“Jim was an extraordinarily serious, yet silly man,” said Brill. “He would encourage you to be as crazy as possible, because when you’re inhibited as a performer, you can’t be creative. Because he would be silly, everyone else would be silly.” Oz could be very serious, almost stern, as he prepared to perform—until the cameras came on, at which point he became a comedic virtuoso, creating characters and situations almost at will. There was always a playful irreverence for their craft, as if Oz—unlike Jim—had never really decided if this was something a grown man should do for a living. “Ready
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