Time Magazine - WHAT?
Comedian Michael Ian Black
Michael Ian Black's cynical, self-effacing performances generated a cult following in his sketch-comedy show The State and the subsequent college dormitory hit Wet Hot American Summer. But the comedian is probably most recognizable as a snarky commentator on VH1's I Love the '80s nostalgia series. His latest endeavor is the Comedy Central show Michael and Michael Have Issues, which debuts July 15 and co-stars fellow State alum Michael Showalter. TIME talked to Black about his career, tacos and whether or not he really loves the '80s. (See a history of stand-up comedy in pictures.)
Tell me about your new show, Michael and Michael Have Issues.
It's about the lives of sketch-comedy writers, but I'd say it's more
specific than that. It's really sort of about the relationship between
my partner Michael Showalter and me, rather than the fact that we make
sketch comedy.
Which Michael has more issues?
He does.
What's wrong with him?
Paranoia. Hypochondria. Body dismorphia. Egomania. He's anorexic. Also
a terrible overeater. He's a recovering alcoholic and an insomniac, but
he made up for that by becoming a very serious drug addict. He's
agoraphobic and argyle-phobic, which means he's afraid of argyle socks.
That's an incredibly specific fear.
I know. It's terrible. It's very debilitating for him.
So basically, this show is going to be about his neuroses and your attempts to calm him down.
Well, not really. As a result of his neuroses, I'm incredibly neurotic.
You've referred to yourself before as being associated "almost
exclusively with failed projects" over the course of your career. Do
you really feel that way?
Well, you know there's that expression about people sleeping their way
to the top? I've been failing myself laterally for about 15 years now.
My career is going in an almost perfectly sideways direction. Flying
under the radar gives you a little more freedom. But at the same time,
fame and popularity allow you to do what you want to do. It's a little
bit paradoxical. I actually don't know anyone who wants to be famous
for fame's sake, at least not anyone I respect. But you need to have a
certain amount of power in order to be able to do what you want.
Do you have that power?
Oh no. Not yet, and not for the foreseeable future.
You're on TV and in movies though, so you probably get recognized a lot.
People recognize me but they don't know where from. Today I was in the
elevator and somebody asked me if I worked for his company.
Are you ever tempted to say "Yes, I do work with you?"
No, but I do lie about some things. Whenever anyone asks me if I'm from
a TV show, I say yes — no matter whether I've ever been on it. It just
makes the conversation that much easier.
You started something on Twitter called the "F — It List," a series of things you don't want to do before you die. What's on it?
Well, I almost broke one of them, which was, "See the reunited Phish."
I went to Bonaroo and they were performing, but I was fortunate not to
have to see them play.
Why do they book comedy acts at music festivals?
There's this misconception that comedy and music go together. They
don't. Comedians can't compete with rock stars; they're just not on the
same level. Rock stars will always be cooler. They will always get more
girls. We'll always be the ugly stepchildren in the entertainment
industry. And that's probably as it should be. If comedians were ever
supersuccessful or cool, it would sort of destroy our credibility. Our
job is to speak for the losers of the world.
I read your essay "Taco Party" in your book, My Custom Van and 50 Other Mind-Blowing Essays.
When I went back to try to find it I instead discovered an entire rant
you'd written about taco-flavored Doritos. Apparently you really love
tacos and write about them a lot.
Tacos run through my work. Tacos are essential to my oeuvre. A taco
done right has pretty much your recommended daily allowance of
everything. It's God's perfect creation.
Do you really love the '80s, or is it all just a sham?
I'm rather indifferent to any 10-year period as an arbitrary measure of
my own happiness. There were certainly some good moments in the '80s,
like when Michael Jackson moonwalked. There were also some not-so-good moments, like when the space shuttle exploded. Coincidentally, they both involved space.
There's a series called I Love the New Millennium but the decade isn't over yet. Do we really need a TV show that helps us remember 2005?
You're living in a bizarro universe where time folds back on itself and
nostalgia is something you reminisce about before it even happens. In
fact, we're shooting I Love the 2020s right now.
What happens in the 2020s?
I can't tell you about it because it would change the course of history. Then we'd have to reshoot the entire episode.
fantastic interview. much better than a live one because I don't have to confront the oppressive awkwardness between you and your interviewer.
also, I have already Tivo'd your show - you can brag about leading the ratings in pre-tivoing - the newest and best form of measuring a show's impending success.
Posted by: adam | July 14, 2009 at 09:52 AM
Whoa,GREAT interview! Cocky-ass picture.
Posted by: Camille | July 14, 2009 at 11:13 AM
TIME! And what hot off-the-cuff answers!
(Show-off.)
Posted by: Reen | July 14, 2009 at 12:16 PM
You never fail to come up with the wittiest comments on the spot. And I hate you for that.
Posted by: Clayton | July 14, 2009 at 12:28 PM
Thanks for the read - engaging as always. Very much looking forward to Michael and Michael Have Issues; I was in the studio audience the day you taped an episode involving pants. Everything about pants is good. Good luck, guys!
Posted by: Liv | July 14, 2009 at 12:36 PM
While I agree with Camille in regards to the picture being both cocky and the smile just shy of an ass-eating grin, what's with all these articles on time? Don't you have better things to do than read pop-news?
Posted by: Andrew Ator | July 14, 2009 at 01:05 PM
Wow, "TIME Magazine"- it's as if they tried to ask the most annoyingly unfunny-attempts-at-humor questions ever.
Anyway, will your new show be on Hulu? I ask because it should.
Posted by: manobon | July 14, 2009 at 03:17 PM
Tacos _are_ essential to your oeuvre because tacos are yummy. Transitive property, MICHAEL = TACOS = YUMMY; MICHAEL = YUMMY. My math is flawless.
And so are you -- good luck!!
Posted by: Jaime | July 14, 2009 at 05:15 PM
Jaime,you just made me bleed outta my ears a little,you smarty-pants.
Manobon, I agree with the HULU request,as I do not have cable but may have dsl soon(fingers crossed). Thanks for publicly agreeing with me,Andrew. You just made me feel all cocky and shit.
Posted by: Camille | July 14, 2009 at 05:29 PM
Camille! Dontcha know that that is always my goal. "Will this make Cammie spurt blood out her ear holes?" I ask myself. Mission accomplished.
Plus, you look so cute with blood on your ears, you cocky thing. Strut.
Posted by: Jaime | July 17, 2009 at 09:41 AM