Actor/comedian Paul Scheer is a funny man known for his appearances on 30 Rock, Yo Gabba Gabba and as a member of the Human Giant trio, among other haha-rife programs. He was so kind as to do an email interview with us about flatscreen rollerblading, dogs in strollers, Piranha 3D, swine flu and other forms of enlightenment.
Roswell Motorpark: You’re using the expansion of the internet and social networking sites to great advantage; Human Giant with viral video, ‘Twitflix’ with Twitter, and Facebook giving back to the stage with the Facebook sketch series. How has the internet affected comedy? Is it easier or more challenging to find good comedy acts in the ballooning variety?
Paul Scheer: Human Giant was definitely helped by the internet, not so much in getting the show sold to MTV but in getting the word out about the show. I think if you see something funny on the internet you're more likely to find it on TV. It's also kept the show alive even though we aren't currently on TV. People still find clips on You Tube and Funny or Die and that's better than having a DVD out because it feels like it's still fresh.
Technology I think has made it easier to interact with everyone, so using it to talk to fans or peers has become so easy that I feel like it's just a naturally evolving process. We aren't trying to do anything that no one else has thought of.
What comedians and shows are you most excited about right now?
I always feel like I have so many people I love, it's hard to narrow it down. So here's a very incomplete list. I'm a huge fan of The Mighty Boosh, I think they do some of the greatest original comedy I've ever seen. As far as TV shows, I love 30 Rock, The Tonight Show with Conan, The Office, and Tim and Eric Awesome Show. Danny McBride, Ben Best, and Jody Hill are just the best, I'll see anything they do. I'm also into Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright's stuff. In addition to the whole Apatow crew.
Are there any comedians you’d like to collaborate with? You’ve mentioned in interviews that the audience you’re approaching is very connected to the same sort of music/arts and that’s one of the things that make festivals so satisfying for both the performers and the audience. If you did more sketch comedy shows, are there non-comedic acts that you’d like to work with?
There are so many people that I'd love to work with and working in comedy it's really fun because you cross paths with so many talented people all the time. It was a blast getting to work with Harold Ramis, one of my all time heroes, on Year One. You never know when an opportunity like that will open up.
Right now I think that Human Giant is my only sketch group, I can't see myself doing that without the other 3.
Are you musically gifted?
I wish I could play an instrument. I wish I got a job where I'd have to learn something because I feel like that's the only way I'd really master an instrument this late in life.
Who were some of your earliest comedic influences?
Eddie Murphy definitely had the biggest effect on me when I was a kid. I remember watching Delirious on cable, and it was scrambled because my parents didn't have HBO. I just listened to it and laughed so hard. I remember crying because it was the funniest stuff I'd ever seen. I also think Ghostbusters and The Jerk were really influential films for me. I loved watching The Muppets and You Can't Do That on Television too when I was young.
Outside of comedy, what are some of your biggest influences?
Wow! These are tough questions. I'm a big reader so I've been influenced by the books I've read. Some of my favorite authors are Hunter S. Thompson, Nabakov, Michael Chabon...it's so hard to narrow them down. I also love Walt Disney World. I mean, really any theme park is right up my alley (especially when they get haunted for Halloween). Magic is also a guilty pleasure (to watch, not perform). I belong to Magic Castle. Wow, I sound like a real nerd.
Human Giant signed for a third season but was complicated by Aziz’ commitment to Parks and Recreation and has now turned into a movie project. Will the movie be a series of sketch vignettes, or a normal full-length comedy? Does the contract mean that you guys will eventually do another project on MTV?
We have thought about doing a special for MTV, but we are still trying to figure out the right time to tackle it and the way we want to do it. As far as our movie ideas, it will definitely not be a sketch movie. All the ideas we have so far are full stories. We'll hopefully have more to report on with that real soon.
In the meantime, we are working with MTV to release Season 2 of Human Giant. We have a real full package of extras and we're waiting for the green light.
On the IMDB cast page for Piranha 3D, you’re ‘rumored’ as Andrew (right above Bria Roberts, who is ‘confirmed’ as Wet T-Shirt Victim). Can you put these rumors to rest? If this is a truth, can the cast of Richard Dreyfuss, Ving Rhames and Christopher Lloyd also be confirmed? Please let these be truths.
It is a truth. I'm in Pirahna 3-D. It's going to be great. The title says it all. It's boobies, blood and Ving Rhames. What else can you ask for? The movie is directed by Alex Aja who is amazing and the cast is really cool and eclectic. Everyone else you mentioned is in the movie in addition to the amazing Elisabeth Shue.
