David Alan Grier Presents 'Comedy You Can Believe In'

TBS’ entertaining A “Very Funny” Festival: Just for Laughs event continues tonight at 10pm ET with David Alan Grier: Comedy You Can Believe In, another new hourlong standup special taped in Chicago, this time hosted by In Living Color veteran and Chocolate News mastermind David Alan Grier.

Part of TBS’ recent five-day comedy festival held in Chicago through a partnership with Just For Laughs, Comedy You Can Believe In features an all-star lineup to die for, including Bruce Bruce (Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector), Mark Curry (Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper), Marina Franklin (Chapelle’s Show), Ralph Harris (Last Comic Standing), Jo Koy (Don’t Make Him Angry), and Aries Spears (A Different World).

Grier recently set aside some time to answer questions in support of the program. Follow the jump to get insider information on his latest hosting gig, such as why he accepted the job and what he hopes the show accomplishes.

What can fans look forward to during the TBS special? Do you plan to discuss certain topics?

DAVID ALAN GRIER: Actually I’m hosting this special. So, there are really five comics that are appearing, and TBS asked me to host this special. But the reason why I wanted to take this job was that we wanted to do something a little more involved than just me coming on stage and telling a couple of jokes and saying, “Hey, you’re going to love this next guy.” I mean we’re writing original material specifically for this special.

[There's] a nice, big opening piece and some interstitial stuff. So, to kind of break down the traditional role of the host, that’s what you’ll see. And out there in terms of language and subject matter, you’d have to talk to the comics. That I can’t— I bear no responsibility for them. But it’s all within the confines of what we can actually get away with.

What was it about this particular show that drew you to participate?

DAVID ALAN GRIER: I really loved the fact that TBS decided to produce and really get behind this comedy festival and move it to Chicago, which is one of my favorite cities of all time in the country. Also, it’s a way for me to reconnect.

Some of my favorite comics are on this show. Mark Curry is a guy I started with when I first started doing comedy, like, back in ‘90 or something. And to see him back and doing comedy, still really funny, really relevant, and putting it down— It just seemed like a fun gig. I mean, to be paid to hang out in Chicago with all these other comics, it was an easy call.

Also, I wanted to try to do something more interesting with a hosting gig. So, it’s not just me coming out and saying, “Hey, you’re going to love this next guy.” We’re actually writing new pieces and bits just for the special, which I think will make it more fun to watch. But I do realize my role as the host is to facilitate the evening and to stretch the comedy, keep the energy up, and really give the stage over to these other performers.

What did you find the most challenging about hosting Comedy You Can Believe In?

DAVID ALAN GRIER: You know, I try to approach it the way I want a host to be when I’m backstage waiting to go on, which is like you don’t want to say after you go off, “What the hell was that? Boy, she really stunk. Anyways, let’s hope our next comic does better.”

That’s bad hosting. You want to keep the energy up, keep people— The vibe right, and the host really does control that, and they really can enhance the evening. At its best when Rodney Dangerfield would host his specials, even on Def Jam at its best, a host can really set the tone and keep that energy and make it a better show. So, I just want to do that. I really do because I have been backstage many times wishing that the host were better.

Did you have a part in selecting the comedians that are going to be on Comedy You Can Believe In?

DAVID ALAN GRIER: I had a voice. I mean I’ll say this. I know that TBS said give us your names if you know anybody, if you have any suggestions, which I gave them. But, no, I mean that was my role.

All along they came and it was their concept, their idea to do the show, and they ultimately decided who they were going to go with. But I definitely tried to campaign for my crew.

What do you hope audiences will take away from the comedy special?

DAVID ALAN GRIER: Really, if we’re successful, they should be repeating what they saw. They should be trying to tell their friends you’ve got to see this and repeating the material that we have all done around the water cooler, never as good or as funny. And if it’s really successful, then someone else comes up while you’re telling the bad version of the funny joke and corrects you and says no, it went like this. And it just starts a daisy chain of imitation. I mean that would be awesome.