Seth Rogen Says Comedy Should Be Hard, You Hacks

Seth Rogen got popular at a time when I was wondering if a then-shlubby guy like myself could make it as an actor. I could not, but his rise to prominence was inspiring nonetheless. He felt like the kind of guy I was. I marveled at him more and more as his career progressed and began to see him as kind of a Northern Star. If I saw Seth Rogen would be in something, I knew it was safe to go in that direction. That didn’t always work (Green Hornet), but he was at least someone I felt I could relate to. I never expected him to be a continued source of inspiration, but here we are.

Rogen has spent the recent leg of his career more behind the camera than in front of it (which has been inspiring as well). He became an entrepreneur with his weed company, began making pottery, and became considerably less shlubby. The man’s transformation and growth have been wonderful to watch; he not only talks the talk but walks the walk. Notably, he ended a longtime friendship and partnership with James Franco after allegations against the actor were revealed (something others could learn from). Now, he’s taking shots at hack comedians.

In a wide-ranging interview with Esquire, the Donnie Darko actor was asked about the state of comedy and whether it’s “harder these days.” Rogen put his foot down. “The complaint that comedy’s harder than it used to be is not a valid complaint,” he explained. “Maybe it was too easy before. And why should it be? Why shouldn’t it be hard? I like that my job is hard, because I’m trying to do something that requires a huge amount of resources and people’s time and energy.” When you’re right, you’re right! The notion that you “can’t say anything anymore” is not new and often employed by folks who need to try a new profession.

But Rogen was not done there. He went on to note that people’s examples of what you “can’t do anymore” are often hollow. “What do you wish you could say?” Rogen asked. “What do you feel has been taken from you? It’s always funny when people are like: Oh, they could never make the Diversity Day episode of The Office today. You can still watch it … I’m constantly meeting teenagers who love Superbad and who think it holds up, and none of them are like: How f***ing dare you have said that?”

At the core of Rogen’s thoughts is that if you want laughs, you have to be funny. Things change. What once wasn’t offensive can become offensive. That’s okay! It’s not on the audience to stay in the past. If comedians don’t want to change with the times, the result is on their heads. Seth Rogen won’t be caught in that trap. He’ll continue to grow, change, evolve, and be a source of inspiration, not just for me but for former shlubby guys everywhere.