This Saturday night, March 20th, Minglewood Hall brings well-known comedian/writer/actor Paul F. Tompkins back to town for two shows in the intimate 1884 Lounge.
Tompkins is perhaps best known as the former host of VH1’s Best Week Ever (canceled by the network in late 2009), but his list of credits includes Mr. Show with Bob and David, where he served as a writer and performer, multiple HBO and Comedy Central stand-up specials, and most recently, MSNBC’s Countdown with Keith Olberman, where he is an occasional correspondent/contributor. His second stand-up comedy album, Freak Wharf, was also released in late 2009. Tompkins spoke to the Memphis Flyer last week via email.
The Memphis Flyer: Your new album features a lot of improvisation. Is that a regular part of your live show now?
Paul F. Tompkins: Yeah, I definitely improvise a lot more now. It’s not so much that the prepared material isn’t still fun to do, it’s just that I’ve heard it before! There really is nothing like the tightrope feeling that stream-of-consciousness comedy provides. And when the audience realizes that’s what’s going on, when they’re on the same page, it’s just exhilarating.