Arts Flash: Comedian John Heffron
Wednesday, August 26th, 2009
Comedian John Heffron is one funny guy. He can twist everyday occurrences – like bar encounters, marriage and getting older – into humorous stories and rants that you just can’t help laughing at. That’s probably why he won the second season of NBC’s Last Comic Standing in 2004. Originally from Detroit, Heffron’s latest DVD, titled Middle Class Funny, was released on Aug. 4. It will re-air on Comedy Central on Sept. 10. But, screw that – the wait is too long, don’t ya think? Why wait for it when you could just go see the man himself when he is in Charlotte. The Comedy Zone and Blumenthal Performing Arts Center will present a performance by John Heffron tonight at McGlohon Theatre. For more information, call 704-372-1000 or visit www.blumenthalcenter.org.
Creative Loafing: How did you come to be on NBC’s Last Comic Standing?
John Heffron: There was a taping before me and it was something that I never was into or thought I would do well at. I happened to be flying from Florida to Michigan and they had the auditions in Nashville, so I kind of just stopped and auditioned for it, just going “Well, if I audition I might get on that one episode.” Then I kept getting further and further ahead and before I knew it, I was knee deep in it.
And you were doing comedy before that?
Yeah, I did stand-up for 15 or 16 years.
Did you always want to be a comedian for a living?
Yeah, but I never said, “This is what I’m going to do.” I’m not much of a planner. It’s just something that I sort of fell into. Now, looking back, I almost have a panic attack if I think of what would have happened if things didn’t work out for me.
What did you get your college degree in?
I have a degree in communications and psychology.
So, maybe if comedy had not worked out, you would’ve been a psychologist?
That’s something or I was into like advertising, something creative. That may have been the route I went. Now, it seems as a comic you need a PhD in online marketing and that type of stuff now. It’s actually work to be a comedian. In the old days, you could just show up at a comedy club and hit on a waitress and that was your week. But, now you’ve got to build your email list, twitter every five seconds, check your Facebook page, and it’s a whole thing.
Since Last Comic Standing, have you been doing a lot of tours?
Yeah, you’re pretty much going non-stop. It’s one of those things where I think whatever level you are at there is always something new you have to overcome or there’s a new fear. Like when you are new as a comic you were afraid “What will happens if nothing ever happens for me.” But then when you have a bunch of stuff happen, you equally have a fear or losing it all or going backwards. I think that’s the law of the land.
