David Cross is a self-described “professional speaker,” but let's go ahead and expand that bio just a bit. Cross is one of the funniest human beings on this planet we call Earth, boasting a resume that is absolutely packed with iconic comedic creations – Mr. Show, Arrested Development and his latest special, The worst dad in the worldto name a few.
He's very funny – and very busy. He currently hosts the podcast Senses working overtime with David Cross and put together a show, David Cross and His Super Friendswhich will feature artists such as Bob Odenkirk, Sarah Silverman and Fred Armisen SummerStage in New York City in Central Park on August 8. Also on August 8, he will play in the fourth and final season of Umbrella Academy, and after that? He's hitting the road with his new comedy tour, David Cross: The End of the Beginning of the End.
Yes, he is very busy. But luckily, not too busy to find time to sit down for a chat about an upcoming episode of How success happens podcast. I was the other person involved in that conversation, so I can tell you that Cross was both hilarious and insightful as he detailed his journey from comedy novice to one of the best comedians working today.
Here are some sneak peeks into our conversation, which have been edited for length and clarity. Enjoy!
For the creation of new material for specialties
“Like most comics, once you do a special and your stuff is out there, unfortunately, that stuff is done,” says Cross. “Standup is the only place where this exists in art, that material is DONE. You burn it. You have to start fresh every time. When I start, I don't have a particular theme in mind. I riff a lot, and then the bits will expand, and I write on stage. So the things I'm doing at the end of the tour are different than at the beginning. When it comes time to do a special, I always have to cut some things I've developed because I don't want to be there for two hours. I'll always have about 20 minutes of stuff I haven't done yet that I can take to the new show, so I'm not completely starting from scratch.”
In the offensive parts of the country where he performs
“When was the last time you went to Phoenix?” Cross asks. “Because I've been there recently and I've had really fun shows, but those people don't feel like they're living in a place that's not disgusting. We know this place is scary. I have to be here for school. I have to be here for work. Look, a third of our country lives in areas where they are required – by city order – to put out cooling water mists. Otherwise, half of the citizens will die. Believe me, the people who live in these countries know that this is bad.”
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In the assembly of his Super friends
“Super friends it's going to be a fantastic show,” Cross says. “We've got a great lineup, but I'll say this right now: I guarantee one or two of these guys are going to thrive. It always happens. Always. I shouldn't say this, but something always comes up. It happened when I did two nights at Irving Plaza in New York. I said, 'There will be special guests because I'm at home and all my friends are here.' And then two of them called—for valid reasons—and said, “Oh yeah, I can't do the show.” So you just have to deal with it. It was too bad it wasn't a benefit because then I could blame them.”
Being a secret star in his house
“My daughter Marlow just saw a clip of Chipmunks and said, “Hey, this is daddy.” And then it was about all the interest she showed – which I'm thrilled about,” says Cross. “Honestly. She's heard my voice in movies and shows, but never made the connection. She has certainly been watched Megamind five times, and she looked at him Kung Fu Panda a bunch. I made Bubble Guppies and some other baby stuff because he liked it, but he never made the connection. Maybe when she's older, she will. I'm not going to sit down and turn on these shows and go, 'Hey kid, it's time to show you what daddy does.'”
In resurrection Arrested Development
“I don't think it's a good idea,” says Cross. “I just don't. And Jessica (Walter) is no longer with us, so I don't know how you do it without Lucille. And, I mean, ideally, we would have stopped after season four . Look, I loved it, and I still love it, and I'm so lucky to have been given this opportunity, and I love those guys, but I don't think we should do it anymore.”
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To stay motivated
“Sometimes it's hard,” says Cross. “I'm tired; we were out last night until two o'clock in the morning, and then we had to get up and go to the Spokane airport and make a connecting flight to Oklahoma City, and you didn't get in until late, and I just ate Fritos, but I mean, it's professional. Every time I'm up there, even if the crowd is absorbed, which it's not anymore, I always imagine a 16-year-old kid in the balcony who's at the show. his first stand-up comedy I want to do that show for that kid, because I was that kid at one point.”
Taking criticism
“The people whose criticism I always listen to are my wife, Amber, Bob Odenkirk and a handful of people, including Jon Benjamin,” says Cross. “When I get a compliment, I know it's not stupid and I know it's coming from an intellectual place. But some people really like my stuff. And some people just hate my stuff. I try not to listen to them extreme. If the criticism is something like 'You're offensive' or 'You shouldn't talk about that,' those things aren't really criticism, but if someone has a critical point of view, and I can understand where they're coming from, that's a criticism I'll accept if I do something about it, sometimes I don't.
At the end of time
“Aliens are not going to be the cause of an apocalypse,” says Cross. “We're in a very, very, very, very, very slow but absolutely real apocalypse. The apocalypse doesn't necessarily mean a bunch of fireballs descend on planet Earth and in seven seconds, we're gone. No. We 'Are you going through the apocalypse now in real time?