Greg Fitzsimmons [Interview]

Hello, Folks! And welcome back to another week in this crazy world, which I hope is finding you all at least a bit cheerful. If not, let us rectify that a bit. Today we have some brilliant words from one of the most legendary figures in the world of comedy. Yes, we have had dozens upon dozens of very hilarious people grace our digital pages over the years. But, if I were to toot my own proverbial horn for just a moment….I’d say we have have outdone our damn selves this time. Or we just got lucky. Either way, we have the incredible Greg Fitzsimmons with us today!

Greg has been bringing on the laughter to live audiences for over 25 years. He is also a writer who has written on just about every damn show you love. In fact, it was almost to difficult to make questions for him, as I wanted to ask about every damn project he has ever worked on. And (maybe, unfortunately?) I managed to be a damn fool and ask about one that was actually cancelled. But, fuck it. Crashing was lovely, and I shan’t regret it. Although I will say that it all but got me into the idea of moving this format to a streaming way of life or something to afford the opportunity to talk with Greg more. But, that’s neither here nor there.

Obviously you can’t catch Greg on the road right now. But thankfully he has been in deep in the podcast game for a very, very, long time. His show Fitzdog Radio just hit 856 episodes. Yes, you read that right. 856! You’ve got some catching up to do, Folks. His guest have included everyone you love. Seriously, all of them. Including some fine folks we have had here at TWS including Greg Proops, Jen Kirkman, Martha Kelly, and so many more. Like I said, he has been at it forever. And he has a couple of new podcasts to share with you all as well!

So Folks, allow me to politely stfu and share with you all some wonderful words from the brilliant Greg Fitzsimmons!

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When did you first discover that you were a hilarious human being and that you wanted to make people laugh for a living?

I stole the microphone at a swim team awards ceremony when I was about 9 years old. I did a big speech making fun of the coach and my parents and killed. It was over.

What was your first paid gig in comedy? And were there any sort of lessons learned from this experience that still affects your work to date?

Barnabys in New Hampshire. I was paid $10 to drive about 90 minutes and do 10 minutes opening for Mike Donovan. I still have that bill in a photo album in my room. Learned that I could get paid and that it didn’t matter how much when I first started. It mattered that I had made progress and it was addictive. I kept wanting to get to the next level for about 25 years. The last five I’m just where I want to be. Balance has been achieved.

We always like to ask touring comedians (back when that was a thing) about the performing in the “fly over states”. I am curious to know what some places happen to be wonderful for comedy that some people may not expect? In your experience, where do you love to perform the most?

The further away the better. Fargo ND was one of the most fun shows I’ve ever done. I was snowed in at a college and we decided to add another show because we couldn’t fit everybody.

I was pretty bummed when the HBO series Crashing was criminally cut short, but still remain grateful that it was ever put out into the world. You worked extensively on the show as a writer and producer, and are credited on some of favorite episodes. So, what was it that drew you to work on the show?

I’d known Pete and Judd Apatow for a while and they just approached me at a comedy club and asked me if I was interested. I started 2 days later. I love writing on shows that are built around a comedian because they know what they want and you speak the same language

Another question that we always like to ask our statue holding guest is this: Where do you keep your Emmy’s? And does their physical location hold any sort of significance to you personally?

I have 3 in my office way up on a top shelf where they are rarely seen. The other is in my mother’s house in Florida. She holds it when she watches the Emmys every year. I don’t have the heart to tell her it is a Daytime Emmy. Let her drink and enjoy

If you were handed the opportunity to put out a series, with a limitless budget, about any legendary figure in American history, who would it be?

Lyndon B Johnson. I have read all four of the Robert Caro biographies on him and he is a true badass. He used to sit on the toilet while meeting with foreign dignitaries. A real Texan who pulled coalitions together in the senate that were brilliantly orchestrated. Stayed with JFK’s civil rights act knowing it was somebody else’s project and he wouldn’t get sole credit. That is rare in modern politics. He was deeply flawed but had conviction.

Can you tell us a bit about your podcast you co-host alongside the great Alison Rosin known as Childish. How did the concept for the show develop, and how has the experience been thus far?

I did not want to do it. I didn’t think I could take on the extra responsibility. Took Alison a year to convince me but now that we are doing it I look forward to talking to her for an hour every week. She is a joy and so talented.

What does the future hold for you? Anything you would like to plug to our readers?

I started a 3rd podcast when the pandemic started called Sunday Papers. It is a weekly roundup of the news that we read section by section out of the Sunday paper. I do it with Mike Gibbons who is my best friend and has created or run shows like Tosh.O, The Great Indoors, Sports Show with Norm McDonald, The Burn w. Jeff Ross, Showbiz Show w/ David Spade and Between 2 Ferns.

What was the last thing that made you smile?

I am a 54 year old man who is addicted to TikTok. Cannot get enough of fat people falling down and rednecks totaling dirt bikes. It is like AFV without the annoying host from Fresh Prince of Bel Air.

To check out Greg’s three wonderful podcasts, and to see where he is on the road once the world is seeing straight again, visit GREGFITZSIMMONS.COM