Q How exactly does someone go from being an electrical engineer to a standup comedian?
A You work on it. Basically, you decide whatever you want to do or whatever you have a passion for. I like being an engineer, but I also wanted to do something different. I wanted to travel, and as a comedian, I do that a lot. I tried to find an occupation that was best for me. Since I like to entertain people and make people laugh, I decided, while I was in college, to start working on standup. I'm glad I did because once I graduated and started working that, I didn't want a traditional lifestyle. I decided to do something different, so I became a standup comedian.
Q You seem to be everywhere now. What is it like to be constantly on the road and traveling?
A I love traveling because I get to meet so many people. And right now, with what America is going through, America needs to laugh. I am glad to be a person that can help people forget about their problems right now. I think things happen for a reason, as far as when you say you want to make a decision to leave your job. My decision to leave: at the time when I did, everybody was like "Why are you leaving this great-paying job?"; "It's so good"; and "You're a manager." But I just had a feeling, and I am glad I did. If I hadn't have left when I did, I wouldn't be where I am now. I always try to stress that--especially when I am talking to students--that when you have a passion and you have a feeling about something, you have to just go with it and believe that it is going to work out. Because now, a lot of my friends that didn't do what they really wanted to do are laid off and aren't working. Whereas, if maybe they had worked on their passion a little more, they could be further along.
Q A lot of people know you from shows like "Chelsea Lately" and "I Love the '80s." How is doing comedy for TV different from your standup?
A It is very different because with television, you have to be aware there are mass amounts of people. Anybody could be watching you, so there are certain things you don't want to say. It's like, I know on "Chelsea Lately," we beep out a lot of stuff, but that's a nighttime show. Whereas, when I am on a daytime show, there are certain things I don't say at all and certain subjects. That's why when you see me live, it is totally different from what you see on Comedy Central or what you see on Chelsea because you have to understand you are dealing with a whole mass amount of people. You still, I think, as a conscious person, you have to realize children might be watching. You have to remember, with television, that anyone can see you--you don't know. Whereas when I am in a controlled environment, an adult environment at a club, there are things totally different that I can say. And the censors make sure that I am aware of that.
Q Where do you get material for your act?
A I get material everywhere. I got some tonight at this school, I got some driving through town, I got some driving my car. I get it from everywhere, especially news and pop culture. There is material all around. The thing that I am finding is that standup comedy used to be about speaking for the underdog, and I am trying to get back to that. There are a lot of people that this country is not being nice to. This country is not being nice to my gay friends. This country is not being nice to my fat friends.
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