Emma McAlpine speaks to alternative NYC comedian Eugene Mirman ahead of his upcoming gigs at the Soho Theatre.
If you're a Flight of the Conchords fan, chances are you'll already be aware of Eugene Mirman, the Brooklyn-based comic who plays Brett and Jermaine's landlord. A regular on Adult Swim's Delocated and new Fox series Bob's Burgers, he's also written his own satirical self-help book, released three comedy albums and is a major player on the New York alternative comedy scene.
In 2006, he set up his own comedy club Eugene Mirman & Pretty Good Friends: an award-winning weekly show, renowned for its informal vibe and solid bills of innovative stand-ups, featuring the likes of controversial Jewish comic Sarah Silverman, one man beatbox machine Reggie Watts and fellow Conchords star Kristen Schaal.
Apart from a fleeting appearance at the Greenwich Comedy Festival last September, Mirman has rarely performed in the UK...until now. This week, he brings his Pretty Good Friends show to the Soho Theatre for a 10-day run, featuring cult US comics and musicians; Stewart Lee, Josie Long and and more special guests yet to be announced.
Grabbing a few minutes with the comic before he boarded his flight to London, I chatted to him about the New York alternative scene, some memorable advice from Emo Philips and the American snake shop 'Fiffentootle'...
We're very excited about your Soho Theatre run here at Spoonfed. Can you give us any teasers?
You can expect four hours of Doors covers. Do you know what I just did there? I created an expectation that I plan to shatter on stage. Get ready for surprises!
What made you decide to start your own comedy club?
An unstoppable, but modest thirst for power. Plus, I like having a weekly show to do a few blocks from my house with friends.
It's been voted New York's 'Best Indie Comedy Night' by New York magazine. What do you think are the most important ingredients to creating a successful comedy night?
Don’t book people who are nice, but not that funny. Be proactive about booking and have people who aren’t comedians produce the show with you (in my case it’s Julie Smith and Caroline Creaghead). Lastly, sometimes have a pig roast or an Awkward Party Bus outside the venue.
Alternative comedy seems to be enjoying a renaissance in London at the moment, Would you say it's the same in New York?
Yes, though it’s like any artistic movement, where somewhat underground things slowly become the mainstream a decade or two later. A lot of today’s TV and movie stars are from what is considered the world of alternative comedy, but they’ve steadily been performing since the '80s and '90s. I think the term feels very broad, the way alternative music can refer to bands as big as R.E.M. or Nirvana.
You performed in the UK last year at the Greenwich Comedy Festival. Are there any noticeable differences to performing stand-up over here compared to the States?
You guys don’t have the store “Fiffentootle,” which sells snakes. So, I can’t do my bit, “Shopping at Fiffentootle.”
You have a degree in comedy - how do you think that shaped your stand-up and do you think your style has changed much since your university days?
In a sense it had a large effect, but not because I apply some sort of Freudian theory of comedy to my stand-up about something I saw at a restaurant. It was actually extremely practical. Aside from studying film, writing, acting, rise of mass culture, sociology, physiology of laughter, history, etc; I also did a weekly radio talk show, wrote a humour column for my school paper, started a comedy organization with friends that put on events, began a weekly comedy show in the basement of my dorm and other things that are the foundation of what I do today.
For my thesis, I did a one-hour stand-up act that I wrote, performed, produced and promoted. So, as a performer, I’ve had 15 years since university to improve, feel more comfortable on stage and understand comedy better, but the roots of much of what I do and the way my career has gone, are from things I did in school.
What's the best piece of advice you've been given by another comic?
When I was in college I travelled to New York City to see Emo Philips and handed a security guard outside his dressing room a videotape and letter for Emo, hoping it would reach him. About a month later I got a long, kind letter from Emo with lots of advice. Most of it can be summarised as write as much as you can and perform as much as you can. This was in 1996 probably.
You've already had a varied and productive career. What's been the most surreal moment of it so far?
It’s hard to say. Maybe getting an email in 2001 from Pete Townshend saying he liked my website? (I have an animated picture of me from Russia in 1977 singing classic rock songs, including a Who medley). Other than that, I think the truly surreal part is having people I admired growing up becoming peers and friends.
Is there anything you still really want to achieve that you haven't yet?
Yes, there’s lots. I’d love to do my own TV show. I’d also really love to do a travel TV show. There’s probably much more, but the Internet does not have enough room to list all my dreams.
What else is important in your life apart from comedy?
Backgammon, love, friendship, the ocean and grilling.
Eugene Mirman & Pretty Good Friends is at the Soho Theatre from Wednesday 5th-Sunday 16th October.
Click here to see line-up details and book tickets.
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