Q: Who's your favorite band ever?
A: Hard question. Right now I'd have to say U2 or Aerosmith or the Beatles or Elvis or Green Day or ... man ... I don't know what to pick!
Q: What is your biggest fear?
A: Forgetting how amazing it's all been.
Q: Are there comedy groupies?
A: Sure are. I could tell you some stories. But let's just say. I've had some fun. Let's also say I've had A LOT of fun. And let me add that it was very fun.
Q: If you weren't a stand up comedian what job would you have?
A: Probably something in graphic design. I spend hours on my computer designing stuff for my web site and merchandise. I designed all the stuff on Harmful and Retaliation (with the help of very talented people).
Q: What is the SuperFinger?
A: See History of the SUperFInger at the top of the page.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
A: Creating something that allows me to be around another 10. I have much to do. I have much to say. I just need to figure out how to say and do them.
Q: Were you a class clown?
A: I was very shy in school. Quiet kid. Inside I was thinking and observing but once I tried to speak up I would get little panic attacks and feel quite introverted. Took me many years to find not just my voice. But feel I was worth saying anything. Being young is fucking brutal but the best part is you can change yourself. You can become what you will yourself to be. It's entirely easy if you just stop letting other peoples opinions dictate your actions. Oh by the way that is the hardest thing to do. Enjoy the challenge and in 10 years you'll be everything you thought you could be. Anyone who is doubting this or saying it sounds "too goody-goody" or "fairytale-ish" is still living with fear in their heart.
Q: How has the internet impacted your career?
A: It's the portal to anything, everything and everyone. I wanted to become my own street team online. Connect with fans. Find out where people were at and start to build a base of supporters. Use the Internet to get inside your home. Hang out with you and take a crap in your bathroom. Why is it always wet?
Q: Do you own a monkey?
A: No. I used a monkey in my TV show COOKED. I do have a camel spider though.
Q: How many albums have you released?
A: Two. My first release, Harmful If Swallowed, came out on July 22nd 2003. It has since sold 350,000 copies. Retaliation was just released July 26th, 2005.
Q: Where do you live?
A: In your hearts, minds and Los Angeles, California.
Q: What accomplishment are you most proud of?
A: I'm proud that you are actually reading this and give a rats ass about me and my career. That is no joke. I appreciate my fans more than I can explain.
Q: Do you ever laugh at your own material while on stage?
A: Yes. It's hard not to some of it I'm hearing for the first time too.
Q: What are your hobbies?
A: I play guitar. I've got a dog named Beast that I hang with. I dig photography. And when I'm feeling a little crazy I go to Fat Burger and get the big fat deal.
Q: What was it like meeting Bill Cosby?
A: I was backstage waiting to go on for what would be my fourth appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman. I was there by request from the show because Dave was getting bypass surgery. Bill Cosby was the guest host for the night. I am a fan of the Cos from not only his hit TV show but one of my favorite stand up concerts Bill Cosby "Himself."
So I am just getting my head together. I'm by myself and all of a sudden he comes walking into my dressing room. Hell of a nice guy. We sat and talked about comedy for about a half hour. He was incredibly generous to me. He asked me tons of questions about my comedy and my methods. We chatted about Massachusetts quite a bit because he was from Amherst. I remember feeling a tingle through my body when I thought about how far I had come in my life that I could sit and talk shop with one of the masters of stand up.
As he was about to leave the dressing room I asked him one final question. "Mr. Cosby, what is the key to success?" He took a beat, stepped back into the room and pointed down at me in my chair before replying, "I have no idea what the key to success is. But I know the key to failure and that's trying to please everybody."
He started the show and was killing. Before he brought me onstage I saw him peak over at me and he looked excited to bring me on. Then he improvised some great introduction and welcomed me out on to that famous Ed Sullivan theatre stage.
I began walking towards the mic with a bit of nervous energy. It's not fear it's an overload of emotions that you hope get out of your way before you must speak. As I approached the microphone something unusual happened. Mr. Cosby walked towards me. He didn't disappear over to the desk to watch, which is routine. Instead he threw his arms around me and gave me a bear hug and whispered "go get um Massachusetts!"
Q: What was it like being on a tour bus for a month?
A: Go into your closet with your whole family and stay in there for 10 minutes. That is about the same thing.
Q: Do you work out?
A: I walk a lot with Beast. I work out a few days a week and try to just eat right. Being a comic is weird. You get hyped from a show and by then you want to go eat somewhere and talk about it. You forget its 3:30 in the morning and that eating steak and eggs might not have been the wisest choice.
Q: What was like performing at Carnegie Hall?
A: I made it to Carnegie Hall! If anyone ever asks me that question "How do you get to Carnegie Hall?" I never have to respond with that stock answer. Practice. I practiced my ass off for 14 years and it paid off. One of the best stages I will have ever stepped on. Except the sound in the room is awful.
Q: Do you have any advice for aspiring comics?
A: Get onstage. Don't listen to too much advice. You need years to get better and get comfortable. Everyone will know better than you what you should be up there. If I listened to every bit of shitty advice everyone told me to listen to I would not be where I am. I'd be hosting Extra.
Q: Is that you on MySpace?
A: What's MySpace? Dur. What do you think?
Q: How does acting compare to stand up?
A: Totally different. With stand up I am the writer, producer, director. I do what I want when I want to. It's a solo game.
Once you are in a character with another actor you are a puzzle piece. A director will use you like a tool to get his vision across.
I love both. Acting is important because you're working together to make the story work based on your choices. It's about connecting with the people and the world around you and making it apart of your life and your reality.
Q: When is the TOURGASM DVD being released?
A: When it's done.
Q: Is your family funny?
A: Everyone in my family has a great sense of humor. Much of what my onstage persona is happens to be based on my mom and dads senses of humor. I started comedy wanting to blend physical humor with written ideas. I didn't want to just stand there and talk but I also didn't want to just throw my body all over the place with nothing to say.
My mother is silly, energetic, over-the-top and not afraid to laugh at herself no matter how goofy she may come across.
My father is subtle, sarcastic and has a real distinct cocky swagger.
I took both of those and made it part of my act. Thanks parental units!
Q: Do you wax your eyebrows?
A: I've never waxed them no. But I do have webbed vagina. No idea what that even means.
Q: Where were you when you got the call to be the host of Saturday Night Live?
A: I was in Las Vegas getting ready to headline a show at Caesars Palace. My phone rang and my manager said, "Want to hear some good news?" "But of course" I sang. He gave me the 411 and I hung up, got in the shower and let it sink in deep. A dream come true.
Q: Anything else you want to tell people?
A: Thanks for making the last 15 years of my life worth writing about. Keep laughing, stay positive and listen to The Best of Meatloaf once in a while. SU-FI!