Comedian Michael Ian Black began his career with sketch comedy troupe The State.
He stayed with the troupe as it became a show on MTV and CBS — and later joined the cast of NBC’s “Ed.” He also has been a regular commentator on VH1’s “I Love …” series, has a recurring role on The CW’s “Reaper” and now co-hosts “Reality Bites Back” on Comedy Central.
Black also is an author. His new book is titled “My Custom Van … and 50 Other Mind-Blowing Essays That Will Blow Your Mind All Over Your Face.”
It’s a book that will offend some readers — or tickle their funny bones. In it Black presents sketch-comedy-like scenarios as varied as Billy Joel’s imagined thoughts about playing “Piano Man” at holiday parties and the different perspectives of a high school coach on a losing, then winning, team. It aims to appeal to the twisted in each of us.
Black recently chatted about his various projects.
Were you under the influence of any kind of mind-altering substance when you wrote essays titled, “I No Longer Love You, Magic Unicorn” and others?
The only mind-altering substance I was under is the greatest drug in the world — love. Yes, it was love that inspired me … What kind of love? The kind that makes a fellow want to spread laughter and joy throughout the world. Also, I was on a lot of painkillers.
I do get asked this question a fair amount, and it’s a difficult one to answer. I don’t know where ideas come from. They just come, or they don’t. A lot of times I’ll try to write and nothing comes out, and then sometimes they do. It’s kind of unpredictable.
Is there any overarching theme to the book?
Awesomeness. And fudge.
Now that you’ve experienced the joy (or have you?) of being a published author (and of being No. 3 on Amazon’s humor best-seller list), are you going to write more books? If not, what’s next?
First of all, at the moment of this interview, I am No. 2 on the Amazon humor best-seller list. Let’s get that straight right now. As for more books, I hope so. Writing this book has actually been one of the most satisfying things I’ve ever done. The simple act of writing every day, accumulating these stories and working with my terrific editor, Tricia, to get it all into a book, has been great fun. If I could do this for a living, I just might.
If this has not been the highlight of your career, what has been?
Standing on top of an ice cream store in Tijuana, Mexico, dressed as a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, performing for about a thousand kids. That’s right up there.
