Comedian’s comedian Bill Burr has become a household name with his specials, podcast and acting gigs on shows like Breaking Bad, not to mention his new Netflix animated series due in December. We caught up with the Canton native in advance of Wilbur Week, which will have him performing 15 shows at the Wilbur Theatre on May 9-18. // Meghan Kavanaugh
HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE COMING BACK TO BOSTON FROM LOS ANGELES? I just love that part of the country, and I just think everybody back there is so funny individually. There’s so many characters that live back there, so to go back there and be able to make some of the funniest people I’ve ever met laugh is always a special thing.
PACKING A THEATER FOR 10 DAYS DOESN’T HURT EITHER. I’m loving stand-up more than I ever have. It’s the most fun you could ever possibly have for a job. I love it more every single year, and it’s going to be a big thrill for me.
TELL US ABOUT F IS FOR FAMILY. That basically stemmed from telling childhood stories on stage, and whenever I would do it, the only people who would laugh would be other comedians or twisted people in the crowd, so I kind of got frustrated with that and I was thinking…there’s got to be a way to tell these things in a way that I can get people to laugh.… I keep a through line of truth, but also kind of soften it by the fact that it’s a cartoon.
YOU’RE A HELICOPTER PILOT IN YOUR SPARE TIME. WHICH IS SCARIER, FLYING OR STAND-UP? As scary as doing David Letterman or Showtime at the Apollo is, or getting ready to do a scene and it’s Al Pacino and Christopher Walken, there was nothing scarier than looking at that empty seat and realizing that I was flying the damn thing and if something went down, it was on me to get it to the ground. But I gotta tell you, it’s so much fun.
When he’s not lending his voice to Gene on Bob’s Burgers, Eugene Mirman gets his laughs on stage. And April 17-19, his eponymous Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival hits the Shubert Theatre and the Brattle Theatre for six shows, including StarTalk Live! with Bill Nye the Science Guy.
The Belchers are breaking out of the small screen for Bob’s Burgers Live, a nationwide tour stopping by the Orpheum Theatre on March 28, when the Fox cartoon’s voice cast will read scripts, field questions, perform their own stand-up and offer sneak peeks at future episodes.
Seven looks like a lucky number for the Women in Comedy Festival, whose seventh annual installment will feature more than 100 performers at venues throughout town on April 22-26. That includes three marquee headliners: Glee multihyphenate Jane Lynch, comedy icon Lily Tomlinand fast-rising sitcom star/creator Cristela Alonzo.
While Broad City star and on-screen dentist Hannibal Buress is known to get into serious shit during his stand-up (this is the man who brought Bill Cosby’s rape allegations front and center, after all), expect him to also riff on the upbeat—pickle juice, anyone?—when he performs five shows at the Wilbur Theatre on April 16-18.
The mundane may be his lifeblood—Seinfeld was a show about nothing, and his Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee web series is just that—but Jerry Seinfeld can still put on a show. His latest international tour stops by the Citi Wang Theatre for two shows on April 10.
Comedy queen Carol Burnett sits down with her loyal subjects for the audience participation-heavy Carol Burnett: An Evening of Laughter & Reflection on April 19. She’ll talk about her career, answer fan questions and no doubt leave Symphony Hall in stitches.
Spring Loaded
By Improper Staff | Photo Credit: Eugene Mirman: Brian Tamborello | March 20, 2015
Burrn Notice
Comedian’s comedian Bill Burr has become a household name with his specials, podcast and acting gigs on shows like Breaking Bad, not to mention his new Netflix animated series due in December. We caught up with the Canton native in advance of Wilbur Week, which will have him performing 15 shows at the Wilbur Theatre on May 9-18. // Meghan Kavanaugh
HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE COMING BACK TO BOSTON FROM LOS ANGELES? I just love that part of the country, and I just think everybody back there is so funny individually. There’s so many characters that live back there, so to go back there and be able to make some of the funniest people I’ve ever met laugh is always a special thing.
PACKING A THEATER FOR 10 DAYS DOESN’T HURT EITHER. I’m loving stand-up more than I ever have. It’s the most fun you could ever possibly have for a job. I love it more every single year, and it’s going to be a big thrill for me.
TELL US ABOUT F IS FOR FAMILY. That basically stemmed from telling childhood stories on stage, and whenever I would do it, the only people who would laugh would be other comedians or twisted people in the crowd, so I kind of got frustrated with that and I was thinking…there’s got to be a way to tell these things in a way that I can get people to laugh.… I keep a through line of truth, but also kind of soften it by the fact that it’s a cartoon.
YOU’RE A HELICOPTER PILOT IN YOUR SPARE TIME. WHICH IS SCARIER, FLYING OR STAND-UP? As scary as doing David Letterman or Showtime at the Apollo is, or getting ready to do a scene and it’s Al Pacino and Christopher Walken, there was nothing scarier than looking at that empty seat and realizing that I was flying the damn thing and if something went down, it was on me to get it to the ground. But I gotta tell you, it’s so much fun.
Good Genes
When he’s not lending his voice to Gene on Bob’s Burgers, Eugene Mirman gets his laughs on stage. And April 17-19, his eponymous Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival hits the Shubert Theatre and the Brattle Theatre for six shows, including StarTalk Live! with Bill Nye the Science Guy.
All in the Family
The Belchers are breaking out of the small screen for Bob’s Burgers Live, a nationwide tour stopping by the Orpheum Theatre on March 28, when the Fox cartoon’s voice cast will read scripts, field questions, perform their own stand-up and offer sneak peeks at future episodes.
Feminine Mystique
Seven looks like a lucky number for the Women in Comedy Festival, whose seventh annual installment will feature more than 100 performers at venues throughout town on April 22-26. That includes three marquee headliners: Glee multihyphenate Jane Lynch, comedy icon Lily Tomlinand fast-rising sitcom star/creator Cristela Alonzo.
The Good Doctor
While Broad City star and on-screen dentist Hannibal Buress is known to get into serious shit during his stand-up (this is the man who brought Bill Cosby’s rape allegations front and center, after all), expect him to also riff on the upbeat—pickle juice, anyone?—when he performs five shows at the Wilbur Theatre on April 16-18.
Nothing’s Up
The mundane may be his lifeblood—Seinfeld was a show about nothing, and his Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee web series is just that—but Jerry Seinfeld can still put on a show. His latest international tour stops by the Citi Wang Theatre for two shows on April 10.
Funny Business
Comedy queen Carol Burnett sits down with her loyal subjects for the audience participation-heavy Carol Burnett: An Evening of Laughter & Reflection on April 19. She’ll talk about her career, answer fan questions and no doubt leave Symphony Hall in stitches.
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