+3 Interview: Christian Finnegan: My Goodness

Posted in EdFestivals 2018, Plus 3 2018 – Features, Written Interviews by

“When I tell New York comedians I’m doing Fringe, they react with a mix of confusion and fear.”

WHO: Christian Finnegan, Writer/performer

WHAT: “Christian Finnegan is a stand-up comedian, exploring what it means to be a passable human being in 2018. Perhaps best known as one of the original panelists on VH1’s Best Week Ever and as Chad, the only white roommate in Chappelle’s Show’s infamous Mad Real World sketch. He played Martin on the popular syndicated sitcom Are We There Yet? and politics junkies will recognize Christian from his many appearances on Countdown with Keith Olbermann. Most recently, Christian was the creator and co-host of A&E’s Black and White.”

WHERE: Gilded Balloon Teviot – Billiard Room (Venue 14)

WHEN: 20:45 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This is my first Fringe, so I’m excited and daunted in equal measure. When I tell New York comedians I’m doing Fringe, they react with a mix of confusion and fear—as if I’d said I was going to scale Kilimanjaro or wrestle a grizzly bear. But who knows how long it will be before America is locked down in some sort of police-state dystopia, so I figure the time is now!

Tell us about your show.

I’ve been a club comic here in the States for over 20 years, but MY GOODNESS has more meat on the bone than anything I’ve done in the past. The show took shape when I noticed that my standup material was starting to dance around a central theme–basically, “What does it mean to be a good person?” So I wrote some connective tissue stuff around the more polished material, added an interactive element, a bit of tech, etc. I’ve been workshopping the show in New York over the past few months and the training wheels are finally ready to come off.

What should your audience see at the festivals after they’ve seen your show?

I’m rooming with fellow American Myq Kaplan. I haven’t yet seen his show ALL KILLING ASIDE, but he’s known as one of New York’s best and most inventive comedians and he’s a fantastic person to boot.

Also, I once spent a month driving around Western Australia with Zoe Lyons as part of the MICF Roadshow, so I’m really looking forward to seeing ENTRY LEVEL HUMAN.

And one more: I think he’s only in town for four days, but everyone should make an effort to go see Judah Friedlander. World Champions only come along so often!

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