Steve Martin and Martin Short perform two shows at the Paramount on Saturday Credit: Anna Webber

Steve Martin and Martin Short perform two shows at the Paramount on Saturday

Steve Martin and Martin Short perform two shows at the Paramount on Saturday. Anna Webber

Faced with the prospect of a conference call with Steve Martin and Martin Short, two of the funniest men who have ever drawn breath and whose bodies of work, separately and together, I basically know by heart, the mandate was obvious: Do. Not. Try. To. Be. Funny.

It wasn’t hard. I just stuck to the subject at hand: An Evening You’ll Forget for the Rest of Your Life, the live show they’re bringing to the Paramount, a version of which is currently available on Netflix. It’s about 70/30 banter and music, with Martin and Short’s trademark absurdist showbiz insincerity in the foreground, abetted by their obvious fondness for and fandom of each other.

Sean Nelson has worked at The Stranger on and off since 1996. He is currently Editor-at-Large. His past job titles included: Assistant Editor, Associate Editor, Film Editor, Copy Editor, Web Editor, Slog...