Eugene Mirman

lixxx wrote:Eugene's "
Whats in my bag?"
video from Amoeba.com

[size=100:30mi10nd][size=133:30mi10nd]My Comedy Central Special

Hello,

Here is my Comedy Central Special in two parts. Enjoy, share it with friends, or call Viacom and tattle on me. It’s up to you.


Part 1:
[size=133:30mi10nd][url=Eugene Mirman Comedy Special Part 1][/url]

Part 2:
[size=133:30mi10nd][url=Eugene Mirman Comedy Special Part 2][/url]

[size=133:syyr74he]Ask Eugene Mirman about love and sex!
by Josh Modell January 23, 2009

[size=100:syyr74he]For the past two years, we've dedicated some space around Valentine's Day to a guest columnist to offer our readers advice on love and sex. In 2007, it was the ever-witty [url=Sarah Silverman][/url]. Last year, a playa named [url=Slug (of hip-hop outfit Atmosphere)][/url] took his turn.

In February, comedian Eugene Mirman will release a book of advice called The Will To Whatevs, which includes plenty of good tips on how to live your life to the fullest, including "
how to find a mate before you die--to do it with, marry, or bothsies!"
So what better person to offer you, our dear readers, some advice than Mr. Mirman.

E-mail your questions to mirman@theonion.com, or post them below, and we'll choose the best ones for Eugene to answer. (Hint: Don't try too hard to be hilarious in your question. Also: Feel free to ask serious questions and let Eugene bring the funny.) The week of Valentine's Day, all shall be revealed.

[size=150:8bqderhw]Eugene Mirman explains that annoying Lake FM ad
[size=100:8bqderhw]A commercial from "
four or five years ago"
comes back to haunt the popular comic
by Steven Hyden January 26, 2009



[size=100:8bqderhw]After Decider wrote about the incredibly annoying Bath Fitter “Loverboy” commercial last week, our readers brought up an even more annoying local commercial in the article’s comments section: The Lake 94 ad starring comedian Eugene Mirman and his magic “Addicted To Love”-playing finger. (If you haven’t seen the commercial, it is posted on the radio station’s Web site.)

Evan Rytlewski of The Shepherd Express recently questioned why Mirman—whose impeccable hipster comic resume includes touring with Modest Mouse and The Shins and appearing on Flight Of The Conchords—would appear in a commercial for a terrible Milwaukee radio station that tries to pass off a dull, played-to-death soft rock playlist as a “variety” revolution. Decider wondered the same thing, so we sent Mirman an email Monday afternoon. And he replied to us exactly 28 minutes later!

For the record, Mirman wasn’t shilling for The Lake when he originally made the commercial;
he was shilling for shiity radio stations nationwide. “I made the commercial about four or five years ago for a company that makes TV commercials for radio stations. I was hesitant to do it, but at the time I made it I was totally 'ucked and had no money,” he said. “I had maxed out all my credit cards and was selling stuff back to thrift stores for spending cash.”

We’ve all been there, dude. Some of us sell plasma, you pretended to like matchbox twenty. Mirman was approached by the same company to do more commercials a few years later, but he declined, “because I didn't absolutely need to.” But he’s not about to badmouth his former patrons. “I think what anyone would of the ad,” he said. “It is the best commercial for a radio station ever.”

kelly vv wrote:Is anyone going to his book release party with Kristin Schaal on 2/10 here in Brooklyn?

[size=100:6mo5f6ge]Feb 1 2009 8:00P
Tearing the Veil of Maya at Union Hall
Brooklyn, NY

Feb 2 2009 7:00P
Headlining at Club Downunder
Tallahassee, FL

Feb 10 2009 7:00P
The Will to Whatevs Book Release Party at The Bell House (with Kristen Schaal, John Oliver and much
Brooklyn, NY

Feb 11 2009 9:30P
John Wesley Harding’s Cabinet of Wonders at Le Poisson Rouge
New York, NY

Feb 13 2009 7:00P
The Will to Whatevs Book Tour at The Book Cellar
Chicago, IL

Feb 14 2009 7:00P
University of Illinois at Urbana-Chamaign
Urbana, IL

Feb 18 2009 7:00P
The Will to Whatevs Book Tour at Book People
Austin, TX

Feb 19 2009 7:00P
The Will to Whatevs Book Tour at University Bookstore
Seattle, WA

Feb 20 2009 7:00P
The Will to Whatevs Book Tour at Booksmith
San Francisco, CA

Feb 25 2009 7:00P
The Will to Whatevs at Brookline Booksmith
Brookline, MA

Feb 26 2009 7:00P
The Will to Whatevs Book Tour at Barnes and Noble
Washington, D.C.

