Meet Emily Winter | Writer and Comedian

We had the good fortune of connecting with Emily Winter and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Emily, can you share a quote or affirmation with us?
“Perfect is the enemy of great.”

Actually, I think the popular saying is “perfect is the enemy of good,” but that’s depressing. Who wants to just be “good”?

Point is, I think of this quote almost daily, because making bad art feels disgusting, embarrassing, and boring all at once. But, annoyingly, it’s necessary. We can’t get to greatness without first barfing out some bad material.

Starting something–a new script, standup comedy, working out, therapy, whatever–is painful and tedious. But the good news is: starting is the hardest part. Once you’re in it, you’re already over the worst of it. If you can motivate yourself to get started, you can do anything. But if you wait for a stroke of genius, you’ll be waiting forever.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m a TV writer, author and standup comedian, and none of this makes me particularly special. But that’s okay. Because comedy and writing aren’t about being special, they’re about interpreting our human experience in a way that’s so nakedly relatable that it makes you laugh. When I’m creating something, I try not to think about how it or I will be received, but instead how authentic it feels to me. I’m generally so uninterested in my legacy and people’s perception of me that I can’t even answer the question: What sets you apart?

Art, like everything, is boring. It’s tedious. It’s annoying. But unlike most things, it’s worth the work. When I have the opportunity to delight a standup audience, watch a joke I wrote play on TV, or even just finish a script that maybe no one will ever read, I am truly happy. I didn’t pursue this as a career to become famous, cement a legacy, or convince people I’m special. I pursued it because nothing makes me feel more alive and more content.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Oy Bar for dinner in the valley
The New Beverly for an old movie
Dodger Game
Potato Balls at Porto’s in Burbank followed by a trip to Be Kind Video, a VHS store and hub for cinephiles
FoxFire Room, my favorite LA dive bar
Shop and get coffee in Atwater Village
French Fries and a martini at The Wolves in DTLA

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Shoutout to my husband, comedian Chris Calogero, whose comedy and kindness inspire me every day.

We do a thing we call “ideas table,” in which we ask for help with our jokes, scripts, and other work. I find myself requesting an ideas table with him almost every day. He’s the secret ace up my sleeve! I couldn’t be more grateful and proud of him, and it would be weird if I didn’t include that his debut comedy album, Husky Boy, is coming out in August. https://music.apple.com/us/album/husky-boy/1754277881

Website: https://www.emilywintercomedy.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilymcwinter/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/verify/identity/clear/start/?entryPoint=selfview_topcard&platform=DESKTOP&referrer=verify_hub_redirect

Image Credits
Jenni Walkowiak, Mindy Tucker