Mike Birbiglia The comedian on his fourth Netflix special The Good Life, the rise of right-wing comics, and being funny vs. being famous

What would you say people like about you?

- Belinda Luscombe

The people who are diehard fans are maybe aware that I'm on a journey and I'm showing full disclosure. I always think of it this way: you never want to be more famous as a comedian than you are funny. I think sometimes people get too famous, not enough funny.

Would you like to be more famous? No, not at all. I said to my wife recently, “It’s a week away from when I’m famous for a month and then not for two years.”

Would you say that you have made choices to not be famous? Maybe, but I don’t really know. People ask me to watch their solo shows. They’re like, “Give notes.” I saw one afew months ago, and I was like, “What do you want it to be?” The person was like, “I want it to be bigger.” And I’m like, “Well, that’s not anything that I’m ever trying to do.”