Q: Why are so many people from Boston so quick-witted and quippy?
A: Overlooking that you forgot to add “handsome, intelligent, and saintly,” I’ll try to answer your question: I think it’s the local emphasis on education.
Boston’s culture is in part the result of over 400 years of continual investment in education, as explained a bit more in another post, “Why does Boston have so many universities compared to other cities?”
During the school year, about a fourth of Boston’s population is made up of college and university students — that’s a huge percentage! This has a pronounced effect on local culture. And the effects are lasting: Some 46% of Boston residents have college degrees or higher, compared to a national average of around 32%.
This has effects in every field — including comedy. A Redditor, ihammers, compiled a list of notable comedians from here. The list may not be complete, but it gives you the idea:
Boston Area Born and/or Raised:
Bill Burr- Canton
Louis C.K.- Newton
Doug Stanhope- Worcester
Jay Leno- Andover
Conan O’Brien- Brookline
Steve Carell- Acton
Pete Holmes- Lexington
Patrice O’Neal- Roxbury
Steven Wright- Cambridge
Mike Birbiglia- Shrewsbury
Joe Rogan- Newton
Bo Burnham- Hamilton
Dane Cook- Arlington
Denis Leary- Worcester
Gary Gulman- Peabody
Amy Poehler- Burlington
Eugene Mirman- Lexington
Lenny Clarke- Cambridge
BJ Novak- Newton
Steve Sweeney- Charlestown
Mindy Paling- Cambridge
Matt LeBlanc- Newton
John Krasinski- Newton
Bryan Callen- Gill
Robert Carlock- Waltham
Rob Corey- Weymouth
Rob Delaney- Marblehead
Nick Di Paolo- Danvers
Rachel Dratch- Lexington
Christian Finnegan- Acton
Penn Jillette- Greenfield
Robert Kelly- Boston
Jen Kirkman- Needham
Jason Mantzoukas- Lynn
Paula Poundstone- Sudbury
Jenny Slate- Milton
Jimmy Tingle- Cambridge
Dana Gould- Hopedale
Attended college/university here:
Harvard: Greg Giraldo, Lisa Lampanelli, Rashida Jones, Colin Jost, Mo Rocca, Steve Zahn
Emerson: David Cross, Harris Wittels, Joe Mande, Iliza Shlesinger, Eddie Brill
Boston University: Howard Stern, Rosie O’Donnell, Jason Alexander, Paul Reubens, Marc Aaron
Berklee: Eric Andre
BC: Camerson Esposito
Northeastern: Jane Curtain
Tufts: Hank Azaria
I guess we’ll have to wait for the list of “handsome, intelligent, and saintly” Bostonians. 🙂
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