I enjoy the Jerry Seinfeld show, Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee. The premise is Seinfeld picks up a friend in a typically amazing vintage car and while driving, and over coffee, they discuss life, comedy, and whatever else might come up.
One of his guests was Lorne Michaels who Seinfeld picked up in a 1955 Mercedes 300 SL. Michaels described how they always have a rehearsal two hours before Saturday Night Live. He also shared how sometimes a joke will work during rehearsal, but then unexpectedly flop during the live show.
There is always a reason for this, Michales explained; maybe the camera angle was off during the live show, or an actor chose a different approach in front of an audience But what Michaels learned in his career is you “can’t explain didn’t work.” No one really cares or is interested why something went wrong.
That was a helpful reminder excuses are rarely effective. Either something we tried worked, or it didn’t. The reasons only matter to us, almost never to others.
On Emotions 