Photo by Gregory Pallante
By Nicole Gould
brbrIn 1995, Breuer joined the cast of Saturday Night Live, where he quickly became a fan-favorite over his four-year run. After much success, he continued to appear in popular films and television shows. His most recent credits include appearances on “Comedy Jam” (Comedy Central), “This is Not Happening” (Comedy Central), and portraying Father Philip on “Kevin Can Wait” (CBS).
brbrWith over 20 years of stand-up comedy experience under his belt, Breuer embraces his family and being the father of three teenage girls, making his show very relatable to audience members.
“It’s the highest adrenaline that anyone can achieve whether on or off the stage. When you make people laugh, I don’t know if there is a much better high. It’s a healer. It’s a tremendous healer on so many levels. When you’re at your worst, when you’re with your friends, it’s the laugh that brings you out of the moment. I’ve always felt that way since I was younger.” -Jim Breuer
brbrBreuer, along with fellow comedians Ken Jeong and George Lopez, and Oakland Raiders Marshawn Lynch, joined Patrick Monahan and the rest of the Train crew in their latest video for the party anthem “Drink Up,” which is the second single off their album A Girl, a Bottle, a Boat.
brbrAs a diehard New York Mets fan, Breuer is well known for his viral post-game recaps on Facebook. However, the baseball connoisseur recently launched his website Bats, Balls, and Breu, where other baseball fans have the opportunity to upload recaps from their favorite teams.
brbrPrepare yourself for a night filled with laughter when Jim Breuer comes to Rams Head On Stage as part of their Laughs & Drafts Comedy Series on Saturday, August 26th with two shows at 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $45.
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What is it about comedy that made you decide this was the career path you wanted to pursue? What sort of topics do you like to discuss and how do you keep your material fresh and new?
br brIt’s the highest adrenaline that anyone can achieve whether on or off the stage. When you make people laugh, I don’t know if there is a much better high. It’s a healer. It’s a tremendous healer on so many levels. When you’re at your worst, when you’re with your friends, it’s the laugh that brings you out of the moment. I’ve always felt that way since I was younger.
brbrOnce I discovered Steve Martin, I realized people can actually go on stage and be funny. When I saw Richard Pryor and George Carlin, especially Eddie Murphy, that was the ultimate for me at the time. I knew pretty much since I was 16 that I was going to be doing this.
brbrI do nothing but relatable things to families. I don’t touch politics. I want everyone united in my audience. I pretty much talk a lot about what’s going on in my life, usually those stories of having three teenage girls, 25 years of marriage, and a wacked out family pretty much upholds every generation that’s out there. Whether a teenager, 20/30/40-year-old, it pretty much hits every single one of them.
Would you say the comedy industry has developed or declined since you started? What is ultimately your favorite part about being a comedian? Any particular moments that stick out to you?
brbrIts developed tremendously because social media has allowed a billion different avenues where you don’t have to be hilarious, you can be a storyteller. You don’t have to have an hour long, you can have three-minute videos. Eventually, you have to sustain that, you have to have a solid hour, but I think the avenues to expose yourself have blown up.
brbrI’m always looking forward, but I’m always making little goals. And I conquer each one. When I first started, I wanted to be the best amateur, I smashed that out. Then I want to be the best opener, boom. I wanted to be headlining, done. Now I want tv, I got tv. I want to do movies, etc. I’m always striving for the next thing and I very rarely look back.
How big of a role would you say social media has played throughout your career?
brbrTremendously, especially the last couple of years. The last couple of years, by posting videos on Facebook, it’s brought in so many more viewers and by doing little storytelling things or podcasts brings more and more people to my page.
brbrYears ago, if you couldn’t get on HBO or Comedy Central, that’s it, you’re screwed. Now, I posted a video the other night and it received a couple hundred views. People see it and start looking at the rest of my videos. Social media has helped me big time. The more exposure I get, the more fans I get for a lifetime. My fans rarely leave.
Tell me a little more about your collaboration with Train for their newest single, Drink Up? How did that come about and what was it like working with everyone?
brbrPatrick Monahan has a cruise every February, and I’ve done stand up on it twice. During the last one he asked if I would do a music video, and I said of course I would. He told me about it, I went out there, saw George Lopez and thought, “Omg, this is great!” We had such a good time. George is hilarious. He’s a great storyteller.
You recently had the opportunity to jam out with your idol Rob Halford. What was that experience like and how did you become interested in music? How did it feel to release your debut metal album, especially when you’re so well known as a comedian?
brbrWhen I started, it was in a rock club because I was too young to get into a comedy club. I was convinced that I was going to be a huge rock, heavy metal front singer. I was going to be the lead man. That was always in me. Comedy took off quicker and was easier. That was always a little frustrating.
brbrAs I got older and I got to sing with Brian Johnson from ACDC, and Rob Halford. “You’ve Got Another Thing Coming,” was the one song that changed my whole life. It became my national anthem and really made me go for my dream. I’m going for stand up and comedy.
brbrTo be able to sing that song with Rob Halford, that was pretty awesome. It was a childhood thing that came back in full circle. I’m like the Forest Gump of entertainment. I’ve been with everyone I want to be with.
br The expectation for the album, in my head, was to be touring through Europe in a sold-out show. I was going to be the biggest thing since they discovered mint chocolate chip ice cream. In the end, I was very happy with what I made. The unfortunate thing is, not enough people even know it exists. It’s now becoming more of a one man show, much of the story where I talk about stages of my life and my alter ego.
As a diehard NY Mets fan, you recently launched a website, Bats, Balls, and Breu. Can you tell me more about this website and why you decided to create it? When did you become a NY Mets fan and who would you say is your favorite player?
brbrWhen I started doing video for the Mets, I realized so many other fans commenting back and forth. I had an idea where I though how cool would it be to have an ESPN for fans, but run by the fans. So, not only do you make recaps, but now we’re developing a baseball show where I can call you. I want you to be the expert and the spokesperson for your team. That’s the big end goal, whether it reaches that is another story. Baby steps.
brbrI don’t know why I gravitated towards the Mets, but I love them. I was a four-year-old boy looking up to Tom Seavers, Rusty Staub, and Ed Kranepool. My all-time favorite players are probably Mookie Wilson and Darryl Strawberry.
What can audience members expect from one of your shows?
brbrTwo things. One is that I crush it every time and two is that I’m very relatable. I’m also clean. I’m not Disney, but I’m clean. That’s what blows everyone’s mind when they leave. They are shocked that I wasn’t cursing and being disrespectful. I love that.
