Jeremy Hotz is known across the country (and beyond) for his “miserable” take on everything, from politics to dating. Having embarked on a number of tours, he’s released books, DVDs, and more. Now he’s gearing up for another cross-Canada set of stand-up dates (visit his website for a list of shows).
Here’s what he told CraveOnline readers about why he loves performing on stage solo and how he’s dealing with his new citizenship in the US.
CraveOnline: So you’re going on another tour… do you like doing tours in Canada?
Jeremy Hotz: I love it. I work a real free-form show and I can’t even remember my f*cking act (laughs). Fans know that even from city to city the show is different.
But it’s great for me – it’s my show so I don’t have to listen to anybody and I can say whatever the hell I want. In a TV or movie you have to read someone else’s crap, but I prefer being there alone on stage with a mic with no one behind me.
Plus I’m much better looking from far away. Come and see me but sit in the back.
Given you’re performing in your former town of Ottawa, do you have some friends or family attending?
My mother will be backstage hounding me about everything. She’s changed the number of tickets she needs 17 times. “These people want to come” and “These people can’t come,” and then you have to hear the whole story about why they can’t make it. And it always starts with “Remember Mrs. So-and-so,” but you don’t, but you say “yeah” because it’s your mom.
It’s funny – when I was a kid my mom used to say “Eat all your bread because when you’re older and go to jail all they have is bread and water.” What the hell? She never said how I’m going to get to jail. And I’m sure you can get peas and carrots in a jail somewhere. And she was wrong anyway – I’ve never been to jail.
And you’re now American? How does that feel?
I’m a dual citizen so I’m still Canadian. You become a dual citizen by proxy because both countries don’t identify the other’s passport. I got one of each and travel with both and use the one that will get me through customs quicker.
Does it change Canadian’s reactions when you poke fun at us now that you’re American?
No, because I pick on America too. Whatever I see I say, and there’s no filter.
Because you don’t have a filter, do you ever have any regrets about what you say?
Never. Only when I’m working on a bit and it doesn’t work… then I get angry, and more than anger I’m disappointed because I put the time into that bit and was expecting it to do well. Comedy will let you know if its funny right away.
Was comedy something you always knew you’d get into?
I never got any jobs. From a young age people didn’t like the look on my face. I had one job where I worked at a laundromat for five or six days, and the owner came back after having ingrown toenail surgery, and he had on those little blue booties and I burst out laughing… and was fired. I did dinner theatre and that stunk. And then I went on stage at Yuk Yuk’s in Toronto and the owner asked if I wanted to do stand-up professionally. And I said “Alright!” Some comedians will say that they dreamed their whole lives of being a comedian, but it just kinda happened for me.
This “miserable” persona you use for your stand-up – where did that come from?
That’s real life. When it comes to my view of the world, I’m not miserable, I’m profoundly disappointed. That’s clearly going to be the name of my next DVD.
Photo: Facebook/Jeremy Hotz
