Garrett at 50: 'There's nothing golden about the golden years'
I'm going down memory lane with Brad Garrett, the Emmy Award-winning ("Everybody Loves Raymond") actor and comedian who will bring his act to the Paramount Theatre in Aurora on Saturday, Sept. 25.
It's been five years since I last interviewed Garrett on the telephone to discuss his comedy and career, and some things never change.
Garrett still looks the same - 6 feet 8 1/2 inches tall with protruding, fried-egg eyes that can send an audience into fits of laughter with one glance.
And his three Emmy Awards are still whizzing by him at his home, courtesy of his daughter and her Barbie Dream Car.
"They are all over the place," Garrett said of his Emmys. "But seeing them zipping around keeps me humble."
Yet, some things do change.
Garrett, who turned 50 in April, took time to talk about his upcoming show at the Paramount, his philosophy of life, and how he is fulfilling a dream with his newest comedy endeavor.
Q. Tell us about your stand-up show at the Paramount on Saturday. A. It's not for the fainthearted. If you are sitting in the front row, you have to have a tough spine. Don't be pregnant or have any heart problems. Many times "Raymond" fans will come to my show, thinking they are coming to see Robert (Garrett's character). Robert is in me, but he couldn't be farther away from my stand-up act. I have a slanted view of life, so my comedy is acerbic and adult oriented. It's a roller coaster, Laura! And I'll be happy to give anyone a refund after the show. I'll give it to them personally.Q. What's funny in the world of stand-up comedy today? A. I have a different type of view of what I think is funny - I'm a 50-year-old father who is divorced. I push the envelope a lot. I work with the audience to make them part of the show. I've never been a good political comedian. I don't find politics funny. To me, it's the root of all evil. I prefer to laugh at someone like me - a 50-year-old man in a midlife crisis.Q. You opened Brad Garrett's Comedy Club in the Tropicana Resort and Casino in Las Vegas in June. What inspired you to open the club?A. I started working in Vegas years ago, opening for people like Frank Sinatra. My heart is in that town. I love that town. My dream was to have a comedy club with that old-Vegas vibe. My club is old school, with the big black leather booths and a 45-foot curtain. It's one of the biggest comedy stages in Vegas, with seating for 290 people. I hire the comics who perform there, and I perform there myself, six to seven times a month. The other night I just showed up and started seating people. I'm having the time of my life.Q. People probably most often associate you with your character Robert Barone from "Everybody Loves Raymond." Do you keep in touch with Ray Romano and the other "Raymond" cast members? A. Ray and I have a very unique friendship. What I love about Ray is that after becoming the highest paid TV star in history, he has not changed one bit. Ray and I are huge poker players, and we have a home poker game once a month - we switch houses. Doris (Roberts, who played Marie Barone) and I keep in touch. She is a wonderful gal. And Patty (Heaton) turns up once in awhile. It's not like we are all having Sunday brunch every week. But there is definitely a very soft spot in my heart for all of these great people. And "Raymond" was a great time in my life.Q. When you're not working, what are your interests?A. Well, I love being a dad more than anything. And I'm in an amazing relationship. I'm in love with a woman I met when I went back east. She was running an art gallery. I'm a museum junkie. And I'm also teaching a sitcom acting class at the Edgewater Theater Institute in Santa Monica.Q. You turned 50 years young in April of this year - do you have a 50-year philosophy of life?A. My philosophy is that there is nothing golden about the golden years of life. And there are no pockets in heaven. Enjoy it now. You don't ever hear anyone saying, "I'd love to relive my 60s." I also say that you should date a woman half your age. The other day I was reading "AARP," and she was reading "Highlights."Q. On a "serious" note, I'm sure your fans are wondering about your thoughts on turning the American economy around. Do you have any "serious" advice for our nation?A. We should just print more money.Brad GarrettWhen: 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 25Where: The Paramount Theatre at 23 E. Galena Blvd., AuroraTickets: $39.50More information: Show is Rated R and not suitable for youth or more sensitive individuals. (630) 896-6666 or visit paramountaurora.com.