Pick a favorite comedian and chances are you’ve watched their material reflect their personal growth over the years. Finding irony in every-day observations is what they do.

And, while thinking fast, choosing the right words and perfecting their timing are all necessary for getting the laugh, there comes a time in their life when none of those skills seem to matter.

Fatherhood.

I’ve watched many of my favorite comedians “stop the show” and relate stories that often become more memorable than their signature material.

Like the time David Letterman shared the experience of welcoming his son into the world.

When Dave’s son, Harry, was born, he proudly told his Late Show audience about the moment:

“And then, at 11:58 pm, the boy came out and he was passed around the delivery room and a cheer went up and he received applause and I got to hold him, and I’ve been head-over-heels in love ever since. He’s made this the best year of my life.”

In the middle of a what-have-I-been-doing rant, Jerry Seinfeld announced (to great applause),

“The truth is, I have a baby! I can’t get enough of the baby. I’m crazy about the baby. You kiss the baby, you love the baby… It’s the most wonderful thing, BUT, let us make no mistake about why these babies are here.

They are here to replace us!”

Brian Regan tells about watching TV with his wife one evening, while electronically monitoring his son’s room, when out of the tiny speaker came the 6 year old’s voice.

“Dad?”

“Yes son?”

“I think I have a joke for your career.”

Brian said he couldn’t run upstairs fast enough. It was music to his ears.

With tears in his eyes he sat on the bed, answering,

“So, you have a joke for my act? Let’s hear it buddy.”

“Do you know why dinosaurs can’t talk?”

“No. Why?”

“Because they’re dead.”

There isn’t a comedian in the world who doesn’t understand the magic of those moments.

Especially, when that comedian is a dad.