"My characters always like themselves"
About this Quote
There is something sneakily radical about letting weirdos enjoy being weird. Amy Sedaris saying, "My characters always like themselves" is a mission statement disguised as a shrug: a refusal of the standard comedy engine where humiliation, self-loathing, or frantic self-improvement does the heavy lifting. Her people might be tacky, chaotic, overcommitted to bad taste, or socially uncalibrated, but they are not auditioning for approval. They are already at home in their own skin, which makes the audience do the recalibrating.
The intent is partly craft. A character who likes themselves moves with purpose. They make bolder choices, defend their bad ideas, double down on their outfits. That confidence generates the kind of friction Sedaris thrives on: not the sad joke of someone collapsing, but the bright, uncomfortable comedy of someone thriving in a way you're not supposed to. Think of the Sedaris persona across Strangers with Candy, At Home with Amy Sedaris, and her talk-show appearances: sincerity pushed just a notch past "normal" until it becomes surreal.
The subtext is protective, even political. Women in comedy are often expected to pay an entry fee in self-deprecation, to prove they're harmless. Sedaris opts out. She gives her characters an internal permission slip, which stops the joke from turning punitive. The laugh lands not because they deserve it, but because they insist on their own logic. That insistence is the point: self-liking as a kind of comedic armor, and a quiet dare to the viewer to loosen their grip on taste and decorum.
The intent is partly craft. A character who likes themselves moves with purpose. They make bolder choices, defend their bad ideas, double down on their outfits. That confidence generates the kind of friction Sedaris thrives on: not the sad joke of someone collapsing, but the bright, uncomfortable comedy of someone thriving in a way you're not supposed to. Think of the Sedaris persona across Strangers with Candy, At Home with Amy Sedaris, and her talk-show appearances: sincerity pushed just a notch past "normal" until it becomes surreal.
The subtext is protective, even political. Women in comedy are often expected to pay an entry fee in self-deprecation, to prove they're harmless. Sedaris opts out. She gives her characters an internal permission slip, which stops the joke from turning punitive. The laugh lands not because they deserve it, but because they insist on their own logic. That insistence is the point: self-liking as a kind of comedic armor, and a quiet dare to the viewer to loosen their grip on taste and decorum.
Quote Details
| Topic | Writing |
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