You’ve done a lot of big projects (Human Giant, 30 Rock) but you consistently do local shows in LA. What do you find most satisfying?
I love doing live shows. Especially Improv shows. It's fun because it's a one-time event; only the people in that room get to experience it. I know that sounds very "arty", but there is nothing that compares to creating a one-time show; I'll always want to keep performing as much as I can. However, it's really fun working on bigger projects. Neither one is better than the other. I just think one is immediate gratification and the other is a much slower burn because it goes through so many stages before the audience sees it.
You’ve appeared on Yo Gabba Gabba three times now. How sweet is it to film a show with huge monsters?
Yo Gabba Gabba is the best place in the world. It makes Sesame Street feel like a ghetto. When Jack McBrayer and I visited it was junk food Friday, which means they had the most amazing snacks (like gummy bears in cupcakes) and everyone was in some sort of costume. It was a real party, although I think I offended Plex because he wouldn't come out of his trailer after I told him the best robot ever was the Johnny 5 from Short Circuit.
What’s the worst job you’ve ever had?
When I was in NYC I worked for an internet company passing out free CDs to people on rollerblades with a huge flatscreen TV strapped to my chest. It was painful, hot and to make matters worse I didn't know how to rollerblade. Thank God I didn't break that TV cause we signed a contract that said we'd have to buy it if we did and obviously if I had enough money to buy a flatscreen TV I wouldn't have been doing the job.
You come across as a pretty nice guy. Is there anything that you’re secretly very angry about?
I don't like people who treat their dogs like humans. I saw a woman with a dog in a stroller and that really made me angry. A Baby Bjorn is one thing but a stroller is just ridiculous.
Who do you predict will be the next celeb death?
Why? Are you creating a Dead Pool? If you are, Dirty Harry will find you and deal with you.
What was the first album you ever bought?
I bought 2 cassette tapes at Sam Goody with my hard-earned allowance. Huey Lewis and the News "SPORTS" and Weird Al Yankovic "In 3-D" - Both still hold up.
Any advice for coping with the seemingly ever-present anxieties of swine flu, the economy and the extended period of mourning for the King of Pop?
Yeah, lock yourself in a house and never come out. Don't turn on the TV or radio, just play Jenga till you master it and when you hear those damn kids in front of your house, bang a big stick on the porch and say GET OFF MY LAWN YOU DEGENERATES! Then go back inside, look at a photo of your dead wife and cry.
jem
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Paul Scheer: Human Giant was definitely helped by the internet, not so much in getting the show sold to MTV but in getting the word out about the show. I think if you see something funny on the internet you're more likely to find it on TV. It's also kept the show alive even though we aren't currently on TV. People still find clips on You Tube and Funny or Die and that's better than having a DVD out because it feels like it's still fresh.
Technology I think has made it easier to interact with everyone, so using it to talk to fans or peers has become so easy that I feel like it's just a naturally evolving process. We aren't trying to do anything that no one else has thought of.
What comedians and shows are you most excited about right now?
I always feel like I have so many people I love, it's hard to narrow it down. So here's a very incomplete list. I'm a huge fan of The Mighty Boosh, I think they do some of the greatest original comedy I've ever seen. As far as TV shows, I love 30 Rock, The Tonight Show with Conan, The Office, and Tim and Eric Awesome Show. Danny McBride, Ben Best, and Jody Hill are just the best, I'll see anything they do. I'm also into Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright's stuff. In addition to the whole Apatow crew.
Are there any comedians you’d like to collaborate with? You’ve mentioned in interviews that the audience you’re approaching is very connected to the same sort of music/arts and that’s one of the things that make festivals so satisfying for both the performers and the audience. If you did more sketch comedy shows, are there non-comedic acts that you’d like to work with?
There are so many people that I'd love to work with and working in comedy it's really fun because you cross paths with so many talented people all the time. It was a blast getting to work with Harold Ramis, one of my all time heroes, on Year One. You never know when an opportunity like that will open up.
Right now I think that Human Giant is my only sketch group, I can't see myself doing that without the other 3.
Are you musically gifted?
I wish I could play an instrument. I wish I got a job where I'd have to learn something because I feel like that's the only way I'd really master an instrument this late in life.
Who were some of your earliest comedic influences?
