As a sports anchor and morning-show personality, you’ve spent years bringing energy, humor, and good news into people’s homes. How do you manage the expectation of showing up with a smile and a positive attitude when your personal life may be emotionally overwhelming?
I don’t try to. Admittedly, I’m very lucky to be on a show where showing up pissed off some days adds to the overall charm of the show. But trying to fake it requires too much energy. That’s not to say you come in and take it out on other people and don’t do your job well. But some days, you don’t have to be the life of the party. Sometimes, you just have to be the guy who comes to the party, drops off a bottle of wine, and calls it a night.
You’ve built a reputation as one of Chicago’s leading headlining comedians, performing roughly 100 shows a year. What role does comedy play in your own wellness?
Oh, that depends on the day you’re asking me. Sometimes it’s just one more obligation on top of many others. But most of the time, it’s the pursuit of a passion, a release, a distraction. Of course, it also depends on how the show goes. There are some shows that make you question every decision you’ve made in your life.