Judah Friedlander never breaks character.
That's not easy to do when that character is essentially is your actual personality. Or, wait. Would that make it even simpler?
Regardless, what you see is exactly what and who you get: a wacky-yet-controlled swagger no one can mirror. Friedlander is a lunatic in the most hysterical yet respectable way possible. "I'm 'The World Champion,' the greatest role model for kids, the sexual desire of every woman and, of course, a karate champion," said the 45-year-old funny man, best known for playing Frank Rossitano on NBC's "30 Rock."
Later this year, Friedlander is due to release a stand-up comedy album and documentary-style concert film that he's currently producing. In January 2015, he'll be a series regular voicing a main character in Seth McFarlane's animated comedy "Bordertown" on Fox.
But first, he returns to Chicago for the first time in nearly two years for a run at Up Comedy Club this weekend. When he's not traveling, Friedlander performs, on average, four shows per night in New York City. Even more impressive, he will never do the same set twice. Original content is the name of the game for Friedlander. "[The audience] should have their fitness levels at their peaks and they should check their sexual confidence and political desires at the door and have an open mind," he said.
When you have access to one of the wildest comedic minds in the business, why waste his time asking generic questions? Naturally, we did the opposite.
***
Judah Friedlander
Go: 8 p.m. Sept. 11, 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Sept. 12-13 at Up Comedy Club (230 W. North Ave.)
Tickets: $22. 312-662-4562; upcomedyclub.com
***
What does your pre-show meal consist of?
I don't eat anything. An open stomach means an open mind. Very Zen.
Do you go out and get drunk after shows?
I play competitive table tennis. I will be finding Chicago's best table tennis venues while in town. I like to see how different people live in different places. It's very interesting with slight changes in how they live.
What song do you listen to more than any other before a show or fight?
I don't listen to music. I like the sound of bones cracking during a karate tournament. The sound is unique. I also like sounds of someone's conscience losing confidence. It's quiet but powerful.
What would be worse: losing your "extra dark black belt" or never acting again?
Both are impossible, but it would worse to lose the belt. I did acting to land credibility and add sexual appeal to a project.
What are three things every stand-up comedian needs?
Courage, a brain that has not been brain-washed and is thinking and living on its own. Also, compassion.
You are given an unlimited budget to do a show in Chicago. What does that show look like?
I would time-travel in some dinosaurs and fight them. The judges? Three Bigfoots. We would have to have them brought in top-secretly and brought out top-secretly as well. I would fight the two dinosaurs: one meat eater and one plant eater. The audience would have all-you-can-eat burritos and tacos from three of Chicago's best Mexican restaurants. And at the end, everyone gets their own ice cream truck. The cost? $5 a ticket, just to pay the Bigfoots for judging.The dinosaurs get no money.
What was the biggest takeaway from you professionally working on "30 Rock"?
The fact I got to be a big influence on Tina Fey, Alec Baldwin and Lorne Michaels. They're still processing what I taught them, so I'm hoping they can handle the overload of information I gave them. Good for them. They're lucky they finally got the chance to work with me.
What was your favorite hat from "30 Rock"?
It said "Trap Door" but the second "o" was not there in "door" because it fell through the trap door.
Describe the craziest fight you've ever been involved in.
I fought me in the future. It was devastating. Not sure who won. I time travel a lot. "Present" me had further training than future me.
How many items have you broken in karate training?
I work very hard with a lot of concentration, so for me not to break something is tough. I'm also not good at math, so I don't know how many, but I have the ability to fix something at the same time of breaking it. I'm powerful, but I also truly care.
What are your thoughts on whey protein?
That's a big problem facing this country today. I am completely against it. It's not natural. The whole theory? Think about it. You're eating powder. That does nothing to help your teeth or your swallowing skills or your stomach. Chew your food as fast as possible with as few bites as possible. It forces your stomach muscles to work extra hard in digestion. That's how you get a strong core. Whey powder is already chopped up. It's dust. No core workout at all.
The best spot in the country for karate training is ...
My karate school in Queens. There is no door and no entrance. You have to karate-kick the brick wall down to get in. I've yet to have a student. And even if you physically get through, that's great, but to be mentally prepared? They will not have realized that, even though they have trained for it. I remember the first time I looked in the mirror. I was intimidated. It was a full decade until I looked in one again.
What's one thing your Wikipedia page is missing?
I don't think the Internet has the space to hold the amount of awesome I put out. Wikipedia lives on the Internet, so I don't know how it can work. Not enough bandwidth or storage.