Feb 27 2009 7:00P
Eugene Mirman and Friends (all ages) at the Crowne Plaza Hotel
Nashua, NH

Mar 11 2009 7:00P
John Wesley Harding’s Cabinet of Wonders at Le Poisson Rouge
New York, NY

Apr 15 2009 7:00P
John Wesley Harding’s Cabinet of Wonders at Le Poisson Rouge
New York, NY

[size=100:u20q1plh]I saw Eugene Mirman do stand-up at Union Hall once, and he was funny. Then I saw him on TV in Flight of the Conchords, and he was funny there too. The Russian-born, Brooklyn-based funnyman has a new book, The Will To Whatevs: A Guide to Modern Life, is out today, with a launch party tonight at The Bell House. Guests like Kristen Schaal and John Hodgman will be there. Then Mirman goes on a comedy and book tour, and can also be seen starting February 12 as a hit man in Delocated a live-action show on Adult Swim. But first, he answered our quiz.

First comedian you saw perform live? I think it was Emo Philips. It was maybe the summer after high school or my freshman year of college. For some reason, though I religiously listened to standup and watched it on TV, it didn’t occur to me to try and go see it live in Boston or Cambridge. It also might have been Brian Kiley, who is now a writer for Conan and hosted the first time I did standup.

What’s the last thing you do before going to bed?
Google myself. JK. That’s not true. I hopefully watch some sort of sci-fi action movie. Or do you mean brush my teeth? Sometimes I refill the water on the windowsill next to my bed so that our cat can drink at night.

If you could have a meal with anyone living or dead, who would it be? Mark Twain probably, and not just because he could tell me what it was really like to meet Grover Cleveland.

When you were in elementary school, what did you want to be when you grew up? I think I wanted to be Michael Knight from Knight Rider, but I was savvy enough to know that wasn’t a job. So probably a comedian or director. I had all of Bill Cosby’s albums in 5th and 6th grade, and by eighth grade I had Emo Philips, Steve Martin, Bobcat Goldthwaite, Howie Mandel, and Robin William’s Live at the Met.

If you could have any super power, what would you choose? Can I have a bunch, or do I have to pick flight, which is useless, but fun. A lot of powers come with extra benefits—like if I could shoot fire out my face and hands, would I also be fireproof? Would I be able to fly because heat rises? If I was indestructible, would I also be immortal? You can’t just ask a guy to pick a super power. These things are delicate.

How many times a day on average do you think about sex?
Once in the morning and once right before lunch.

Have you ever been arrested?
No. Though once, in 7th grade, I was camping near my house in a field with some friends, and we set off fireworks. The police came and intimidated us ("
What’s this knife for?!” “For sharpening sticks to roast marshmallows"
) and sent us home.

What’s your guilty pleasure?
Suggesting suicide as an option to people who are down on their luck.

Ever been starstruck?
Yes, I have. About two months ago I was trying to catch a cab outside the Knitting Factory and a guy came up to me and said, “My name is Jon. I’m a friend of David Wain’s, I just wanted to say I really like your stuff.” And I said, “Jon? Jon Hamm?!?!” And he said, “Yes.” And I said, “I really like your stuff.” Then we talked for about five minutes. He was very, very nice. But I was super excited to meet him. I love Mad Men. It’s funny to meet a celebrity up close.

What’s on your computer wallpaper? It’s whatever comes with the computer. I’m lazy in that way.

