In some ways, is the most representative comedian in America.
The Philadelphia native has seen his industry rise and fall over the decades, starting his career during the 1980s stand-up boom (and subsequent bust) before carving a spot on the national touring circuit during the ’90s.
Like dozens of others, he’s had his own special on Comedy Central, and spent time on NBC’s pervasive and several late-night talk shows. He was an early adopter of podcasting, which has been a boon for comics everywhere, and he continues to open for the boldface names of the current stand-up renaissance, from to .
He’s also had his fair share of drama, collapsing backstage in L.A. in 2010 after suffering a heart attack (due to bad genetics) and coming out as gay on Marc Maron’s wildly popular in January (inspired by the wave of gay teen suicides).
So where to go from here? We caught up with Glass via phone recently before his headlining sets at this weekend.
Q: Do you feel like you’re starting to get better-known on your own, between opening for big names and all the publicity from the “WTF” podcast?
A: Whether it’s at its high or low doesn’t really affect me that much. I’ve always consistently worked, and new social media has definitely been great. I’ve said this a million times when people complain about social media too much: I compare it in a silly way to a knife. Yeah, we can get rid of knives because they can cut and stab and kill people, but they also operate on people. Same with the podcast. I really don’t get people that make fun of podcasts.
Q: Perhaps because they’re everywhere these days?
A: Podcasts are like stand-up in that they’re another vehicle that can be 100 percent pure. Stand-up is great because it’s out of a comedian’s mouth and straight to your ear. Podcasts are basically radio, and they’ve made radio as pure as stand-up for comedians. It’s that simple.
Q: You just passed the 40-episode mark on your own podcast, “The Todd Glass Show,” which is part of the . How much longer do you think you’ll keep doing it?
A: I’m going to just keep doing it because I’m constantly learning and growing. It’s like starting stand-up in the beginning. You have shows where you doubt yourself and hope you’re going in the right direction. I give myself the same advice I was given by other comics when I started: There’s not a lot to learn, there’s not a lot to really think about. Just keeping doing it and you’re going to get better.
Q: Who are your favorite guests? Who would you like to have on that you haven’t yet?
A: I’m not pitting them against each other, one being better than another. But my favorite guests are definitely when I’m serious and silly and they take that roller-coaster ride naturally. People like , and Rory Scovel. High-profile guests are a treat but not something I need, because then I couldn’t enjoy myself if every week I had to book them. I’d like to have Patton Oswalt, Judd Apatow and Jon Hamm, but I just want it to happen. I want to love doing it and just represent purity. We walk in there, we turn the mics on, that’s it!
John Wenzel: 303-954-1642 or jwenzel@denverpost.com
TODD GLASS. Stand-up comedy. 7:15 and 9:45 p.m. today-Saturday, Comedy Works South, 5345 Landmark Place in Greenwood Village. $23, 720-274-6800 or
