The Comedians of Comedy Tour takes the stage at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater on Tuesday, Nov. 6. The tour showcases Maria Bamford, Brian Posehn, Doug Benson and Patton Oswalt. Oswalt, who dreamed up the tour, talked to WEEKEND about the show, the movie "Ratatouille" and humored us with a fun little game of word association.
\nWEEKEND: What prompted you to create the Comedians of Comedy Tour?\nPatton Oswalt: I wanted to bring comedy to more free-form performance bases and younger crowds without a two-drink minimum or an age limit. We have terrific fans, real connoisseurs of stand-up, so they are really fun to perform for.
W: How long are the sets going to be?\nP.O.: Probably 25, 30 minutes apiece. It's going to be like they always are: pretty fun and pretty loose.
W: What's the camaraderie like on tour? Do you guys travel around on the same bus or what? \nP.O.: We travel in a van together. We've been friends for a while, so it's kind of loose. We know how to leave each (other) alone when we need to, so it's nice.
W: Bloomington is a college town. I know you went to a small liberal arts college. How would you describe your college experience? \nP.O.: It was OK. By the time junior year rolled around, I really knew what I wanted to with my life, so it was kind of hard to stay even though I did finish out my four years. But the last years were kind of wasted; I wasn't really that focused on it anymore.
W: What did you get a degree in? \nP.O.: I majored in English -- English Lit.
W: So this last summer you played the voice of Remy in the Pixar movie "Ratatouille." How has your fan base changed since then? \nP.O.: It hasn't. It's the same fans I've always had. It wasn't a movie for kids; it was a movie for adults with kids' stuff in it. And most parents are smart enough to know, don't bring kids to my show. They are not that dumb. It's not like I am suddenly going to do G-rated material.
W: The kids wouldn't recognize your face anyway. What did you think of Doug Benson's brief stint as a reality-show superstar (on Last Comic Standing)? \nP.O.: I thought it was great. He's a good friend of mine. He was really funny on a really awful show.