Heard any good jokes lately? Tell us one. John Mulaney has a great new joke about how in movies when people wake up from a coma and have amnesia they freak out because they don’t recognize their family or the people around them. But in real life, when you don’t recognize someone, you don’t freak out, you pretend to know them and say things like, “Hey, buddy. How are you?” I forget how the joke goes exactly, but it’s very funny. I’m sure he’d be thrilled to see his joke butchered in print. John is super funny and will probably be one of the biggest new comedians in the next few years.

What was your first job? I worked at my town library for a little while. Right after that I worked at an amazing comic book store in the Boston area called Comically Speaking. That was sort of my first real job.

What’s the best advice you ever got?
No one has ever advised me, which is why I’m often confused.

[size=133:dfonkeuk]Eugene Mirman answers your questions about sex, life, and love





[size=100:dfonkeuk]Comedians Of Comedy Tour veteran and Flight Of The Conchords regular Eugene Mirman knows a little about telling you what to do: His website features a running advice column, Ask Eugene. He served as a “sexpert” for Maxim. ([url=See video here.][/url]) And his new book, The Will To Whatevs: A Guide To Modern Life, offers advice on things like office parties, school, and “what to do with your fine arts degree in today’s capitalist world.” With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, we thought it would be appropriate to have our online readers submit questions about sex or love for Eugene to answer. And he did.




Does love really have anything to do with sex? I love my family and my friends, but I usually don’t have sex with them. So why do some girls want me to say “I love you” before they will have sex with me? Wouldn’t “I want to have sex with you” be more appropriate? —Scott

Dear Scott,
Girls want you to say that because you’re in high school. Grownup girls just want you to call them dirty names, compliment them on their knowledge of current affairs, and act enthusiastic about their new hats. No one makes you pretend to love them anymore once you grow up;
that only happens in the recent remake of Knight Rider.



I’ve just recently gotten engaged, and my soon-to-be-wife and I are both kind of cash-strapped agnostics. It’s the first time for both of us, so we’d really like to do it right and include as many friends and family as possible. So my question is twofold: a) how to create a solemn and meaningful ceremony without a religious element and find the right person to officiate it, and b) how to make a nice wedding for 100 or so guests on the cheap. Please help! —Groomy Gus

Dear Gus,
You should have a good friend get a license to officiate your wedding. It’s easy. Most states can give you a one-day certificate. Just make sure you tell him (or her) not to swear (nothing makes a wedding more weird than someone going, “Do you take this 'ucking man to be…”) Also, make sure they aren’t Wiccan or into emo. Next, find a cool space somewhere to rent or use—a nearby farm, a music venue, a well-off friend’s parents’ summer home. Buy all the food and liquor yourselves (or make it a pot luck and cash bar) and hire a few people to serve, clean up, and help out. Now the fun part—hire some celebrity impersonators. A few suggestions: Michael Jackson, Ashton Kutcher, Slash, Robert De Niro, and Roman Polanski. (No one knows what he looks like, so feel free to just get an old guy to walk around going, “I’m Roman Polanski!”) People will remember it. If you want to take it to another level, give the wedding a simple theme, like “beach wedding,” “Old West wedding,” or “barely legal.”



Why am I only attracted to Jews? —Mike

Dear Mike,
Because God chose them to be the most special people in the world. Plus they’re demanding, which is very sexy.



Big fan of the advice column on your site.My question concerns online dating.I’ve been at this for a week, and am surprised at how many obvious “form letters” I have gotten from dudes.How can dudes possibly not have figured out that we dames will be on to them and not respond? —Jenn
P.S. Will I ever find true love?

Dear Jenn,
Dudes are fools. However, you need to give proactive feedback instead of not responding. Guys share—they meet up all the time near abandoned churches to try and figure out what they’re doing wrong. You should respond to each form letter with, “Your form letter just lost you an after-coffee-date-blowjob, buddy.” Strike men where it hurts most—in the idea that they could have had simple, anonymous afternoon sex and messed it up.

P.S. Yes, you will find true love. It will be a little more difficult than it was in Pretty Woman, but not nearly as hard as it was in Return Of The Jedi.



What is a good gift to give on Valentine’s Day to someone you have been going out with for a few months? —Brian K.

Dear Brian,
There is a really cool service that turns photos into paintings on canvas. You should take a great photo of your dick and have it blown up into a cool painting. If you’re too much of a wuss to do that, then pretty earrings or something for her stupid cat.



