Quick Six Interview: Tim Heidecker
You can’t pin down Tim Heidecker, unless maybe that’s his private thing. Comedian, musician, creator of “Steve Manahan’s Child Clown Outlet”, portrayer of a condiment-abusing dad in the Dinosaur Jr video for “Watch the Corners”, Heidecker is possibly best known as half of “Tim and Eric” (insert: ‘s Awesome Show or ‘s Billion Dollar Movie after that), but being 50% of a subversive comedy act is no small feat and can lead to wonderful things – just ask Al Franken. One thing we can note that hasn’t been accomplished to date is doing UK standup shows. That changes August 21, when Heidecker joins occasional co-star Nick Hamburger (a creation of comedian Gregg Turkington) to go live at London’s Soho Theatre.
Like Tim, PCB cut their teeth years ago on Adult Swim’s Tom Goes to the Mayor, so we are very excited to see what he brings to a London audience. Hope we get a plus one; our good friend Herman Cain is in town that week to party and we are sure the Pizza King will love Heidecker’s show.
Tim Heidecker took time to do our Quick Six Interview:
What has inspired you recently?
Hamburger and Heidecker
The greatest show on earth right now is Trump and his parade of clowns. Every day is an exciting new chapter in ineptitude, absurdity and surrealism. His words and actions will inspire and influence years and years of comedy.
What do you do when you aren’t actively writing for, or rehearsing for a show?
Stare. At. Wall.
When was the first time you officially performed for someone outside your friends or family?
In first grade I played Lawrence Welk at a talent show and destroyed.
What would you for a living if you weren’t doing comedy?
Well, I’d be a struggling musician/ songwriter so therefore I’d have a job; any job I guess – Some kind of data entry or perhaps a waiter/barista.
Describe your favourite place to perform? Does it exist?
There are a few places. The Satellite in Los Angeles – the stage feels like home. The Vic in Chicago, The Pabst Theater in Milwaukee, mostly because of the record collection backstage.
What’s always funny?
Failure.
If a movie was made about your life, who would you want to play you? And who would actually be cast?
I play myself best, but they’d go with Kevin Farley.
What’s next for you?
I have some stuff in the oven, writing some stuff, acting in some stuff… The On Cinema/Decker train keeping rolling… We’ll see. I never thought I’d still be doing this and it’s a goddamn honor every single day.
Tim Heidecker and Neil Hamburger play the Soho Theatre August 21- September 2, 2017
Follow Tim and his alter ego Jack Decker (CIA) on Twitter at @timheidecker
THE QUICK SIX: POP CULTURE BEAST LETS ARTISTS CHOOSE FROM OUR STANDARD TEN QUESTIONS – WE LET THEM TELL US WHAT THEY’D LIKE YOU TO KNOW. (SOMETIMES THEY ANSWER MORE THAN SIX, WHO ARE WE TO SAY NO?)
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A former ABC National, Dallas and Atlanta radio personality, Martina O'Boyle is now making movies and covering culture in London, Dublin, and as far in Europe as the cheapie flights will take her, for Pop Culture Beast.