By Gregg Shapiro
When it comes to comedy, everyone has their own ideas about what is or isn’t funny. Things that make you laugh might have the opposite effect on someone else. In the ongoing evolution of stand-up comedy, the presence of LGBTQ+ comics continues to increase at a fast pace. While lesbian comedians have long dominated, gay male comics are making their presence felt, with Matteo Lane being, far and
away, the best. Lane, who combines Midwestern and European influences in his material, has a
distinctive delivery style that often has audience members struggling to catch their breath between jokes and laughs. It also helps that he’s easy on the eyes, very handsome with a hot gym body! Matteo was kind enough to make time for an interview in advance of his upcoming comedy tour. [Matteo
Lane performs at the Pabst Theater in Milwaukee 10/10.]
Gregg Shapiro: Matteo, I had the pleasure of interviewing you for the first time in 2017 in advance of your performance at the Dania Beach Casino.
Matteo Lane: I think I remember that. I wasn't headlining, right? Was I opening for someone else?
GS: Someone else who was not very funny.
ML: OK, now I remember, Sam Jay and I were both opening for… [laughs] yeah, I remember that.
GS: Since then, your social media and online presence have increased greatly. How important is it to you to maintain that?
ML: I don't know that I think about it in terms of maintaining it so much as it's nice to reach out and have people reach back. It's also a great way of letting people know that I'm on tour, so they get to
see what I work on all the time, which is stand-up. I don't think I've ever thought about it that
way, as maintaining. I just think of it more as a great opportunity to express yourself and have people enjoy it.
GS: Your conversations with comedians are inspired and hilarious, and the ones with Jessica Kirson are a particular favorite of mine.
ML: I love Jessica!
GS: That face! Are you having as much fun as you appear to be having?
ML: [Laughs] Yes! What do you take me for? I wouldn't be doing it if I wasn't enjoying it [laughs]. It's not like it’s MGM in 1935 and I have to pretend with Mickey Rooney that I’m having a good time. I'm choosing to do this!
GS: Speaking of Mickey Rooney, do you know if Liza Minnelli is aware of your impression of her?
ML: I don't know. But I feel like I've been getting closer [laughs]. Now I'm at the point where I know close friends of hers. I don't even think she would be offended if she heard it. I think she's got tough skin. I think she would laugh, and probably ask me what I wanted for dinner. She seems nice. She has a memoir coming out, and at least 10 people texted me yesterday saying that I should do the audiobook.
GS: The way the audience becomes part of your shows has become something of a trademark
of yours.
ML: They actually haven't. It's a big misconception. It takes a really long time to write material. I do about 20 shows a week at The Comedy Cellar in New York, strictly working on material that I've been writing. Twice a year, just two times a year, I record my advice special where I just talk to the audience because it's fun and it is a skill that I have. But it allows me to also use that in place of material that I need to build for a special in the meantime. When you come to see me live in a giant theater, I
don't do any talking to the audience. It’s all well-prepared, well written material. It is a bit of a misconception. I understand where people would get that impression. Probably 11 months out of the year I'm consistently working on new jokes, crafting them, redoing them, practicing them over and over until they're ready for the road. When I'm on the road, I practice them and practice them until it's
ready for a special so thatit's a fully ready, well written special. I only do crowd work literally twice a
year.
GS: Your cooking videos continue to be as informative as they are entertaining. Could you foresee doing a cooking show on the Food Network or the Cooking Channel?
ML: I feel like at this point they would have asked me. It's always so strange when people see a special
night on YouTube andthey'll say, “Next time, Netflix!” I'm like, “But you’re watching it right
now, so what’s the difference?” If I'm on the Food Network or YouTube,
isn't it the same thing [laughs]? It's all an excuse to be funny. The cooking is
secondary because I'm using it as an excuse to be very comedy driven. The benefit of not doing it for
someone like the Food Network is I get to have full control and air it the way I like it.
GS: You own it.
ML: Yes. I guess it does look more official if it's on the Food Network, but I don't know, I'm enjoying it.
GS: I went to Emerson College in Boston, and I lived in the North End, kitty-corner from Bova’s Bakery, which at the time was open 24-hours. Did you have chance to stop in there when you were in the
North End shooting that video, or did you only go to Mike’s Pastry on Hanover Street?
ML: We went to Mike’s Pastry because everyone's like, “If you want cannoli, you’ve got to go to
Mike’s. I went in with my friend Francesco (De Carlo) from Rome and my friend Amina Imani. They
were speaking Italian to us; they gave us the cannoli for free. They were so sweet about it. It was a
great experience. It's a nice little street in Boston. I enjoyed it.
GS: The Asia and Chris DeBurgh tour t-shirt you’re wearing in the wonderful cooking video with your mom and your aunt made me wonder who are some of your favorite musical acts?
ML: I promise you those shirts I wear, I wear them just because they fit well [laughs]. Someone was like, “Are you a huge AC/DC fan?” I go, “What? No, I listen to Bill Evans Trio and Maria Callas.” If it fits well, that's all I care about. I didn't even know what was on the shirt, to be honest with you. I guess I should pay more attention to it.
GS: What can you tell the readers about your colorful ink which is very visible in that video?
ML: I have three tattoos now, all of which I've designed. One is Maria Callas, one is Poison Ivy
from “Batman,” and then other side is Storm from “X-Men: The Animated Series.”
GS: You are also known for your shopping videos, such as the ones at Trader Joe’s and Mall of America. Do you enjoy in-person shopping as much as you enjoy poking fun at it, or would you rather make all your purchases online?
ML: I'm on a plane and in
hotels most of my life. So,
when I'm home in New
York, the last thing I want
to do is go shopping.
Sometimes I'll go to thrift
stores if I'm on the road. A
comedian friend of mine
and I will go to thrift stores.
Usually, I'll just order
online. I don't have that
much stuff. Besides
furniture that I've ordered
online, it's basically
groceries and that's about
it.
GS: Do you think you
might have a cookbook
or memoir, or a
combination of both, in you?
ML: I think that's definitely possible in the future.
GS: When you do a hometown show in Chicago, what do you like
best about it?
ML: When I go home to Chicago, it's great, because all 31 of my cousins come to the show. I get to go to my Aunt Cindy's house for Sunday sauce. It's always a good time. I go see my grandparents. By the way, I talk to them every day. It's not like it's some family reunion. I talk to them all the time, but it's always nice to go home to Chicago and see my family.
GS: You’re going to be performing at the Broward Center in Fort Lauderdale in September. Our deplorable governor has gone out of his way to make life difficult for the LGBTQ+ community here. Is
there anything you would like to say to him?
ML: I think he needs to mind his own business. I think we can take that night as a great celebration of
how strong our community is. Let's just use this as an opportunity to show how strong we are and how
we can also laugh at ourselves and have a good time. We can still celebrate life in the face of
adversity.
תגובות