Congratulations on a book. Saw you open for Stella back in New York, good stuff. Mr. Mirman, I must ask you the question whether or not you think it would a smart life choice to enroll in the Peace Corps. Now, I am only a high school senior. But when I go to college I want to just travel abroad. I'm going to attend college but afterward, instead of getting a job right away would joining the Corps seem reasonable? Thank you. —Brian

Dear Brian,
Sure. It seems fine. Luckily, I think you’re asking what you should do five years from now—I can’t tell, because some of what you wrote is either in broken English, or a coded message for help. Good news! You can decide later. Joining the Peace Corps is totally reasonable, unless it changes by then and instead of educating and empowering disadvantaged peoples, it is solely an organization that sends upper-middle-class 20-somethings to Kenya and Mongolia to have sex while poor people watch.



I don’t normally write for advice, but that bitch Miss Manners has repeatedly ignored my many e-mails. You’re the only one I can turn to. How much hotter than your partner(s) do you have to be to get them to do freaky stuff during sex? Do you have to be Angelina-hot to pull out the bit gag, or is Tina-hot sufficient? —Freaky in D.C.

Dear Freaky,
You probably don’t need to be Angelina-hot. How freaky do you mean, though? “Put a finger in someone’s bottom” freaky, or “Dress up like a Nazi, cry, and jerk off on your feet” freaky? Regardless, this chart should help you:
Equal hotness = some spanking, mumbling dirty things
1 level hotter = Talking dirty (even if it’s embarrassing), wearing silly shoes
2 levels hotter = some weird butt-related things, kissing feet, yelling “Take it, bitch!”
3 levels hotter = pretending to be racist, having sex over and over ’til it’s unpleasant
4 levels hotter = three-way with same-sex person, filling pants with ice cream
5 levels hotter = peeing in a bathtub, wearing a zipper mask, punching each other
8 levels hotter = poop followed by self-loathing.



I have recently begun hooking up with this guy.Problem is, while I just think of him as a casual thing, he’s recently been saying how he’s in love with me.I am definitely not in love with him, but I think he’s a nice guy.I told him that he should feel free to see other people, but he doesn’t want to.What do you think I should do? —Heartbreaker

Dear Heartbreaker,
You have to break up right away. And stop telling him you want to be friends — he uses that information to power his sadness machine that runs on false hope. Okay? Thanks! Good luck. If that’s super-difficult, you can tell him it’s off, but then hook up once a month when you’re drunk for three months, ’til you both move on.



So there’s this girl I’ve completely and totally fallen for at my college. I’ve even revealed my feelings to her. The problem is that she doesn’t reciprocate them and is merely content to be friends. For the most part, I actually am okay with this, since she really means a lot to me, and I still enjoy seeing her whenever possible. However, my romantic feelings toward her won’t subside, and I worry that I’m not going to be able to feel for someone else the way I do for this girl. Is there anything you’d suggest I do that does not involve not seeing this girl, which I don’t think I can do? —Ben Folds Fan

Dear You Big Pussy,
First of all, everything will be fine. I know it doesn’t seem like that now, but it’s true. Unless you’re a nutcase, eventually you will meet someone else you like as much. The only way to get over this girl is to start dating other people. I know you don’t want to, but you have to. Otherwise, you can’t hang out with this girl because you’ll obsess over her, drive all your friends crazy, they will commit suicide, and it will be your fault, because I warned you. Good luck. Also, try joining some clubs—but not the Worker’s Party Paper, or any commie shii. Ultimately, my advice is hobbies + time = you’ll move on. Oh yeah! Don’t forget to put her down (charmingly) and act indifferent so that she falls for you!

P.S. Unless she is much more attractive than you, you guys might go out in a year or so.



