Dr. Katz Professional Therapist Archives - The Year(s) of Living Non-Judgmentally

Posts Tagged With: Dr. Katz Professional Therapist

Day 3379: Stand up

Posted on April 2, 2022 by Ann Koplow

I grew up with a very funny father who was a fan of good stand up comedy. I still remember watching TV with my dad and the way he would laugh out loud at comedians he liked. He would also sit in silence when stand ups were mean, unimaginative, or unfunny.

During the 1980s, when stand up comedy really exploded in clubs all over Boston, I spent hours laughing at the greats there, including Steven Wright, Kevin Meaney, Ron Lynch, Mike Donovan, Jack Gallagher, and Barry Crimmins. I took a stand up comedy class taught by Ron Lynch and got lots of laughs at my two appearances at Open Mics, one of which also marked the debut of an unknown named Bobcat Goldthwait.

Because I love stand up so much, I introduced it to my only son when he was very young. We would watch “Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist,” which featured the incomparable Jonathan Katz and wonderful comedians (including Steven Wright, Ron Lynch, Kevin Meaney, Jack Gallagher, Ray Romano, Jon Stewart, and Garry Shandling) delivering their stand up routines lying down or sitting up on the psychiatrist’s couch. Years later, my son Aaron got into stand up comedy and was eventually introduced by my teacher and friend, Ron Lynch, for Aaron’s first appearance at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe when he was 17 years old. Since then, Aaron has appeared many times as a stand up in Edinburgh and his mother did some sit-down comedy at her own show at the Fringe called “Group Therapy with Ann.”

I still love good stand up. Just the other day, Aaron and I watched Richard Pryor Live on the Sunset Strip, which I remember seeing with Aaron’s father in theaters when that amazing movie first came out. While the only stand up Aaron is doing these days is standing up at his computer in our basement applying to PhD programs in mathematics, we can still enjoy stand ups together.

Do you see any stand ups in my images for today?

I love the way I’m featuring my child Aaron (who is one of my favorite stand ups) in my blog on National Love Our Children Day.

Here’s an episode of “Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist” featuring Steven Wright and Kevin Meaney.

And here’s another one featuring Ron Lynch.

Stand up thanks to all who help me create these blog posts, including YOU.

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: Boston stand up in the 1980s, cats, Dr. Katz Professional Therapist, Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Fuji Sushi, Kevin Meaney, National Days April 2 2022, Richard Pryor, Ron Lynch, Steven Wright, The Daily Bitch Calendar | 10 Comments

Day 546: A place in the world

Posted on June 30, 2014 by Ann Koplow

Yesterday, after I created an important post (for me), I went for a walk by the Charles River, in Watertown, Massachusetts, USA.

A tune I love, by Pat Metheny, called “A Place in the World” was playing on my iPhone.

This was my place in the world, as I saw it:

Then, my iPhone died. And I heard and saw many more wonderful things, in that place in the world. You’ll just have to take my word for it.

Then, last night, I returned to Central Square in Cambridge — a place in the world originally featured here, on Day 511: All-request Weekend.

This time, I was there with my son, for a comedy show with one of our heroes.

(I found that image — plus an interview — here.)

That’s Jonathan Katz. (His official website is here.) On the left, he’s in his animated role of “Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist.” That Comedy Central Show, airing from 1995 to 2002, is one of my favorite TV shows ever — probably not surprisingly, since it combines two of my passions: stand-up comedy and psychotherapy. I loved each episode, all over again, when I watched them with my son, Aaron, who is also a student of stand-up comedy.

The comedians appearing on Dr. Katz’s couch ranged (alphabetically) from

Tom Agna to

Steven Wright, and included so many other amazing comedians, like

Garry Shandling, Jon Stewart (whose animated image I can’t find, right now), and dozens more.

Also appearing on that great TV Show, with Dr. Katz, was one of my favorite Boston-based (and now Los Angeles-based) comedians …

Ron Lynch, whose stand-up comedy class I took in the 1980’s.

Last night, at Improv Boston, Jonathan Katz was wonderful, and not just because he included me, briefly, in his act. Aaron and I literally laughed out loud, many times.

Then, after the show, for the first time on any stage, Jonathan Katz and my son appeared together:

I’m so glad there’s a place in the world for such things.

Many thanks to Pat Metheny, Lyle Mays, and all the other amazing musicans playing “A Place in the World,” to Corporal Joseph U. Thompson, to Jonathan Katz, to Improv Boston, to Ron Lynch, to every comedian who’s ever inspired me or Aaron, to professional (and other types of) therapists, and to you — of course! — for visiting this particular place in the world, today.

Categories: inspiration, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: "A Place in the World" by Pat Metheny and Lyle Mays, Charles River reservation, Corporal Joseph U. Thompson Footbridge, Dr. Katz Professional Therapist, Improv Boston, Jonathan Katz, Ron Lynch, Watertown MA | 37 Comments