First, getting tired of the interview circuit yet?
For a while before I joined Barstool I was getting a little bit tired I have to say, but at the same time that was everything I wanted to accomplish, so it is hard to complain about it. Before Barstool it seemed like very sports station and podcast wanted me on their shows to do impressions.
You worked hard to get to where you are now. Any advice to others trying to replicate your success?
Yeah – first, it doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a lot of long hours and times where you doubt yourself and ask if it is worth it. You just have to keep chipping away. It’s like that motivational meme of the two guys hacking away for buried treasure and the one guy quits when he was like one hack away from it. It can feel like that – you just have to keep on hacking away,
I’d also say you have to find something you would do even it was for free – except that someone is paying you to do it. Even if there’s no money – you would keep doing it because you enjoy doing it that much.
Where there any people who really influenced you and your career?
My dad and uncle steered me towards comedy when I was young, so definitely them. As far as the industry – guys like Caliendo, Carvey, Jay Ferro, Dave Chapel as far as stand up – the SNL guys of course… tons of influence from those guys,
How methodical is your imitation target choice- is it more spontaneous or is there a process/method to it?
I try to stay topical. Sometimes I just go for it and test the waters. You can’t be afraid to fail.
It’s like they say about Hall of Fame hitters – they go three-for-ten on average. Now, you want to get to be better than that in comedy! But, failure is inevitable. Even when you knock it out of the park there are still some who say they don’t like it.
How do rough racial/social climates like we’re experiencing now affect your approach? Do they?
Definitely, yeah. It’s a good question.
It’s a weird thing – it’s terrible what’s happening. In my position, a white guy doing mostly comedy – I just need to be sensitive to things. I can’t pretend to know what many are going through and don’t want to affect people the wrong way. I have to be careful – I don’t want to make things worse any worse than what’s going on.
It’s a fine line. You want to do the right thing and help make people feel better, but my job is to bring humor and help people escape from that sort of thing. So, it’s a tough balance. You want to help provide that escape, but maybe that’s not the right thing?
Ok – the obligatory question – as an Indiana guy – why are you now a Steelers fan?
Ha! Well, no, my dad is not from Pittsburgh. We have no family in Pittsburgh. But he grew up in Indianapolis in the 70’s and the Colts didn’t get there until much later, so who better to root for than the Steelers? He passes that down to his family and we’ve been Steelers fans since.
So, the Ben revenge tour. Why do you think the national media always going after Ben and the team like it has? It’s more than just going after the guys on top right?
I think the media always has to find people they don’t like. And Ben is one of those dudes I think that, early on in his career, he may not have been as likable by the media. So, they take it out on him now, and side instead with guys like AB. And Ben doesn’t respond to stuff, so it’s easy to blame that guy.
But the whole revenge tour was based on this. Before 2018 he was a Hall of Fame quarterback. He won two Super Bowls and had been to a third. He changed his style of play from gunslinger to precision passer – who else has done that? And he has the Big Ben nickname – every young quarterback that escapes pressure and makes a play – they say it reminds them of a young Big Ben.
So, I think people are blaming him for the AB stuff -but where is AB now? They say he doesn’t help his teammates – but look at what he’s done for them now. They say he’s washed up – I think he’s going to come out and say “Look at me now! and get to a Super Bowl.
What worries you most now about this Steelers team and why?
Honestly, I think health. Last year Conner, JuJu, Tuitt and Ben… If Tuitt was healthy imagine how that defense would have been. I really think the biggest thing is health. Every team gets banged up some in the grind of the season, but if this team is healthy in November and December, there’s no reason they can’t get to a Super Bowl.
Do you think they become a run-first/defense-focused team like teams did with veteran Hall of Fame quarterbacks like Elway and Manning?
I’ve been saying that as well. I think it’s coming full circle with Ben. From ’04-’08, Ben was a top tier quarterback that made plays – but he wasn’t putting up Star Wars type numbers. They relied on an elite defense and a good running game with guys like Parker. Now it’s come full circle – they have the running back trio of Conner, Snell, and McFarland and good tight ends. They don’t have a huge star like AB at wide receiver – I mean, JuJu os a star – but he’s not going to out up AB and Julio Jones type numbers.
I think Ben will make the big plays they need him to make, but the offense will be asked to put up 24 or so points a game and ask the defense to hold teams under 20.
Any surprise players you think we should be excited about taking that next step this season?
Me being in Indy, I covered Eric Ebron. In 2018 that dude was a stud. He then had some ankle issues and Luck retired. But he was a touchdown machine. I see him now pumping up Ben – getting that friendship with Ben. I think that’s great I think he can score 10 touchdowns this year – he can be that big redzone threat the missed last year.
On defense it’s tough to find a breakout player on that squad. I’d say Edmunds – I think he was solid last year but I’d like to see him make more plays- a few interceptions.
You like the rookie class?
I do. Claypoool , Dotson, and McFarland. I know a lot are high on Highsmith but I’m not a film junkie- I don’t have a lot of his tape from Charlotte in my mancave!
I watched Notre Dame a lot – Claypool is a freak. I think he will be real good in the redzone and as a deep threat. Ben likes to chuck it up there sometimes and Claypool won like 90% of his contested catches. He’s a monster.
And Dotson – they got him in the fourth round and he’s an All American who can add some youth to the offensive line that unfortunately lost Ramon Foster to retirement.
What are your thoughts on this coaching staff?
It’s always easy to make the coordinators a scapegoat. I’m so thankful for Mike Tomlin. I have had my times being angry at him when they’d lose in November to teams that it looked like they should have been better prepared to beat. But look at last season – who better to have coach this team than him?
Fichtner – he’s not the highest on the Muilinaro list, Let’s just say that. Too many baffling statements about why they went with power formations on second and 10. Butler – he’s finally getting the the talent he needed and he’s ding good things with it. So you have to feel better about him.
Any last things you want fans to know?
Yeah – go to BarstoolSports.com – we have a Pittsburgh themed baseball hat that has a familiar looking logo fans should love. And the Big Ben is Back shirt – you should check those out!
Read more by former Steelers via the book Steelers Takeaways: Player Memories Through the Decades. To order, just click on the book:
