The Los Angeles-based comic has wowed The Tonight Show with his
clean wit. He’s worked with legends like Robin Williams and will be
making his second trip to China after slaying Shanghai last summer.
Your style involves a lot of tight short-form jokes. How did you develop your act?
When I was finding my way in comedy, I really liked short-form jokes. They made me laugh hard and I just wanted more. I learned a lot from guys who were great but not famous, and certain jokes really struck me. I found misdirection in comedy inspiring.
Who’s breaking ground in comedy these days?
I was just in Vegas and saw Sebastian Maniscalco, he’s one of the best comics around. We’re going to be hearing a lot more from him. He’s got a pilot coming out, when he’s on stage all the comics will stay in the room to watch his set. Also Bill Burr is probably the best at the moment.
What’s the worst thing that happened at a show?
In 2001, I was at this gig at a casino in Nevada. Packed house 500 people. The headliner was a big guy, a large-ish man, and people were sending him tequila shots with rock salt on the rim. So, halfway through his set he starts choking on the rock salt. He’s gasping for air and the crowd thinks it’s a joke, so they’re laughing hard, until he drops the mic and just walks offstage.
The only people back stage were me, the booker who was a 72 year old woman, and the feature who was wigging out because he’d just done a ton of drugs. I was the only one who knew the Heimlich Maneuver so we send the guy on drugs out to fill time while the headliner is dying.
I’m trying to do the Heimlich but he was so fat I could barely touch my fingers reaching around him, and I pride myself on the length of arms. I just couldn’t get leverage. So after about three to four minutes I give up and tell the booker to go call 911. The guy was turning blue. I try one more time, and it worked, the rock salt comes flying out of his mouth. He goes out and relieves the tweaker kid, does 20 more minutes and kills.
The headliner comes back after the show and says, ‘Hey, you saved my life! I owe you, you’re a hero!’ He kept saying it, ‘If there’s anything I could ever do for you, please let me know. I’m eternally grateful.’
A few years later I took a break from stand up, and when I came back I reached out to him and asked for help getting booked in Vegas because he plays there a lot. He waits three weeks to respond, and goes, ‘Hey call the Trop I hear they’re looking for guys.’ Which in comedy is called “Being a dick”. So if I see him, you know, I’ll probably just offer him some rock salt.
Any more?
I played another club with no crowd control, it was like the Wild West. The owner won’t pay for a bouncer so people get drunk, start yelling things out, anything goes.
Towards the end of my set I’m in the middle of an important bit and this homeless guy on drugs walks in the front door, right past the ticket office, straight into the club and walks up to the stage. He just stands there right at the front of the stage, and in the middle of my bit wants to shake my hand, just as I’m delivering a punchline. He also proceeded to speak absolute gibberish, which is a language I’ve yet to master. I’m on the mic asking if the owner is around, but he’s nowhere to be seen. So the bartender from next door comes in and escorts the guy out the door.
Shanghai: May 20-21, 8pm and 10pm (Fri), 8.30pm (Sat), RMB170-200. Kung Fu Komedy Club, tickets.
Beijing: May 22, 8pm, RMB150-180. Bookworm Beijing.
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