I recently moved in with a friend of mine when I transferred colleges. He’s a good guy and great roommate (doesn’t leave his stuff everywhere, doesn’t wake me up by turning the lights on in the middle of the night like my old roommate), but there’s a problem. See, he has a steady girlfriend here, and the door to our bedroom doesn’t latch all the way. It’s so bad that when somebody comes in the front door downstairs, the ensuing slam causes the door to swing open. You see where I’m going with this? Do you have any advice as to how I might avoid seeing something I don’t want to see? I really don’t want to come home after class only to catch the two of them mid-coitus. —Jared

Dear Jared,
Sounds like you need to fix the door to your bedroom. Why don’t you get one of those hook things like in some bathrooms that closes the door? I’m sure if you told him you don’t like coming home and seeing his balls, he’d be amenable. Am I missing something? Is there other advice you were hoping for, like suggesting they only have sex in the bathroom, or wear catsuits so you can’t tell what they’re doing?



I’m married and I have two kids, and since they were born, it seems like my wife has no interest in sex. We’ve talked about it, but nothing has changed. What can I do to spice things up?

There is one thing you can do for real—get her the G-Shot. Look it up—she’ll love it, if what I’ve seen on daytime TV is even half true. Otherwise, you should leave her. Sorry, it’s harsh, but your two kids will understand once they are 17. Also, try sneaking whiskey into her food.
Eugene



I’m a 24-year-old virgin, and it’s mainly because I’m extremely shy and terrified of rejection. Lately I’ve been hanging out with this girl often, and I’m not sure how to tell if she’s into me, or how to make a move without potentially ruining the friendship. My question is how can I figure out whether or not she likes me like that without making a mess of things. —Scared To Try

Dear Scaredy-Cat Pussy-Balls,
There are three ways to find out if a girl likes you: 1) ask her friends, 2) ask her, or 3) kiss her. Sometimes you have to make a mess of things to make things right—that’s what Winston Churchill and FDR did. I understand you’re nervous because you’re a virgin (ha ha!), but most people don’t demand to have sex right after you tell them you like them. (Other than Kid Rock and probably Kim Jong-Il.) You have to take risks. Plus, getting rejected can be a good thing—it’ll help you understand music (especially R&B and The Smiths), and you’ll have stuff to share at parties.



The last month or two, I’ve been debating getting super-serious with a girl who is very nice, funny, pretty, et al. However, she is 19… I am 29. She’s very mature, and has no problems with it, but I can’t help feeling a little predatory. Do you know other big “age jump” couples where this has worked, or am I just gonna look like a creep?

Dear Creep,
Ultimately, it’s totally fine. It’s always better to take a chance. My parents, my girlfriend’s parents, and several of my friends are in relationships where they’re 10 years apart. If you go out, two things to keep in mind: 1) lie to your friends and tell people she’s 21, and 2) have her wear a mustache so she looks older. The other thing you can do is make her walk with a cane, so if people judge you for dating someone so young, you can judge them back for discriminating against the handicapped.



I just got walked out on completely unexpectedly by my live-in girlfriend of three years, and when she came to get her stuff two weeks later, she told me she had gotten married to another guy while she was gone. Is this kind of impulsive, out-of-the-blue, batshii-insane behavior common out of seemingly happy and rational women? Or did I just find an exceptionally unstable one?

P.S. One of our fondest shared memories was seeing you with Patton, Brian, and Maria in Boston last time. Come back around!

Dear Holy shii,
Holy shii, that is crazy. I’ve heard of similar stories, but it’s not normal to break up with someone and marry another person right away. That is the number-one sign of a poor decision-maker. Most people have rebound relationships with drummers, get drastic haircuts, or drink ’til they fall asleep (also called “passing out”). It probably won’t happen again, unless there is something weird about you that makes women ruin their lives. If you go to Charlie’s Kitchen or The Cellar, I’m sure you’ll find a nice girl with manageable problems. Though probably the best place to meet people is at Sherman Café in Somerville’s Union Square. The bathroom there is small, but it’s big enough to start a family.



This will be the first Valentine’s Day I celebrate with my fiancé. We live in different cities and don’t see each other regularly. What can I do to make this Valentine’s Day special? —Michelle

Dear Michelle,
Why don’t you go to the Mountain Top Inn near Killington, Vermont? It’s nice. If you’re broke, you could take Greyhound buses and meet in the middle. It might be depressing, and you’ll probably get pregnant by a random guy. (More than 50 percent of newborns are conceived while people are asleep on Greyhound busses—it’s why America is so far behind the world in standardized tests.) On a side note, I hope you don’t plan on having one of those long-distance marriages that is based on trust. I don’t think those work, really.



