Ranked 17th on Rolling Stone's list of the 50 best stand-up comics of all time, Bill Burr brings his trademark humor back to his home state of Massachusetts.
MGM Springfield will bring to the MassMutual Center in downtown Springfield on Thursday, Oct. 4, at 8 p.m. The comedian plays TD Garden in Boston the following night.
For Burr, the laughs begin on the 50-year-old Canton native's website with his "official" bio which reads in part:
"I was born a freckled child in a land far away during a much simpler time. I did well in school until it counted. As a freshman in High School I had dreams of going to Notre Dame and becoming a lawyer. By the time I was sophomore I was taking shop class and was considering getting into construction. I ended up working in warehousing and unloading trucks. Other than stand up, that job was the most fun I ever had. I am now a stand up comedian. I do a couple hundred shows a year. And I enjoy the travel."
Today, Burr has a number of comedy specials behind him that have run on
Nextflix, Comedy Central and other networks, including "Walk Your Way Out," "Why Do I Do This," "Let It Go," "You People Are All The Same" and "I'm Sorry You Feel That Way." He also has a podcast that runs each week called The Monday Morning Podcast.
The comedian has appeared on the small screen on such television shows as "Breaking Bad" as Patrick Kuby and he created and stars in the Netflix animated sitcom "F Is for Family." On the silver screen, he as appeared in such movies as "Date Night" with Steve Carell and Tina Fey and the buddy cop film "The Heat" with Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy.
Burr took time out for his touring schedule to answer a few questions for The Republican, adding in some laughs along the way.
What was it like growing up in Canton?
It was great, a simple time. Football. Cars. Paper route. Street hockey. No Internet. Vietnam was over. It was a nice little window in time.
You are a graduate of Emerson College in Boston. What was your major?
I don't remember.....math.....communications. (It was really a bachelor's degree in radio)
When did you realize that you were funny?
I was shy and reserved as a child, not outgoing at all until I got to know somebody, then I let the comedy out. I made friends by making people laugh and used it as a way to keep bigger kids from deciding to pick on me.
I transferred to Emerson College and my whole time there was about coming out of my shell. I took classes that involved me getting up in front of people. I was also an on-air disk jockey. It was cool to get in front of a microphone and talk to people who were not there. Then, on March 2, 1992, I signed up for Boston's Funniest College Student, a talent contest at Nick's Comedy Stop. It was just a way to get college students to to spend money and buy booze. But I'm glad they did it because it gave me my start.
What comedians inspired you on your journey to becoming a stand-up?
Early on it was Richard Pryor and George Carlin and Rodney Dangerfield. Then there's all those guys like Sam Kinison, Andrew Dice Clay, Seinfeld, and, of course, Eddie Murphy. I saw Eddie on his Raw Tour at Great Woods. We had lawn seats and I remember watching him on the monitor, this little guy in a purple matador suit. And even then when I saw him,I didn't know it would be possible to become a comedian, it seemed so far away.
When did you feel you had finally "arrived" in the comedy world?
When I bought a house in 2011 at age 43.
So many comedians today are using social media and podcasts as an additional outlet for their comedy. Do you think it is necessary for your survival?
I never make a decision based on what others do. You should follow your gut. If you are doing something that you are supposed to be doing in life, all you need to do is follow your heart and everything works itself out.
What's it like being the father of a one-year-old now?
I absolutely love it....it lives up to all the hype. Having a kid is like having a puppy you can talk to.