COMEDY PREVIEW
T.J. Miller
7:45 p.m. and 10:15 p.m. May 29-30 ($25); live podcast taping at 5 p.m. May 30 ($10). Atlanta Improv, 56 E. Andrews Drive N.W., Atlanta. 678-244-3612, theimprovatlanta.com.
About five years ago, before co-starring turns in the blockbuster “Transformers: Age of Extinction” and the popular HBO show “Silicon Valley” delivered him to the cusp of stardom, comedian T.J. Miller was just trying to avoid getting punched in the face in Atlanta.
The near-fisticuffs started with a woman who wouldn’t stop talking during Miller’s set at the now-shuttered Punchline Comedy Club.
“I have a tough time with hecklers, and even more so with people who talk during the show, because they’re being selfish,” Miller said.
Eventually, the woman’s husband rushed the stage, telling Miller to get ready for a fight. Security pulled him off, Miller made fun of the situation and the audience gave him a standing ovation.
It was one of the more surreal moments in Miller’s decade-plus of doing comedy, but he’s confident his shows this weekend at the Atlanta Improv will be more peaceful.
“There will be no fist-fighting,” Miller said.
He discussed his role in “Silicon Valley” and his love of Buckhead’s Andrews Entertainment Complex from Denver, his hometown.
Q: How is it being back in the city you grew up in?
A: It's good to be back. I just did a show, I'm here with the wife and we're having a birthday celebration.
Q: Any big plans for that?
A: Oh yeah, I'm talking a big, big, big dinner, maybe four to five people. I'm talking Caesar salad.
Q: Let’s talk about your role on “Silicon Valley.” Erlich Bachman is kind of a (jerk), but a really sweet (jerk). How much of your actually personality is part of that character?
A: I don't know who you are, but I'm high right now in Denver, having the greatest time. So (screw you), but also this has been great, and you have a beautiful speaking voice.
Q: Are you hanging up on me?
A: No, absolutely not. That was me being a sweet but arrogant (jerk). I was hoping that would track better.
Q: It tracks now, I just got scared for a second and thought you didn’t want to talk anymore.
A: No, not at all. I'm not a very good actor, so every character I play is like a magnification of myself, for sure.
Q: The guys in the cast have such good chemistry. Does that translate in real life?
A: Oh yeah, we're super tight. There's a lot of mutual respect going on. Everyone respects each other's comedic wherewithal.
Q: You’re playing Weasel in “Deadpool.” Were you a big comic book nerd before you got the role?
A: I didn't even know what "Deadpool" was when I auditioned for it.
Q: You provided voices for two animated movies, one of which, “How to Train Your Dragon 2,” was nominated for an Oscar, and the other, “Big Hero 6,” that won an Oscar.
A: It was super surreal. I had a good shot at being in an Oscar-winning movie that night, almost better than anyone else at the Oscars. Both of them are such great films.
Q: You played the Atlanta Improv last time you were here. How is that as a venue for you?
A: That whole (Andrews Entertainment Complex) is awesome — there's everything you want. There's an ice bar, I love it. There's a cigar sushi bar, there's a Chinese Walgreens. Everything is real there. You can tickle your funny bone and have paella.
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