TELL ME
A little Q&A
Published: November 20, 2009, 12:30 am
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S TEVE WILSON has wanted to make people laugh since he was a kid. He left Buffalo when he was about 19, honing his skills in Los Angeles at comedy clubs, as well as TV shows like Comedy Central’s “Live at Gotham,” and BET’s “Comic View,” “One Night Stand” and “Showtime at the Apollo.” He recently moved to New York City to co-host a radio show with his longtime pal, comedian
D. L Hughley. Wilson returns home for two gigs—10:30 p. m. next Friday and Nov. 28 in Merge Restaurant (439 Delaware Ave.; www.MergeBuffalo.com;www.chetwild.com ). Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door. Despite having a cold (“I live in New York now, not L. A., so I’m getting sick,” he says), Wilson took time to chat over the phone. When did you know you wanted to be a comedian?
Since I was 8. So I’m very blessed to be able to do this. One time my aunt was baby-sitting me and Richard Pryor had this comedy movie out. They snuck me into a theater to watch it. I remember watching all of these people cry laughing. I thought it was cool and I wanted to make people laugh. I want to make my aunties laugh like that.
You grew up with a house full of women.How does that affect your show?
It affects my comedy and my life. I understand women very well—let me take that back, I know how to work around you, I’ll never understand you creatures.
What has changed about your routine through the years?
The funny thing about it is that it’s evolved back to when I started—when I talked about my family and my mother being a social worker. I talked about how she came home stressed and all the stuff she saw in the world. I made jokes about that —which is what I do now 22 years later. It all comes back.
What’s it like working with D. L. Hughley?
It’s the best gig, the best time I had in my life. Right now we’re on in New York City, but we’re going to be syndicated. In New York City, I get a lot of love now. I can pretty much walk into any comedy club and walk right in.
What has kept you going through all these years?
The fact that I can’t do anything else. I really adore what I do—when you walk on the stage and give it your all and tell your personal stuff. Even though you sound like a broken record when someone says ‘I love your show’ and I say ‘thank you,’ I really mean it. There are things people say to you that you’ll never ever forget.
Are you looking forward to returning home?
Yes. But I always bring the snow. I can come home in August and there’s a freak ice storm.
Will you be making fun of Buffalo in your upcoming shows?
I never pick on Buffalo. I am a Sabres fan and a Bills fan— which is the worst thing in the world. They say they’re gonna change, but I keep going back. I go back every year like a damn fool. I tell everyone who knows me we’re going to the Super Bowl.
—Toni Ruberto
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