Doug Benson
Doug Benson has been recording one album on April 20 each year since 2008, so it comes as no surprise that most conversations with him turn into discussions about marijuana. The self-proclaimed pothead—and, who are we joking, even if he wasn’t self-proclaimed, certain aspects of his persona would make it obvious—has starred in a number of weed-centric projects, including the stage-based Marijuana-Logues with fellow comedians Arj Barker and Tony Camin, as well as the 2008 Morgan Spurlock-esque Super High Me, which featured Benson abstaining from his choice drug for 30 days, and then partaking in several-times-daily toke sessions for the second 30 days. Benson’s latest album, Potty Mouth— recorded last April 20, naturally—will be released August 30. Ahead of his three-day run at Acme Comedy Club, which begins August 16, we chatted with the comedian about his reputation as a pothead, his nerves, and strippers.
The A.V. Club: What would happen if we didn’t ask you about pot?
Doug Benson: It would be my first interview in a long time where that subject didn’t come up.
AVC: Do you ever feel like your career is being defined by this substance you happen to enjoy?
DB: Yeah, but I don’t mind. There are much worse things to be given by strangers after my shows. I wouldn’t have called my new record Potty Mouth if I was concerned about being pigeon-holed. It comes out August 30th, by the way.
AVC: When you first started talking a lot about pot, did you expect that to sort of become what you were known for? What did you expect out of a career in comedy?
DB: I expected nothing from a career in comedy. I just hoped that I could have a career in comedy. And I started talking about weed on stage because my act became more personal, and it’s a pretty big part of my life. Turns out it’s a subject that most people can relate to, everyone has or knows someone who does it. So the laughs I got from talking about that aspect of my life definitely encouraged me.
AVC: Okay, we’re obviously talking about pot now. We might as well Wikipedia fact-check. You’ve been releasing an album every year, and Wikipedia says you record each of these albums on 4/20. Is that true?
DB: That is true. It’s the one night each year that I can be sure that I’ll get a good crowd. Two good crowds, actually. Then we pick the best show to put out as an album, or cherry pick the best moments from each.
AVC: Do you get nervous before these shows? Or does weed help with that?
DB: I get nervous that there will be too much audience interaction. I like some give and take with the crowds at my shows, but when I’m recording an album, a little of that goes a long way. The listener doesn’t want to hear my bits being constantly derailed by a rowdy crowd. I had to ask a table of people who would not stop talking amongst themselves to leave during one of the 4/20 shows this year. That didn’t make it on the album. It was dramatic, but not particularly funny, which is what you go for on a comedy album. Although it was pretty funny when one of the ejectees yelled out as they were leaving, “Fuck YOU, Doug Benson!” That’s what I should’ve called the album.
AVC: You put out a lot of albums. How do you see them evolving over the course of your career?
DB: Each one represents a year of doing stand-up. On April 21st each year, I start writing material for the next album. Not sure how much changing or evolving goes on from CD to CD, because I try not to pay attention to that sort of thing. The first album, Professional Humoredian, might be the best one, because I had been doing stand-up for two decades before finally making an album.
AVC: How do you see your material evolve during the year?
DB: I just start trying out new bits after the album comes out at the end of summer. Then the bits get longer and longer through the winter. I usually have a new 45 minutes by around January or February, then I spend the next few months on the road repeating it, adding to it, and tweaking it until I have to record it on April 20.
AVC: Don’t you think you’re ruining stoner stereotypes for everyone by having such a large output?
DB: I’m doing my best! I think everyone smokes weed or knows someone who does. It really shouldn’t be a big deal. Potheads are great audience members. They don’t heckle, unless it’s something enthusiastic and friendly.
AVC: It seems like, when you’re talking about movies or pop culture, you have a pretty good memory for details. That also goes against popular stereotypes about stoners.
DB: It sure does! I think everyone has their own personal reaction to marijuana, and before using it, they should consult with their physician.
AVC: You have a lot going on. Do you spend a lot of time mulling over your creative work, refining and stressing about details and the big picture, or do you just kind of let your work exist, and push it out into the world to see what sticks?
DB: The second one. I like improvising. I prepare for my podcasts and stand-up, write out a game plan, but then when I’m on stage, I just go with whatever seems to be working. If I go off on a ridiculous tangent that doesn’t make the audience laugh, I know I can go back to the planned stuff.
AVC: What gives you the confidence to be able to go out there and wing it?
DB: The people who paid to see me give me that confidence. If you’ve seen my Comedy Central shows, Super High Me, my run on Last Comic Standing, or if you’ve listened to my podcasts or read my Twitter feed, and then buy a ticket to one of my shows, you’ll get what you expect, or close to it. Me being me. If you’re not into that, don’t pay to see me.
AVC: People in show business have to be kind of aggressive to get where they are. You don’t seem like you’d be that aggressive. Are you secretly very pushy, Type A, and obsessed with the next thing?
DB: I’m super pushy and obsessive. Which is one of the reasons I like weed, it calms me the fuck down. But high or not, I’m a total control freak.
AVC: Really? Can you give us some real-life examples?
DB: Poker games. If you wanna sit and shoot the shit and not pay attention when drinking and playing with your buddies, don’t invite me. I like joking around, but I’m there to play cards. I want the game to move, and am the first to complain when it doesn’t. And if you’ve heard me play The Leonard Maltin Game on my podcast, you know how bossy I can be.
AVC: You didn’t smoke weed until your late-20s, right? Were you generally anxious before then? How has your life changed?
DB: Yeah, I think I would’ve been a mellower person my whole life if I had found weed earlier. My life is definitely better than it was in my early 20s. But then again, if I found weed in my early 20s, I would’ve been broke all the time.
AVC: It seems like you’ve been friends with a lot of other successful comedians since before they were widely known. Did you all find success together, or would you say that you all just independently became more notable?
DB: I guess we help each other. But sometimes, someone just takes off because of one thing that they did. For instance, I had nothing to do with Zach Galifianakis being in The Hangover. And that’s what made him very famous, not being on my podcast.
AVC: Are most of your good friends comedians? Do you ever feel trapped in this environment? Or is that where you feel most comfortable?
DB: I think Patton Oswalt once said, and I’m paraphrasing, “Having comedians for friends is the best life you can live.” And I agree. Getting to hang out with other comedians is one of the best perks of the profession.
AVC: Why’s that?
DB: Because they always have opinions about everything and complaints about everything, but they put a funny spin on it. Comedians laugh our asses off when we get together. Especially the ones who smoke pot.
AVC: Is it stressful to essentially be paid for your personality? Does it make it harder to be yourself?
DB: The trick to being yourself is to never think about it. So thanks for bringing it up.
AVC: Have you ever gone through a period in your life where you were concerned about this?
DB: No, I really don’t dwell on it. So drop it or I’ll make you play poker with me.
