Growing up, Trevor Noah did not know comedy existed.
Sitcoms, sketches and entertainment as a whole were a figment of his imagination. "Comedy" wasn't a hobby, it wasn't a business, it wasn't anything at all.
Being born and raised in South Africa during apartheid with a South African mother and Swiss father solves that riddle. Racial segregation laws and strict National Party rule didn't leave much time for Noah to enjoy a hearty belly laugh.
"Comedy wasn't legal for a very long time in South Africa," Noah said. "It's just never something you would know. One day, eight or nine years ago, a friend took me to a bar where a guy was telling stories. I said, 'What the hell is this?' They were horrible, but it was fantastic. My cousin said I should try it and I never looked back."
Noah is now a 30-year-old professional comic pumping out stand-up specials, performances on major late night talk shows and appearances as a contributor on "The Daily Show"-as well as headlining comedy shows around the world.
Noah's big stand-up break happened in 2007 when he toured as funnyman Gabriel Iglesias' opening act. But now seeing his name plastered in lights across comedy club boards as the main gig? His life could not be more different from just two decades ago in South Africa.
Noah spent short stints living in L.A. and New York but now resides in Cape Town. He regularly commutes to jobs around the world-including his first headlining Chicago stint Friday-Sunday at Up Comedy Club.
"Some people call me crazy but it works out quite well for me," he said. "I work, then I come home."
What can we expect from one of your shows in Chicago this weekend?
Expect to laugh, that's always a good thing, right? People can expect to be pleasantly surprised. Technically they might be shocked, but I would rather use "pleasantly surprised" because it's less likely they'll want to walk out. It's something different. I'm a comedian. It will be a fun night for everyone, unless they hate comedy.
Yeah, what the hell? Why do people who hate comedy go to comedy shows?
I don't know but some clearly do not want to be there and they're clearly having a [bleep] time.
You realize it's going to be like 3 degrees Fahrenheit when you get here, right?
Wait, 3 degrees Fahrenheit? I just looked up what that is in Celsius. [Laughs.] Wow, now I'm rethinking even coming.
You're saying a hot dog with sweet pickle relish, kosher dill pickle spear and celery salt won't draw you here itself?
I always thought I needed to go to Chicago because of the special hot dogs. It's genuinely just a hot dog. Like we don't get it in South Africa? If that's what you think special food is? The best hot dog? I'd hate to see what your [bleep] hot dogs are.
So you tried a bite of one when you first visited?
What? No! I ate as many as I could. I'm super fat every time I come back to Africa [from America]. Seriously, I come back so fat. But it's not the worst thing in the world.
You heard a guy "telling stories" at a bar and it led to your comedy success. Was he just telling some accounts from his day or something?
[Laughs.] Yeah, that's exactly what it was. Stories of his life. I had no external influences in that world.
You contributed on "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" last month. How does it get better than that?
I don't think it gets better than that. I'll just enjoy the ride from here on out. If that's the first and last thing I ever do, that's a great thing for me. Jon Stewart is one of those guys where people don't understand how good and passionate he is. It's inspiring. He is so good and loves what he is doing. That's how I feel about comedy. If I can be close to that? It's fantastic.
What did you like best about performing sets on "The Tonight Show" and "The Late Show" a couple of years back?
Both are hosted by comedians. That's what makes them great. You are in an environment where they want you to succeed. It's really fun because the audience is there; they're used to stand up and it's not a foreign world. It's not like performing at a county fair or something.
What was the weirdest part about living in America? Is it the excessive replaying of Taylor Swift music everywhere you go?
Your portion sizes! Every time I come back I am shocked how much you can buy in one go. It's the most ridiculous thing I've ever scene in my life. They're apocalypse sizes. I bring different friends just so I can see their shocked faces for the first time.
I feel oddly responsible for this. I don't know why.
Oh! And the public transit! It's like every crazy person has agreed to be on public transportation. You've got to admire their planning. Bus or train? Doesn't matter. You know there will be crazy people. I have to reprogram my mind. Most of you seem like you have cameras on you at all times. Everyone has personalities, like you're all on a reality show.
[Laughs.] I would venture to say it's impossible to offend you.
I would by lying if I said you could offend me. I don't give people the pleasure to offend me. You have to work very hard. You could hurt me. I'm a human being. But I can't be offended. Any form of bigotry and racism? You would have to go really far.
I saw you posted a photo on Instagram with Harry Stiles in November. Did you guys bro out?
No! We did the Royal Variety Performance in England for the British Royal Family. We were there the whole day doing 13-hour rehearsals. No one goes anywhere afterward.
In your Twitter bio you say you were in the crowd when Rafiki held Simba over the edge of the cliff. Did that group go out afterward together?
[Laughs.] I loved how big of a deal "The Lion King" was in America, but out here [in South Africa]? We were like, "Cool." But yes, it was great in the crowd. We had lots of celebrating to do. The prince! The prince! We all went out then everything went wrong from there.
Would you ever participate in a Tinder date with someone?
I would love to. My friend has Tinder. I use his phone and go on it. I love it more than anything in the world. It's the funnest game in the world that I've ever played .The most genuine form of communication we have right now. People say it's superficial. Is it more genuine meeting in a club? "You look nice, can I buy you a drink?" It's not like you have to have Tinder. It isn't a government prescription or something.
It works, so I hear.
It's just sex! That's what people want! You're playing around [on Tinder] with the fact that you want the sex. The whole restaurant industry is acting like they don't want sex. When we go to a restaurant we're acting like we don't want sex.
You were a radio DJ. Why do I feel like you had a go-to catch phrase?
I wish I did. I don't have the skills to have that. I was an un-radio DJ. No radio voice. I use "radio DJ" lightly. I was a guy playing music at 3 a.m. on the weekends. I was an iPod with a name.
What was your radio name?
I called myself Trevor. [Laughs.] No fancy DJ name. Genuinely just trying to get drunk people home in one piece.
Did people call in?
Five of them. The same five. I knew them by name. They would call in, "Hey, Trevor, how are you? My week at work was stressful." I would say, "We have a specific topic we're talking about." They weren't interested in my topic. They just wanted to talk.
You finished extremely well in "Strictly Come Dancing" [similar to "Dancing with the Stars"] in South Africa. What is something you aren't good at?
[Laughs.] I'm not good at any sports with balance like skateboarding or rollerblading. I can't do that stuff. You know what's weird is "Dancing with the Stars" in America is generally for celebrities at the end of the career, right? But in South Africa and in Britain, that's the show you do when you have made it.
Which TV shows are you binge-watching?
When I fly, I watch everything. I purposely don't watch a show while it's on. Like right now, I'm not watching "Walking Dead." Then when it ends, I'm going to watch it all back-to-back. Same thing with "The Sopranos" right now. I'm watching that and it's the most amazing thing ever.
Trevor Noah
With Drew Frees and MC Calvin Evans
UP Comedy Club (1616 N. Wells Ave. 312-662-4562)
8 and 10:30 p.m. Friday-Sunday
Tickets: $20; upcomedyclub.com