Keep Laughing with Jim Breuer

November 17, 2011

Keep Laughing with Jim Breuer

by Drew Snyder

An indispensable part of the late 90s SNL cast, Jim Breuer continues to push the boundaries in comedy with his sensational stand-up act. Recently he was named one of Comedy Central’s “100 Greatest Stand-Ups of All Time” and can be heard on his Sirius/XM Radio show “Fridays with Breuer”. I had the pleasure of speaking with Jim in preparation for his upcoming show at the NYCB Theatre at Westbury, November 25th.  

Drew: So tell us what it was like growing up in Valley Stream and how that might have shaped your future in comedy?

Jim: In our heads we think it’s our own little country. It was such a great childhood. I’ve prayed so hard that my kids would have half the childhood I had. It was just a different time, man. Everyone was funny. It’s that blue-collar mentality.

Drew: Back then, who was your biggest inspiration?

Jim: Eddie Murphy was the biggest one.

Drew: And how did SNL come about?

Jim: Well I had a couple deals and eventually NBC asked me to audition for it. The network was pushing for me to be on there.

Drew: What is your best memory of SNL?

Jim: There are a lot of them. I would say working with Tom Hanks. And meeting Pesci and DeNiro.

Drew: Could you share a low point of being on the show?

Jim: Probably my lowest point was my first six to nine episodes because I just couldn’t get on.

Drew: When you look back at Jim Breuer 15 years ago, what do you see?

Jim: Oh, man. I see a guy with raw talent who just probably wasn’t ready. If I had it now, I probably would never look back.  But back then I was raw and dumb. I wasn’t even close to what I am now.

Drew: On October 25^th, 1997, Chris Farley hosted SNL while you were part of the cast. Personally, what was it like working with him?

Jim: He was probably one of the biggest performers I ever, ever worked with. Meaning he just knew how to smoke the place once the lights were on. He wasn’t going to be second to anyone. He was a monster.

Drew: I understand you’re friends with fellow comedians Tracy Morgan, Norm Macdonald, and Dave Chappelle. Have you kept in touch or have any recent stories involving them?

Jim: Norm once in a while I see. Dave hasn’t called in three years. Tracy and I cross paths every once in a while. He’s always doing something.

Drew: How do you feel when strangers ask you to do Goat boy? Is it something that bothers you?

Jim: (Laughs) No not at all. That’s their “Walk This Way” or “Dream On.” Whatever gets their eyes on me, because it means I’ve got them. I have repeat offenders. I’m going to say 70 percent of the people who come to see me, have done so already 3-5 times.

Drew: Since you’ll be performing stand up at Westbury on the 25^th, what’s it like playing to a Long Island crowd?

Jim: It’s like playing in my backyard; it’s almost too easy. I destroy that place. I set my bar really high. Like that’s the place where I just want to destroy.

Drew: Finally, how long do you plan on continuing as a stand up act?

Jim: Until I’m dead. That’s the only thing I have to fall back on. That’s the great thing, no matter how successful you get, you can come back and do that and talk about it. When you’re failing, you can come back and talk about it. It’s always my steady job.

WBAB Presents Jim Breuer 11/25 NYCB Theater at Westbury . For tickets visit LiveNation.com and for more tour information visit www.jimbreuer.com

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