Eddie Murphy definitely had the biggest effect on me when I was a kid. I remember watching Delirious on cable, and it was scrambled because my parents didn't have HBO. I just listened to it and laughed so hard. I remember crying because it was the funniest stuff I'd ever seen. I also think Ghostbusters and The Jerk were really influential films for me. I loved watching The Muppets and You Can't Do That on Television too when I was young.
Outside of comedy, what are some of your biggest influences?
Wow! These are tough questions. I'm a big reader so I've been influenced by the books I've read. Some of my favorite authors are Hunter S. Thompson, Nabakov, Michael Chabon...it's so hard to narrow them down. I also love Walt Disney World. I mean, really any theme park is right up my alley (especially when they get haunted for Halloween). Magic is also a guilty pleasure (to watch, not perform). I belong to Magic Castle. Wow, I sound like a real nerd.
Human Giant signed for a third season but was complicated by Aziz’ commitment to Parks and Recreation and has now turned into a movie project. Will the movie be a series of sketch vignettes, or a normal full-length comedy? Does the contract mean that you guys will eventually do another project on MTV?
We have thought about doing a special for MTV, but we are still trying to figure out the right time to tackle it and the way we want to do it. As far as our movie ideas, it will definitely not be a sketch movie. All the ideas we have so far are full stories. We'll hopefully have more to report on with that real soon.
In the meantime, we are working with MTV to release Season 2 of Human Giant. We have a real full package of extras and we're waiting for the green light.
On the IMDB cast page for Piranha 3D, you’re ‘rumored’ as Andrew (right above Bria Roberts, who is ‘confirmed’ as Wet T-Shirt Victim). Can you put these rumors to rest? If this is a truth, can the cast of Richard Dreyfuss, Ving Rhames and Christopher Lloyd also be confirmed? Please let these be truths.
It is a truth. I'm in Pirahna 3-D. It's going to be great. The title says it all. It's boobies, blood and Ving Rhames. What else can you ask for? The movie is directed by Alex Aja who is amazing and the cast is really cool and eclectic. Everyone else you mentioned is in the movie in addition to the amazing Elisabeth Shue.
You’ve done a lot of big projects (Human Giant, 30 Rock) but you consistently do local shows in LA. What do you find most satisfying?
I love doing live shows. Especially Improv shows. It's fun because it's a one-time event; only the people in that room get to experience it. I know that sounds very "arty", but there is nothing that compares to creating a one-time show; I'll always want to keep performing as much as I can. However, it's really fun working on bigger projects. Neither one is better than the other. I just think one is immediate gratification and the other is a much slower burn because it goes through so many stages before the audience sees it.
You’ve appeared on Yo Gabba Gabba three times now. How sweet is it to film a show with huge monsters?
Yo Gabba Gabba is the best place in the world. It makes Sesame Street feel like a ghetto. When Jack McBrayer and I visited it was junk food Friday, which means they had the most amazing snacks (like gummy bears in cupcakes) and everyone was in some sort of costume. It was a real party, although I think I offended Plex because he wouldn't come out of his trailer after I told him the best robot ever was the Johnny 5 from Short Circuit.
What’s the worst job you’ve ever had?
When I was in NYC I worked for an internet company passing out free CDs to people on rollerblades with a huge flatscreen TV strapped to my chest. It was painful, hot and to make matters worse I didn't know how to rollerblade. Thank God I didn't break that TV cause we signed a contract that said we'd have to buy it if we did and obviously if I had enough money to buy a flatscreen TV I wouldn't have been doing the job.
You come across as a pretty nice guy. Is there anything that you’re secretly very angry about?
I don't like people who treat their dogs like humans. I saw a woman with a dog in a stroller and that really made me angry. A Baby Bjorn is one thing but a stroller is just ridiculous.
Who do you predict will be the next celeb death?
Why? Are you creating a Dead Pool? If you are, Dirty Harry will find you and deal with you.
What was the first album you ever bought?
I bought 2 cassette tapes at Sam Goody with my hard-earned allowance. Huey Lewis and the News "SPORTS" and Weird Al Yankovic "In 3-D" - Both still hold up.
Any advice for coping with the seemingly ever-present anxieties of swine flu, the economy and the extended period of mourning for the King of Pop?
Yeah, lock yourself in a house and never come out. Don't turn on the TV or radio, just play Jenga till you master it and when you hear those damn kids in front of your house, bang a big stick on the porch and say GET OFF MY LAWN YOU DEGENERATES! Then go back inside, look at a photo of your dead wife and cry.
jem
