Mike Young

Thursday 16th December 2010

KING OF COMEDY

Mike Young is a writer/comedian and a Detroit native who has featured for some of the top acts in the comedy business most notably Dave Attell, Dave Chapelle, Bob Saget, Joe Rogan, Russell Peters and Wanda Sykes to name a few. As the creator of The Young American Comedy Tour he has assembled a cast of comedians who have taken the country by storm.

Currently Mike is working as a writer/producer on a series of comedy shorts for American Eagle along with Kevin Connolly of Entourage and Jay Lavender, writer of The Break Up. Also in pre-production is Right Angle set to star Emille Hirsch which Mike wrote for Camelot Pictures, producers of Garden State and Who is Henry Poole?

FAULT: When did you realize that you wanted to be a comedian for a living?

Mike: I knew I wanted to be a comedian when I was in 6th grade and saw Eddie Murphy on TV. Plus I was the class clown and got a kick out of making kids laugh. Of course I was thrown out of every class and sent to detention but detention was just another place to make them laugh. I used to daydream about being a comic my entire life and now that I am one I realize the part about the early struggles were never in my dreams. That being said, I love what I do.

FAULT: Tell us about your “Young American Comedy Tour”?

Mike: The Young American Comedy Tour is made up of me, Sebastian Maniscalco, Brett Ernst and Steve Ranizizi and a host of other comic friends of mine. The idea behind it was to be the new face of comedy and use all amazing talent. All the guys on my tour are not just my friends but they’re all cutting edge, bad ass comics all ready to be the next big thing. That being said, creating your own tour takes up a ton of time and commitment. It’s been a blast and we are now over forty cities deep during the year and a half reign. It’s still going strong and I think the key is that we all have different styles of comedy. We really can’t wait to get out to your neck of the woods and rock London and the surrounding areas.

FAULT: What subjects are you currently talking about on stage?

Mike: I’m talking about friends, family and being single. I talk about how exhausting being single is. I said, “You have to be in physical shape, mental shape, verbal shape and you have to look cool. It’s not easy looking cool. It’s almost dangerous. Last week I pulled a foot muscle while trying to stand cool. I talk about strippers too. Every one of them is putting themselves through school. In ten years you could be at the neurosurgeons like “Pussy Cat Johnson!!!!” is that you!!!

FAULT: What are you currently working on?

Mike: I wrote a dark comedy called Right Angle that’s being produced by the guys that just did The Kids Are All Right with Annette Benning. I’m excited about that. I also have a show called The Light in development with HBO. If it doesn’t air there Ill take it elsewhere. It’s a drama about stand up. And I will be writing on the 8th season of Entourage for HBO.

FAULT: Who is your all time favourite comedian?

Mike: Favourite comedian is Richard Pryor. His ability to turn real life tragedy into comedy was second to none. He had rhythm, style, jokes, pain, and presence. He was a God in comedy. If I could be half that I’ll be all right.

FAULT: What do you think of British humour?

Mike: I love British humour. I grew up on Benny Hill, I love Monty Python and I love their pacing, and timing and it always amazes me how original their style was. I need to get out there and see what these people were drinking. There seems to be an element of theatrics in British humour as well. I think you can learn something from all the cultures and their humour, although not sure about Chinese humour.

FAULT: What has been the biggest compliment you have received and who was it from?

Mike: The biggest compliment I received was from a stranger who listened to my comedy album and said “dude that reminds me of a young Richard Pryor.” It was one of the greatest and most amazing lies ever told.

FAULT: If you weren’t a comedian what would you have become?

Mike: If I weren’t a comedian I would be a Neurologist. I’m absolutely fascinated by the brain believe it or not. I buy random books on the brain just for fun. Maybe it’s because I’m trying to figure out why I chose the toughest field in the world.

FAULT: What is your FAULT?

Mike: My Fault is my naiveté when it comes to trusting certain people and always finding the good in them only to be let down. Ooh that was serious. Let’s back up. My fault is that I’m enjoying being single so much I’m worried I found the answer to happiness.