I started out definitely doing these characters from the Lower East Side. And there was a lady where the voice came from, going back, like, 12, or 14 years. But the whole idea of talking for other people has always been an aspect of my personality. It’s just an effective way to diffuse a situation in a funny way. Like if you walk into a room and there are people waiting for you, you say, “I can’t believe he’s late.” In doing that, I end up where people aren’t that mad at me. There’s an awareness, and they’re more likely to forgive you.
So you use that voice in everyday life in addition to on stage?
Yeah, I do. I kind of do it involuntarily.
I’m from New York but I went to school in Chicago, so I’ve kinda got the reverse dynamic of how you came from the Midwest culture and then moved to New York. I feel like you definitely play with the Midwest/East Coast dynamic a lot in your show. Do you feel that’s been an influence in your act?
I’ve lived in New York for 20 years, and I’m still treated like a tourist. There’s no getting around how bland Midwestern I am. I wouldn’t be able to describe it, but there is kind of a Midwestern sensibility. It’s a kind of sarcasm and cynicism, but in a different kind of way than it is in New York and the Northeast. But there is kind of a New York element of my pacing, like an efficiency, that is a sign of a New York comic. I don’t take too long in getting to the joke… I like that wherever I go, audiences are responsive. I would never want to be just a regional comic.
There’s been a return in popularity of observational humor the last couple of years (Mitch Hedberg in his time, Demetri Martin, etc.) after a lot of years of angry political comedy. How much do you think cultural timing has played into your popularity?
There are a ton of styles; for awhile there was a lot of high energy, angry comics, I was thinking I could be a lot of people’s second favorite comic, but they’d also like me, so I could be something of a crossover. But nowadays you can’t just be one thing as a comic. In the '80s, you could be the topical comic or the guy who did impressions. Now, you have to be more eccentric in how you do even observational comedy. What Demetri does is very different from what I do. Each comic has to do their own thing; both me and Demetri are just doing the kind of stand-up we like doing. That’s pretty much how it is for every comic; I love Chris Rock and Lewis Black, but they’re just doing their own thing.
Article comments
1 - Manny T.
Awesome interview Ethan. Gaffigan rules!