David Cross

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David Cross
Actor, Writer and Comedian
Thursday, March 7, 2001; 3 p.m. EST

It was at the Stiller show where Cross first met his soon-to-be comedy partner Bob Odenkirk. In 1995 the two developed the HBO sketch comedy series "Mr. Show," which won rave reviews from critics, a loyal cult following and was nominated for a 1996 Cable ACE Award. They have since finished "Run, Ronnie, Run: The Ronnie Dobbs Story, A Mr. Show Movie" set to be released this year.

Cross will be online to take questions and comments on his career, his upcoming Washington, D.C. show and comedy in general.

Submit your questions and comments before or during the discussion.

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David Cross: Hello. I hope you enjoy reading.

Bethesda, Md.: What happened with Mr. Show?

David Cross: It has been cryogenically frozen with Disney's body and we will thaw it out when we find a cure for it.

Charlottesville, Va.: How is the tour going? Have you ever done something like this before?

David Cross: The tour is great. I have done the same kind of show (with me and the band) but not on tour,. It is really fun. We all smell very bad. Everyone has been lovin' it.

Washington, D.C.: About time you showed up in our neck of the country. Fair warning though:

My wife thinks you are the funniest guy on the planet; I of course have mixed feelings about you. Anyway, she tells me she can't even look at your face without cracking up. That makes me feel better.

Watch out for the crazy non-stop laughing woman at your show tomorrow.

Peace.

David Cross: That is not a question it is a statement therefore I can not reply.

Washington, D.C.: Is it true that Run Ronnie Run is the second movie that you and Bob Odenkirk have written? Will you ever film the other one? And what is the current status of Run Ronnie Run?

David Cross: That is true. The first movie we would like to re-write. The current status of Run Ronnie run is that it may be released sometime between late fall and never.

Harrisonburg, Va.: I have read in previous interviews that you hated the idea of moving to LA, but felt that you had to (especially after getting the "be here in 48 hours" call from the Ben Stiller Show) in order to take your career to the next level. What are your thoughts now? Is there hope for those of us who want to write & perform sketch comedy outside of LA (or New York and Chicago for that matter)?

David Cross: Absolutely. I was doing it for years in Boston. I got known for that show and then got a job. Over half of the people in that group are now very successful writers.

Delray, Va.: A lot of your early work in Boston was in sketch comedy -- specifically Cross Comedy. How were your shows formatted? Did you find you had to nurture a following or was the audience always there?

David Cross: Both. There were some elements. There was a small following. The show would devolve from a comedy show. It was specifically about being at a comedy club so there would be a comedy club audience.

Alexandria, Va.: Have you ever attacked a heckler? Have you ever wanted to?

David Cross: I have never attacked a heckler. I have wanted to in separate occasions and there were a handful of occasions where I almost got into a fight.

Silver Spring, Md.: Do you harbor any ill feelings towards HBO, or do you thank them for giving you the opportunity to do Mr. Show in the first place? Also, do you have any plans to bring Mr. Show elsewhere (network T.V. perhaps)?

David Cross: I thank HBO for giving me the opportunity to present Mr. Show. I am glad that they let us do the show and I am extremely annoyed and frustrated that they wouldn't release the videos and DVDs. Now that have been done and we just heard that they will be released on June 11th. The show is dead unfortunately, but we are actually talking about doing a Mr. Show tour in December.

Washington, D.C.: Can you talk a little bit about your working relationship with Bob Odenkirk? How did the two of you work together on Mr. Show? On a similar note, I have heard you say that he taught you some rules of sketch comedy. What are those rules? Thank you for coming online. I wish I could see your show.

David Cross: Bob and I work very well together. We are different people with different approaches to sketch writing and different energies. The way we shape each other sketches really works. I wouldn't say that there are rules but instead disciplines. The thing that is most important is editing. For instance to be willing to say this isn't working after working for three days on something.

Washington, D.C.: What music are you listening to lately?

David Cross: My new favorite album is the Argument by Fugazi. The last Ultra Baby Fat record. The strokes. Royal Trux. Mercury Rev album. And the soundtrack to He-Haw the movie.

Georgetown, Washington, D.C.: Will we be treated to your song stylings at the Black Cat?

David Cross: I haven't really been doing that - but remind me to talk about Living Taylor and you will hear a few songs.

Alexandria, Va.: Is your mother happy with your career choice, or does she still think you should have accepted that accounting job you were offered?

David Cross: She is currently a truck stop whore so she has mixed feelings.

Harrisburg, Pa.: "The Ben Stiller Show" was great, and it helped jump start many careers. What was it like working with people on that show? Did you have much interaction with the cast, or do actors keep themselves apart from writers?

David Cross: There was a lot of interaction. The writers worked closely with cast.

Portland, Ore.: I've been a fan for years and years, and I would LOVE to see you live. Are you going to perform in Oregon any time soon? Access to good standup is the only reason I would move back to D.C. For some reason, interesting comedians tend not to come to Portland, and our local improv group is... um... I'm sure they mean well.

But Janeane Garofalo is performing here tomorrow, so I have high hopes that our city's luck is changing. Wouldn't you like to come too? Please? Pretty please?

David Cross: Alright. Only because you said pretty please. We will be going out on tour on May 14th and we may be coming through Portland then.

Del Mar, Calif.: Name three inherently funny things.

David Cross: Tape, Baptist and farting Baptists.

Columbia, Md.: What advice would you offer to someone who is just starting out? And how much would you change up your sets in the early days?

David Cross: The same advice I would give everyone - you just have to keep doing it. Find your voice.

I didn't have a lot of material in the early days. I didn't have the opportunity in theearly days that I do know with all my material.

David Cross: I love all of you and I appreciate the get well soon cards. The staff here at the hospital has been tremendous. Once I get officially re-hydrated I will be much better. I just wanted to thank God and Jesus for pulling me through this.

-David