Comedian, actor, and writer David Cross is a recognizable face thanks to still-fresh classics like ’90s HBO sketch show “Mr. Show” and the sitcom “Arrested Development,” as well as more recent roles such as that of Sy Grossman on Netflix’s “The Umbrella Academy.” Decades ago, Cross earned a core of devoted Gen X fans, and has since cultivated a lengthy list of critical praise, as well as multiple Grammy Award nominations for Best Comedy Album. His many successes elsewhere (animated blockbuster voiceovers, British TV) haven’t prevented him from continually revisiting his stand-up roots, though, and his The End of the Beginning of the End tour brings his singular disarming wit back to town. We spoke to him by phone to find out why, after more than 40 years, he’s still drawn to cracking wise for crowds.
C-VILLE Weekly: I always thought stand-up seemed like the most difficult thing anybody in the performing arts could choose to do. So why do you keep doing it?
David Cross: I like difficult things. I like the challenge. But it’s not difficult anymore; I’ve been doing it for, geez, two-thirds of my life now. The shortest answer is I really enjoy it. I don’t have to do it. I choose to do it.
Is there a specific aspect you like most that keeps you coming back to it?
I’m having fun. And being out on the road is another aspect I like; I love traveling across the world. And that hour and 20 minutes or so that I’m on stage is really fun. So whatever kind of shitty day I’ve had or shitty news I’ve gotten, I know that that will be a good hour-plus time spent that day.
You mentioned that you’ve been doing it for so long. Besides your early years where you were still figuring things out, how has your approach changed?
For the last five tours or so I’ve been repeating a process and I’ve got it down to a science. When I’m ready to start working again, I will do these shows called “Shooting the Shit, Seeing What Sticks” in Brooklyn, where I live. I’ll have a couple of special guests and I literally am starting from scratch, with notes and papers.
I record everything because I do all my writing on stage, basically. I’ll do it in a tiny 99-seat basement theater for a couple of months—probably eight to 10 of those things, then I’ll move to a slightly bigger venue for six shows. It’s about a five-month process to write a new hour. And when I go out on tour, the set will change fairly significantly from the first show I do to the 70th show.
In addition to that, I saw that you’re also doing a podcast every week [“Senses Working Overtime with David Cross”], and I have to confess that I haven’t listened to it—but I saw some clips on Instagram. When the hell are people supposed to listen to podcasts? Do you listen to podcasts?
I don’t. My wife does. As far as when you’re supposed to listen to it, that’s a question that only you can answer, my friend.
How would you describe your act for people who haven’t seen you?
I’ve been doing it for a long, long time. I know what I’m doing. I’m not a clean comic. I’m a little edgy. I’m not for everyone. And if you’re not familiar, check it out. You may like it or you may hate it. (pauses) I don’t know who you are.