Summary
Highlights
Kang Sule discusses how he guides his children to develop their individual characters, emphasizing that he lets them pursue their passions rather than forcing them into specific paths. He recounts how his son, Iki, initially felt embarrassed by his father's comedic profession but eventually found his calling in music, with Sule's encouragement. Sule explains his philosophy that while he can provide financial support, skills and talents are something each child must develop themselves, aiming for them to discover their identity by age 15.
Sule reveals that his stage name originated from his childhood nickname, 'Sule,' given by his father due to his constantly runny nose (susut leho in Sundanese). He shares his early ambition to become a comedian, inspired by local West Javanese comedians and his experiences helping his father sell bakso at entertainment events. He recounts his early attempts at comedy with his group SOS, including participating in a student humor competition where they were selected more for their technical stage presence than their comedic content, leading to a period of struggle in Bandung before making it to Jakarta through API in 2005.
Kang Sule discusses his experiences in popular TV shows like OVJ and Ini Talk Show. He details how he, along with other comedians, developed characters and sketches for these shows, often improvising on the spot. He shares the initial challenges of Ini Talk Show, which was originally intended to be political but transformed into a comedy talk show due to his insistence on having a live audience for better interaction. He also highlights the process of finding the right comedic 'formation' for shows, eventually leading to successful collaborations with comedians like Andre Taulany after two years of adjustments.
Sule opens up about the stress and challenges of being a comedian, especially when faced with unappreciative or intoxicated audiences. He recounts a particularly memorable and difficult experience performing in a village where audience members threw various objects at him and eventually sawed the stage props. Despite such incidents, he emphasizes the importance of loving one's work to mitigate stress, drawing a clear line between enjoyable performances and those taken out of obligation where humor often falls flat.
Kang Sule reflects on the current state of comedy, noting the vast opportunities for comedians on digital platforms like TikTok and YouTube, contrasting it with the more limited avenues of the past. He discusses the shift in sponsor focus from traditional TV to digital influencers and expresses hope for a resurgence of comedy programs on television, reminiscing about the 'golden age' of comedy in Indonesian TV where such shows dominated prime time. He also shares his personal success in adapting to digital platforms, even earning income from TikTok live streams.