What’s up with Epps
What’s up with Epps
What’s up with Epps
Comedy’s favorite sidekick takes center stage at Fox, December 29!
By Matt Muñoz
MÁS staff
Comedian Mike Epps is comedy’s favorite sidekick.
First seen playing the unforgettable jokester “Day-Day” in the 2000 hit urban comedy “Next Friday,” Epps often steals his scenes show through minimal but perfectly timed delivery.
Epps knows his comedic strengths - but don’t think he plays a mean second fiddle all the time.
Born in Indianapolis, Indiana, Epps, 37, started out performing in local talent shows for fun after a small stint with the law at a young age. Finding his true call through comedy, Epps decided to take his act to the Big Apple — New York City — after being encouraged by an Atlanta nightclub owner to seek his fortune out of the south.
After a rough start on the New York circuit, Epps scored the shot of his career on HBO’s “Def Comedy Jam” after being discovered by starmaker Russell Simmons and became an instant hit.
Steadily rising on the stand-up scene, Epps scored a bit part in an indie film as well as a spot on the “The Sopranos.”
Hooking up with rapper-turned-director Ice Cube for “Next Friday” in 2000, Epps was a bona fide star as the movie debuted at No. 1, becoming the new “Up In Smoke” with its slapstick goofiness and references to marijuana.
Appearing live at the Bakersfield Fox Theater on Saturday, Dec. 29, at 8 p.m., Epps’ stand-up routine promises to be like a holiday party at the Epps house.
Speaking via telephone in L.A., Epps spoke with MÁS before his upcoming show about breaking into the biz, entertaining family, and his love for Latino fans.
Q: What are the holidays like at the Epps residence?
A: “Everybody has a great time partying, getting crazy, and I’m always put in charge of entertaining the family.”
Q: Where were you born and raised?
A: “Indianapolis, Indiana, but I’m claiming the whole thing — Fort Wayne, Southbend, Indianapolis … everything.”
Q: How you did you discover your comedic talent — or did someone discover it for you?
A: “I discovered my comedic talent through hangin’ out with my family, and in the neighborhood, doin’ all kinds of things in school. You know, whenever I was around a bunch of people, I made the party jump off.”
Q: Do you love to ham it up in public?
A: “Wherever I am at, I am the life of the show, baby! I'm gonna say somethin’ that’ll make everyone wiggle, jiggle, and razzle dazzle, you dig?”
Q: Did you always plan on pursuing comedy as a career growing up?
A: “I’m the type of guy who’s tried a little bit of everything, you know what I mean? I tried to be a crook, I couldn’t do that. I tried to be a workin’ man, and I couldn’t do that — I tried everything. I just came to find out I was a comedian, and it stuck.”
Q: How was your first gig?
A: “I did some talent shows way back in the day, during my experimental days. No doubt, those days are what got me to here.”
Q: During the evolution of your style, what was your early stand-up material like?
A: “I didn’t know I could talk about real life, and not talk about fictitious stuff to be funny. The real funny would come from when I would talk about real-life, you know? I possessed all of that, but I wouldn’t do it when I got onstage, because of my perception of what showbiz was.”
Q: Were there certain people or places throughout your life you drew material from?
A: A little bit of everything — a lot of neighborhood, in the street stuff is where I got a lot of my pizzazz from. I cracked a lot of street jokes back in the day.”
Q: For most people, your introduction came in the film “Next Friday” back in 2000 with Ice Cube. Since then you’ve stayed busy in a variety of movies and projects. How do you keep yourself in the action?
A: “I try to be the people’s favorite by staying outta the way, not taking up too much time, but being good. The average person is in the way and don’t even know it, you get bored with them sometimes — space invaders I call ’em.” If you don't see me all the time, but every time you see me, I’m good, I can stay in the game.”
Q: How do choose your film projects?
A: “A lot of it is script situations. Sometimes I run into characters that I like to do, but the scripts aren’t good, so I can’t do it. Sometimes I run into a good character and the script ain’t good, now that I can work with. I like to challenge every character.”
Q: Do you require that your chosen script leave you a lot of room to improvise as a comedian, adding your personal flair?
A: “Some of them do, depending on the director. I may run into a director that understands comedy, and knows what to do with a comedian in a movie. But then I run into directors who say, ‘Hey, this is how I want my movie to be.’ They forget you know how to do what you do, and that you’ve been in so many movies. Since it’s so hard to be good in this business, I’ve learned to be a ‘Craftmatic Adjustable.’ Just be flexible in any situation. It’s like, if I get a call to come over to your house, and I thought it was some plumbin’ I had to fix, and you got me on top of the roof doin’ shingles, then I’m gonna lay the heck out of them shingles, with an Epps twist.”
Q: HBO’s ‘Def Comedy Jam’ was a springboard to fame for so many great comedians like Eddie Griffin, Chris Tucker, and now yourself. How was that experience?
A: “It was exciting. Once Russell Simmons put me on ‘Def Comedy Jam,’ I knew I was onto something man. I started rollin’ then. I was part of the last batch of comedians to ever get into movies or television off from being on ‘Def Comedy Jam.’”
Q: Who is your greatest comedic influence?
A: “Richard Pryor.”
Q: I read in your bio that you are set to play Richard Pryor in an upcoming bio-pic. That’s a pretty big deal for any comedian, especially since it hasn’t been done before. How exciting is it for you to try and fill those shoes?
A: “I sat down with Richard Pryor for a whole year before he died. After he passed, the family started going through a struggle, and some things changed, so I think the project has started goin’ in another direction. I think that if I get a chance to play it, I’m gonna rep it to the ‘T.’ But for now, I’m busy doin’ Mike Epps’ thing.”
Q: You’ve become immensely popular with Latino audiences. Have you ever been involved in any Latino-themed tours?
A: “Not yet, but I am thinking about doin’ an all-Latino ‘Friday’ movie. Keep that under your hat.”
Q: Any shout-out to your Latino fanbase?
A: “I want all my Latinos out there to know I got much love for ya’ll, and thank you for supportin’ Day-Day (Epps’ character in ‘Next Friday’) through thick and thin, and like I said, the Joker brothers are always gonna be my homies.”
Q: What can Bakersfield fans look forward to during your live show at the Fox on Dec. 29?
A: “I’m gonna be just who they think I am when I get there! This is for La Raza!”
Comedian Mike Epps live
-Saturday, Dec. 29
-Bakersfield Fox Theater
-8 p.m.
-Tickets: $25, $35, $45
-322-5200
-www.vallitix.com
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