ``It's nice that somebody thinks I'm doing something right."
Neil Hamburger, Morgan Murphy, World's Greatest Sinners, and James Kochalka Superstar play the Middle East in Cambridge tonight at 9 . Tickets $10. Call Ticketmaster at 617-931-2000 or visit www.mideastclub.com.
McFadden says he's sure he won't abandon stand-up completely, but when he gets the urge to perform again, it'll be in support of a film project and on a bigger stage. ``I still love it," he says. ``I love hitting the big cities. I love only big shows, I don't like doing small venues. I still have the passion for it, but not all year round."
Reggie McFadden and Capone play the Comedy Connection Sunday at 7 p.m. Tickets $20. Call 617-248-9700 or visit www.comedyconnectionboston.com.
