By Delia Paunescu
When Comedy Central’s Indecision ’08 tour came to the University this past Friday, headliner Greg Giraldo took a few minutes backstage before the show started. (We tried really hard to get a serious answer from the funnyman.) Here’s what he had to say:
The Chronicle: So, first I wanted to ask you about the Indecision ’08 tour.
Greg Giraldo: Too personal.
TC: How did you come to be involved with it.
GG: I got involved because they asked me to do it. “Well, it was a long process.”
TC: So what do you hope it accomplishes?
GG: I’m hoping it eases my AIDS a little bit. And it’s been working. There’s something about being out on the road with friends that makes me forget about it. So, that.
And his hair [points to Dan Levy] helps me out a little bit. Although his hair is making it come back a little bit. I can feel my T-Cells dropping. Don’t joke about AIDS, Greg. It’s a serious thing.
TC: You’ve had a lot of success with your single “Underwear Goes Inside the Pants,” and you had released an album with Comedy Central. Any plans to release anything anytime soon?
GG: Yeah, if I ever start writing again I’ll have a new one. But I have a lot of personal issues. I’m not always as prolific as I might be, so it’s going to take a while. But I do have probably a half hour. Probably by the end of the year, I’ll put something out.
TC: Half-hour on Comedy Central?
GG: No, I’ll do a new CD, maybe live. Maybe a DVD. That’s the one on video right?
TC: And I also read somewhere that you’re working on a pilot for NBC?
GG: No, I’ve done that. I mean, I’ve done a lot of those pilots that haven’t really gone anywhere. But now I’m doing a series for the IFC, Independent Film Channel. Ha-ha-ha. But
Dan Levy: I’m going to do an interview about this interview.
GG: Yeah, that’s Dan. Ask him what he felt about this interview?
Dan: So far, it’s not so good. But it might pick up. Talk about IFC some more.
GG: Well it’s a series for the Independent Film Channel where I play a record executive, and it’s really good.
TC: Since we’re on a college campus, I should ask about your time at Columbia and Harvard. What was your favorite part about college?
GG: I hate to keep bringing up the AIDS again. Uh, my favorite thing about college was, you know, the usual. Drinking, probably. Being away from my parents. Free care for when you got any kind of STD. You could go right to the health care thing. When you get older you have to go to a doctor. You know what I mean?
TC: Any thoughts about the elections and what’s going on right now?
GG: I think they’re going to happen. I think they’re going to have them. There’ll probably be an election. ’08, this year.
You know, I don’t really like politics. I don’t believe in the democratic process. I think it’s overrated. All this concern about voting is overrated. People shouldn’t vote if they don’t want to. And they should let the true sophisticates of society choose our leaders.
Like Simon from “American Idol.”
TC: So, what’s working with Lewis Black like?
GG: Lewis Black is an asshole! Put that in your thing.
[James Adomian, Bush impersonator does Lewis Black impression.]
GG to JA: Does anything ever get under your skin?
Announcer: The house is ready.
GG: Did it seem like I was being absent-minded, ’cause that’s just how I am.