Paul Mecurio recalls a hilarious Robert DeNiro moment AND we chat about his brand new comedy show.
You were the host of “Comics 4 Kamala.” How did that come about?
The organizers knew me from my standup. Congressman Swallwell was one of them and reached out. I was able to bring on friends who I hadn’t seen in a while so it was good to get them together. The trick to hosting one of those things is you have to keep it moving. Sometimes comedians can just kind of go on and on; but your job is to reign them in at some point. It was cool being a part of something that was much bigger than myself. We were all there for a good cause.
I was on FOUR of those calls: Comics, White Dudes for Harris, Swifties 4 Kamala, and Paisans For Kamala.
The Paisans was the other one I hosted. You generally tell people to be themselves but to get the message out to vote or volunteer. I usually tell them five minutes but DeNiro can go as long as he wants ::laughs:: I know him a little bit from being on “The Late Show with Colbert” and he can be a little quiet. So he gets on this call and he says something like “Please vote for Kamala or else it’ll be really bad” and look at his shoes. I was thinking to myself “Are you fucking kidding me?” ::laughs:: So I jump in because I want to keep it going. I said a few things to wind him up and he just GOES off. In the middle of it, I go “I feel like I know you now through all this..can I call you Bobby?” And he responds “You just did.” And everyone just roars laughing.
If you could elect President-elect Trump one question, what would it be and why?
Where do you keep your harem of hookers at Mar-A-Lago?
I would go much darker. I would ask ‘how many abortions he and his family have had to pay for?’
::both laugh::
Taking a HARD left here..how is your new show ‘Permission To Speak’ different from your standup?
It was born out of my standup. Here and there I would sprinkle in some audience time in my set. I would talk to them and I have a natural curiosity. So I would keep asking follow up questions and their stories got better. Some producers saw me doing this one night and they thought it was cool. “They’re plants right? You screened them before the show?” Absolutely not.
It involves my standup and me telling stories, but then we get to know audience members and their stories as well. We’re sort of nameless, faceless and divisive. If you’re far right and I’m far left, we think the other is the Devil and we would never listen to each other. But if we just listen to each others stories, we realize that in some ways, we’re all alike. “Oh, he has a dog that shits on the rug” or “Oh he has a brother in law that’s an asshole too.” I’ve seen many people go up to each other after the show and connect like we want them to.
I had someone on stage at our Pennsylvania show; he was a country club guy. I go to a local bar after the show with the crew and saw him. He was with his wife and another couple. I assumed they came together but they didn’t. The other guy came up to him after the show and said that he goes to the same club and had seen him there, but never chatted with him. So they went out for drinks and will be playing golf the following week together.
Frank Oz got involved because he loves the humanity aspect of it. It’s Frank Oz. “Little Shop of Horrors” “Bowfinger” He’s the original Yoda; talk about intimidating. He still does the backwards talking thing by the way. You go out for dinner and he’s like “Steak I will have.” We get it Frank, you’re Yoda!
We wanted this to be a real theater show. We have a set designed by the set designer who designed “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” where I work. We have a really cool digital map and animations as well. It’s a show that no one has done before.
Why do you think people are so open to this experience?
Some people want to tell their story and some need to tell their story. They feel unheard. I think a lot of people like to perform too. In this space, they’re in the spotlight, you won’t get made fun of, and it’s just a place to hang out and drink. You’re comfortable and people really feel at ease. I genuinely belly laugh at some of these stories and the follow ups.
Are you pumped to bring Permission To Speak to Annapolis this Saturday?
Absolutely! I’m also joining the Naval Academy. I was at Rams Head back in February and we sold out. The people were great. I felt like I knew the audience members for years. I had a feeling this would be a great city to bring this new show to. I’m really psyched to bring my wife. We grew up in Providence, Rhode Island and Annapolis has that same vibe. Plus, I have to pickup my Harem of Hookers.
I’ll send you mine too.
Nicky’s Hookers! That has a nice ring to it..you should trademark that.
Paul brings his “Permission To Speak” Tour to Annapolis this Saturday!