Connect with your funny bone

PHOTO COURTESY JERRY METELLUS Brian Regan In an interview with Florida Weekly, Brian Regan, the popular comedian with specials on Comedy Central, revealed his background and development as an artist. Brian Regan will be performing at the Barbara Mann Performing Arts Center on Thursday, Sept. 20, part of the 2007-2008 national theater tour, "Brian Regan In Concert: A Comedy Central Live Event."

FW: How did you get into comedy?

BR: Well, I was in college. I was going to be an accountant. And, after about two weeks of classes I realized I didn't want a life filled with numbers. So, I ended up changing majors. My new major was communications and theater arts and it was in that world that I became interested in comedy.

FW: What college was that?

BR: Heidelberg College in Tiffin, Ohio.

FW: When you first went into communications were you thinking comedy or did you find that your presence on the stage lent itself to comedy?

BR: I didn't think it at first I just started taking classes that were, you know, were requirements for this new major and one of them was a speech class and everyone in the class had to do a little 5 minute speech and…once a week and I tried to make them humorous just so I wouldn't be so boring and it ended up being a lot of fun.

FW: This sounds like it sort of happened on its own. You wouldn't cite any influences as a comedian?

BR: Uh, no. I mean, there weren't comedians that I watched that I went OK because of this is a person I want as a comedian. There were comedians that I liked. I mean, I was always interested in comedy. When you grow up in Miami and go to college in Tiffin, Ohio it's not even part of your realm of possibilities that you're going to end up being a comedian. It wasn't until that I started making people laugh that I thought maybe I could do this.

FW: You became addicted to it?

BR: There are worse things in college to get addicted to. So, I started doing other things like these dorm activities. One time, we did a little game show called the "Roommate Game", it was like the "Dating Game" but with roommates. They asked if I'd MC and I was like "Yeah, I'll MC that." I started getting a lot of laughs with that. And I remember they asked me would you introduce basketball players, the cheerleaders…I'd throw in a little funny line for each of them. And it was just good to field these laughs. So, that's what got that going.

FW: What is your writing process for your jokes? Does any of your material write itself on stage or is there a whole thing you do, keep a pad, write ideas as they occur to you?

BR: Well, usually, I don't sit down in front of a blank piece of paper and write jokes. I don't think of anything that way. I go through my day, I go through my life and they sort of pop out at me and when they do pop out at me I sort of write those down on paper and get them in a rudimentary form and I sort of get them down where I think, "OK, a version of this will get on stage." And when I perform I always tape my shows and there's something very interesting…about being on stage that helps you write. It forces you to get rid of all the fat. You're in survival mode on stage.

FW: It's like an automatic editing process once you're up there?

BR: Yes. You're on stage and you have this lengthier, cutesier version of something to say but when you're on stage…you say a much better version and you get a laugh. But if I didn't tape it I wouldn't know what I said. That night I'd watch it and say 'now that works'… It's a good way to write.

FW: As far as background, would you say you're a regular guy or is there anything unusual in your background that maybe lent itself to you going in this direction?

BR: Well, I'm not from this solar system. That probably helps. (chuckles) Uh, yeah. I think I was just a normal Joe Blow. In fact, my topics on stage are incredibly generic on purpose. I talk about absolutely mundane things but I try to find really interesting comedy within those subjects that's what I like to do. I think the fact that I come off as a regular guy is what some people relate to…I talk about going to the doctor, paying taxes, a mortgage…things we all deal with. I think people go, "Wow. I relate to this person." I put a spin on it maybe people haven't thought of before.

FW: How fast was your rise to fame? Was it meteoric or did you have to suffer, work in lousy nightclubs all over the country?

BR: I would say it was meteoric if anyone's ever seen a meteor that takes 25 years. (chuckles) No, to me it's been real gradual. My following has grown in a cumulative way. I've done a number of TV sittings over the years…I've done 19 Lettermans…There's never been one shot where you go, "Wow. That was it. What put me on the map." Everyone seems to give me more fans…I just seem, you know…

FW: To keep gathering steam?

BR: Yeah, yeah. It's kinda like if you're looking at one of those charts, like a stock, if you looked at my comedy like a stock it keeps going up and up but there's never a moment where it goes straight up. It's just gradual, gradual.

FW: Is this where you want to be or is it maybe a segue into acting or politics?

BR: No, this is what I want to do. My life is pretty cool. I have plenty of time for my family. I like what I do for a living.

Brian Regan reminded Florida Weekly that he will be having a special on Comedy Central, "Brian Regan: Standing Up" will air again next month. It premiered on June 10. ¦ If you go

>>What: Brian Regan, a regular Joe with wry observational abilities

>>Where: Barbara B. Mann PAC, 8099 College Pkwy. Fort Myers >>When: Sept. 20, 7:30 p.m. >>Cost: $34.43 and $30.66 >>Info: 481-4849, 800-440-7469; www.bbmannpah.com