Many have called Brian Regan a "clean" comedian, but he said that’s not the whole picture.
"I always say to people, ‘The Beatles are clean.’ If every article about them was about how clean they were, people would have the wrong idea of what The Beatles were like," Regan said. "Yeah, I guess they’re clean at the end of the day, but they still make good music."
He said he feels the same way about his comedy: "Clean" is just a small asterisk in describing his jokes on ordinary things.
"I get a lot of stuff out of the everyday, and I get a lot out of weird stuff, too," he said. "I don’t want it to be that people can figure out where I’m coming from. I’ll do a couple of autobiographical things and then I’ll do something that’s absurd."
His bit about royal families having to tell guests to jiggle the toilet handles in Jerry Seinfeld’s "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee" is a perfect example of the comedian’s blending of the odd and commonplace into the hilarious.
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But that episode wasn’t his only passing with Seinfeld. Old comedy friends out of New York, the two have supported each other since before Seinfeld had his sitcom.
"Now he’s backing a TV show that I’m doing for Netflix, so it’s been great," Regan said. "I’ve been honored that he likes my stuff."
That special, "Stand Up and Away with Brian Regan," comes out on Christmas Day. While the streaming service has worked to become a leader in offering comedy specials and shows to viewers, Regan said it’s slightly changed the comedy game.
"Now, they’ve opened the door for a lot of people," he said. "That’s not bad, it’s just different. But because of that, there’s so much content out there.
"They had researchers that went down into the Amazon jungle looking for seldom-contacted humans. They found this tribe, and there’s one guy who does not have a Netflix special."
That special and the standup tour seem like a full plate, but Regan’s also delved into TV.
Cast in the dark comedy TV series Loudermilk, he plays "Mugsy," a character dealing with substance abuse,
"I’ve really enjoyed this challenge of wearing the actor’s hat and seeing what I can do with it," Regan said. "I’ve been having a good time."
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That good time has been a constant throughout his 30+ year career.
"There’s a room full of people who have a ticket with my name on it, and they want to see and share these silly thoughts that I have," Regan said. "I never take it for granted and every night remind myself of how wonderful that is."
What:Brian Regan
Where: Mayo Civic Center, 30 Civic Center Dr. SE, Rochester
When:8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9
Cost:$42-$47.50