Thanks for everything you do. You are “totes” the best. My question is, why do people get love and sex confused all the time? Follow-up question: Do you have problems telling them apart? Thanks times infinity. —Zach

Dear Zach,
People confuse the two because starting in 7th grade, kids are taught to not have sex unless they are in love and married. They’re taught this to avoid getting pregnant—because it is a huge headache and involves MOUNDS of paperwork. However, as they get older, they still believe that stuff. Also, some people (we’ll call them “girls”) respect themselves and don’t want to risk getting pregnant with some random dude who wants to experience four minutes of bliss and then go play Medal Of Honor 4.



I think my family suspects that I’m gay, as I’ve never been in a long-term relationship and have never brought a girl home from college. I’m not gay;
I’m just more interested in one-night stands. How do I tactfully tell my grandma, for instance, that I’m only interested in getting my dick wet?

Dear Mr. Wet,
Why don’t you tell them a story about a few dates with girls you’ve gone on? A charming anecdote about a girl will let them know you’re not gay, just figuring things out. Also, consider being in a long-term relationship, you emotionally stunted baby-man. Another option is to invite your grandmother to be your friend on Facebook and then constantly update your status with, “[your name] is in Sarah Horowitz” or whatever.



I have two very young kids, both boys, and in the course of changing diapers and whatnot, I can’t help but notice that the toddler has quite a sizeable penis, for a toddler, while the baby’s is tiny, compared to his brother at the same age. Is this an indication of how things will go for them as adults? Or is there no correlation, as puberty’s a decade away? —Inappropriate Dad

Dear Inappropriate Dad,
You came to the right guy. I wrote a college paper about baby-dick size—I even won a Pulitzer Prize when I published it (without their knowledge) in The Washington Post. Yes, one will have a giant, TV-friendly penis, and the other will have a small, listen-to-Fall Out Boy one. This will be a source of constant strife and resentment. It will could end with a duel (with pistols) in their 20s. To avoid this, give the little-penised one boxing lessons once he’s 5, and they’ll get along great.



My girlfriend really likes receiving fancy gifts on Valentine’s Day, but I’m super-duper poor. What should I do? —Rob

Dear Rob,
You should break up with her. She sounds annoying. If you love her and don’t want to break up, get a henna tattoo on your penis. Those are very fancy.
Eugene Mirman

hellomyfriend wrote:Why am I only attracted to Jews? —Mike

Dear Mike,
Because God chose them to be the most special people in the world. Plus they’re demanding, which is very sexy.

[size=133:oossijcd]Funny man offers eccentric advice
Andy O’Connor
Published: Tuesday, February 17, 2009


Comedian Eugene Mirman’s new book is a humorous
spin on ordinarily mundane problems.

[size=100:oossijcd]Comedian Eugene Mirman shares his thoughts on his new book, “The Will to Whatevs,” Austin and the Limp Bizkit reunion.

Daily Texan: What makes your book stand out in our opinion-saturated culture?

Eugene Mirman: Mine is the only accurate opinion. Mine is the only one that helps, [that] really guides you. I’m literally giving people advice on tips from everything from kindergarten to just after they die.

DT: If Oprah picked your book for her book club of the month, how would you feel?

EM: I would feel glad, and I would ruin the lives of everyone who read it. I would finally get to touch the hearts of people.

DT: It would come with a nice paycheck too, wouldn’t it?

EM: It would make me rich beyond anyone’s dreams. The first thing I would do is buy the entirety of downtown Austin. I would turn all of the Louisiana-themed places into Chinese restaurants.

DT: You’re appearing in Austin tomorrow, doing some South by Southwest shows and opening for Flight of the Conchords in May. Are you developing a love affair with Austin?

EM: I’m not developing it, it has been in full bloom for years. I have rarely come this many times in a month or two period, but I love Austin. Who wouldn’t? You would have to be a monster not to like Austin.

DT: Do you have an interesting story about Austin?

