Like a two-headed Phoenix that pissed on its own ashes before gouging the eyes of the critics who argue that standup comedy is dust in the wind, Zach Galifianakis is visible proof that joke telling is alive and breathing in the air of the Himalayas. The comic who is recognized for his lumberjack beard, interpretive dance skills and ability to crack up a room with observations set to the backdrop of a piano has been a part of the critically acclaimed TV hit on Comedy Central “Dog Bites Man” and recently wrapped up filming for a movie directed by Sean Penn.
On a night late summer night, Zach opens a tour by filling up one of San Francisco’s premiere concert venues, the Fillmore, for two hilarious shows. Penn actually stops by to kick it and check out the first performance, but I miss him by a few minutes as Zach agrees to an interview in his dressing room between performances. Friendly and laid back, Zach offers a drink and relaxes with his shoes off while brushing silver glitter out of his hair from his early show.
Waiting for the 11PM show was definitely the way to go, as Zach works without boundaries for the second crowd. The first twenty minutes of his act, the comic works on full ad-lib as he moves his way through the audience to jest about the occupations and lifestyles of his fans. Some of the scripted material you can catch yourself, as a 2005 live performance called Zach Galifianakis: Live At The Purple Onion DVD will be available shortly. In the meanwhile, check out the website zachgalifianakis.com.
When Comedy Central followed you on the “Comedians of Comedy” tour, you also chose rock clubs for your performances. Does that make it an easier transition?
It’s a little bit easier, but if somebody were to book me at a picnic with fourth graders I’d do it. I’ve always wanted to do the [Houston] Astrodome too. I’m over thinking about it, if people get the jokes, they get it.
What’s the inspiration for the beard?
I have three chins and I just don’t like to shave; I’m not much of a groomer. In Roman times it was a sign of wealth, if you have an extra chin you would have an extra house or carriage or pair of boots.
When did you know that you wanted to make cats laugh for a living?
I started in the back of a hamburger restaurant in Times Square and realized that’s what I would do when I was at an age where you are figuring out what you are doing [with your life].
I know that you worked as a nanny and house cleaner by day while breaking into stand-up at night. Did you always know that if given the right opportunity you would make it?
I was happy to do anything but those other jobs, you learn to plow through it because there was a lot of failure and I don’t really have any skills. When I was a kid the dude that whistled the theme song to “The Andy Griffith Show” came to school and I thought, This guy makes people happy whistling for a living.
How much fun is it to act as a member of a phony news team from Spokane, Washington, on the show “Dog Bites Man.”
Dan Mazer [who also produced “Da Ali G Show”] brought the element of taking on people of power (politicians, high-ranking policemen, journalists, etc). In “Dog Bites Man” we are trying to be the dumb ones, the idiots and don’t want to make the other people look stupid. Walking into its existence we knew that if we fuck with them [general public], then karmically it might not be the greatest thing in the world.
Tell me about your character on “Dog Bites Man,” news director Alan Finger. Did you come up with that name or was it already written?
I made that up, the cast made up everything. There is a debate on Alan, he’s from Danish descent and it’s shortened from something like Phingerz. I wanted the name to be of a body part because that’s an awkward thing. Alan is so dumb, stupid and has no motivation.
What about motivation as a musician? Alan’s song “Come Over and Get It (Up in ’Dem Guts)” tore it up at spring break.
A.D. Miles [Marty Shonson on “DBM”] and I wrote that song in five minutes, we wanted to make a trite spring break song, something ridiculous. It was produced by Jon Brion and we got Fiona Apple to sing in the background.
You repaid the favor by lip-synching the words in Fiona’s video “Not About Love.” What’s your next song that you will be interpretively dancing to?
There is a new song by Camera Obscura called “Country Mile” and I’m going to do a video whether they like it or not. I want to do something obscure enough that some people will kind of know it. I don’t want it to be a one-time thing; I want it to be ongoing. My goal is to sustain it. My friend knows Alicia Keys and I would have loved to do one of her songs, but she came to watch me do stand-up and hated it, I guess it was the wrong match. I also did a Tommy Lee video where I played the tuba while they jammed out, but it was cut out in production.
You just completed filming Into the Wild, a movie directed by Sean Penn. Was it crazy working side-by-side with a legend?
He was just in here. I asked if I was still in it and he said, “Yes.” Sean’s a lovely man. He has a very good sense of humor. He gets the jokes but is timid about his own funniness.
What’s your role in the movie?
I play a drunk hunter. It’s about a guy obsessed with Jack London who left Emery to live in the wild. There were some funny conversations at bars in South Dakota with me, Sean and Vince Vaughn. Mainly, political arguments between me and Vince, with Sean laughing.
Tell me about the colossal smash Out Cold which is still in replay movie rotation on Comedy Central?
It haunts me. People have come up to me at the bar—who are never from MENSA—and ask, “Are you the guy from Out Cold?” I was with actress Judy Greer once and as a guy who had asked me that was leaving he yelled, “Hey dude, don’t get your dick stuck in a jacuzzi.” It’s a line in the movie, but honestly, does Liam Neeson ever have that happen with people quoting Schindler’s List?
