Posted Friday, December 29, 2017 by RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com on his AJC Radio & TV Talk blog
Aries Spears was best known for his eight years on Fox's "Mad TV" sketch comedy show from 1997 to 2005 doing impressions of everyone from Eddie Murphy to Denzel Washington. He has largely been doing stand up ever since and will be performing at Center Stage New Year's Eve. ( Tickets here )
"I'm focusing on doing whatever it takes to get the check," he said in a recent interview. "Beggars can't be choosers. You have a wish list. Until you get in a position of power, you take what's given to you as long as it doesn't compromise your morals and standards."
Here are other highlights from our talk:
Punchy: Spears was assaulted during the Corey Holcomb radio show in April after cracking a mild joke that inexplicably peeved a co host Zo Williams. Spears sued the host and radio station. "I'm all good now. My baby's mama gives me more pain than that. It's in legal proceedings. It's being dealt with. It will be over and done with."
TV opportunities: "I would love to. But Hollywood takes you where the wind is blowing and that wind ain't blowing in my direction."
Doing New Year's: "It means more money for me. But I try to do be done before midnight. I don't like to interrupt the flow with that bulls***."
A tight lid on friends: "I don't have any friends in Atlanta. I have two best friends from fourth and fifth grade. One lives in Jersey, the other in California. I don't like new friends... I've had people try to take advantage of you. At the end of the day, people's natural instinct is to care about themselves. If you're lucky enough to have some friends who are like family to you, cherish and embrace that. To everybody else? F*** you."
Inspirations: "Alcohol and weed. They can be inspiration and motivators. Anything to relax yourself."
What his show will be like: "I tend to talk about whatever is in the news. Trump. Black Lives Matter. All the controversy in the news, as well as relationship stuff. I always have a playbook. But I know when to call an audible. We have our scripts but we have to go off book sometimes."
COMEDY SHOW
Aries Spears
8 p.m. New Year's Eve
$25-$55
Center Stage
1374 W Peachtree St NW, Atlanta
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