EM: One year during SXSW, I was staying with friends of friends, and then at the end of the night, I went to their home and then it turned out it was an apartment complex. I realized I didn’t know which one of them it was. Instead of breaking in to someone’s home, which was illegal even in 2003 or whenever it was, I slept on the staircase for a while and took a bus back into town. It was exciting — I was homeless for four hours.

DT: Is there anything you wanted to put in the book, but couldn’t?

EM: Anything I would have wanted to put in and didn’t, I would have simply saved for another book.

DT: Even though your book’s only been out for a week, have you heard any success stories from someone who took your advice?

EM: The only one I really heard was Barack Obama who read it and became president. Led Zeppelin read my book — Robert Plant won the Grammy. Vladimar Putin, too. People always say “How do you have a successful book?” and the answer is, I send it to world leaders and also Led Zeppelin.

DT: This question is random, but how do you feel about Limp Bizkit getting back together?

EM: You are right — that question is random. You now only have that to write. You will have to write in your interview that you asked me, that you said it was random, and I responded that you are right that it is random. And I will not tell you how I feel about it. But, in my defense, who could possibly care?

WHAT: Eugene Mirman

WHERE: Book People, 603 N. Lamar Blvd.

WHEN: Tonight, 7 p.m.

blondesnotbombs wrote:

[size=133:xl71ifw6]Eugene Mirman of ‘Conchords’ ‘flies’ to perform
[size=100:xl71ifw6]Star on HBO show returns to Madison to open for co-stars with atypical comedy

by Alex Truong
Thursday, April 23, 2009 23:10

[size=100:xl71ifw6]This Sunday Eugene Mirman will open for Flight of the Conchords at the Overture Center.

Mirman is a stand-up comedian, a voice and cast member in a variety of television shows, including “Lucy, Daughter of the Devil” and “Home Movies,” and author of the comedic and contemporary advice book, “The Will to Whatevs.” He has also performed with Patton Oswalt, Maria Bamford and Brian Posehn on tour as “The Original Comedians of Comedy.”

The eclectic performer recently spoke with The Badger Herald regarding his role in “Flight of the Conchords” and how his performance might surprise those not familiar with his work.

Mirman performs primarily in the Brooklyn area when not on tour or acting. He discussed how his stand-up routine this Sunday would differ from his act in New York.

“Most of the stuff I do that works best works with everyone. Sometimes, maybe with older crowds, I have to take a little step back so I won’t break them in half emotionally,” Mirman said.

The show marks Mirman’s second performance in Wisconsin’s capital in less than a month.

“I’ve performed in Madison a few times, and it’s been super-fun,” Mirman said.

In conjunction with his book and his stand-up, Mirman has a number of videos styled in an absurdist manner. These videos exaggerate clichés associated with pop culture, like secret agents and sexperts. One of Mirman’s videos, entitled “Punk,” features the performer in a cutoff T-shirt with a zipper stretching across the chest. The video ends with nearly 40 seconds of the comedian weeping.

“That idea came from a time when I was shopping in Los Angeles, and I saw this shirt and I thought, ‘This is the stupidest shirt I have ever seen. I have to buy it,’” Mirman said.

Mirman also commented on his heavy Internet presence.

“Whether it is YouTube, Facebook … Twitter, or MySpace, the Internet is sort of this whole interactive world that lets you post things to share your work and expand your reach,” Mirman said.

Acting as if his flaws are what make him great, the comedian often give himself more credit than is due to create a humorous paradox. This is evident in his hilarious attack on Delta Airlines, which involves a demand from the airline to pay a penalty of “$10,000 or a controlling share in the company, whichever is greater.” The bit evolved from a prolonged misplacement of luggage, and resulted in a settlement to Mirman that was spent on postcards addressed to Delta, which are distributed at shows for free. Mirman’s style is evident in his routine, but it may be surprising to those that only know him as the landlord who is desperate for friends in “Flight of the Conchords.”

“The stuff I do is vaguely sort of oddball;
I don’t insist that all of my lines make me out to be awesome. … The way I have such a range [as a performer] is through years of meditation,” Mirman said.

Eugene Mirman opens for Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement of Flight of the Conchords this Sunday at 7:30 pm at the Overture Center. Tickets are $40.