When Gary Gulman, Alonzo Bodden and Jay London appear at the Tempe Improv this weekend, it'll be thanks to their fame on NBC's "Last Comic Standing." Each comic has paid their dues to get to where they are now, and they are all loving it. SPM got the chance to talk to Gulman before he arrived in Tempe, and before the third edition of "Last Comic Standing," which pits all the comics from the first two seasons against each other.
SPM: It says in your biography that you started out as an accountant. When did you realize that comedy, not accounting, was the answer?
GULMAN: It took me six years to go to comedy straight-on. I had a lot of jobs to support the comedy habit for a while. I was a waiter, a substitute teacher, a Starbucks latte-maker. I did the accounting for three years, and wrote jokes in between.
SPM: You performed at the Montreal International Comedy Festival in 1999. Was that the big turning point in your career?
GULMAN: Yeah, that really was the turning point. I mean, I did that and in four months, I had a $250,000 development deal, I did Leno, Letterman, "Premium Blend" on Comedy Central and I moved out of my mother's house. It was a very fortuitous situation.
SPM: Did any of the comics know in advance about the third edition of "Last Comic Standing?"
GULMAN: Well, we only knew that they [NBC] started talking about it after the first half-dozen shows of the season. They wanted to extend the summer show, since we were getting such good ratings. I don't really understand ratings or anything, but the show was popular. They had a third season right away without searching for talent.
SPM: Do you think you have a better chance against last year's comics?
GULMAN: It's hard to say. We'll have to feel it out and see what popularity the first season has carried over. It's only been a year, so the fan base should be the same. I think the contestants among the second season were a little stronger. All the people had more television credits than the first season. The people lower in the pack in the first season were more inexperienced, I thought.
SPM: The big running gag this season was with you and your love of cookies. Are you doing any cookie endorsements?
GULMAN: I have more cookie material left for the new season. From the reviews, you'd think all I talked about was cookies. I'll probably put in one more cookies per set. For the most part, the cookies won't be as big this season.
SPM: If it couldn't be you, who, among the second season of comics, has the best shot of beating the first season of comics?
GULMAN: I think John Heffron has to be the odds-on favorite, just because he got the title of "Last Comic Standing." It was a very impressive feat. Alonzo's got a good chance, and so does Kathleen Madigan, because she got so much screen time on the second season, since everyone challenged her. From the first season, there are some really strong people. I think Dat Phan is remarkably popular: He's the wild card. I can't imagine that it'll be a boring show.
SPM: Other than the tour and the third season, what other projects are you working on?
GULMAN: NBC picked up my option to develop a sitcom, so I'll be meeting with writers. It'll be my fourth development deal. Also, there are other opportunities like personal appearances. Also, I'll just keep doing the stand-up, opening for friends and grabbing the mike. I'm not going to change my lifestyle soon.
Reach the reporter at joshua.spiegel@asu.edu.
