Tomorrow night, former SNL cast member and Daily Show correspondent Rob Riggle will be performing at the 6th and I Synagogue. You can win tickets right here.
Oh yeah, Rob was also a bad ass marine. He was promoted 4 times to the rank of Major, has been awarded 20 medals and ribbons, and took part in 5 real world operations.
We shot a couple emails over to him:
BYT: Besides answering these questions what are you doing right now?
Rob Riggle: Shopping for a new home in Los Angeles!
BYT: Good luck. What is in store for post Daily Show Riggle?
RR: I signed a development and holding deal with CBS. So, we'll see what happens?
BYT: Why did you leave? Were you mistreated?
RR: I left because CBS made a great offer and because I had been living apart from my family for way too long while doing The Daily Show. I wanted to get back under the same roof with them as soon as possible. Jon totally understood and was very cool about my departing the show. There's nothing but good feelings on both ends.
BYT: Can you rank the Daily Show correspondents in order of wimpiness?
RR: Well, I'm not sure I'd go to war with any of them... with the exception of course of Samantha Bee. Don't mess with Sam...
BYT: Understood. Doing any sightseeing while you’re in DC?
RR: I LOVE DC, but no, unfortunately on this trip I won't be doing any sight seeing. Not enough time.
BYT: How important is it that we get to your show early for Adam Lowitt?
RR: Adam is awesome! He's a producer on The Daily Show and he's hilarious! You don't want to miss him.
BYT: Are you comfortable with saying bad words in a synagogue?
RR: I love to cuss! Doesn't matter where I'm at, I just love it! So, no problem here.
BYT: Have you ever thought about calling your stand up show “The Rob Riggle Experience in 4D” and adding seats that like shake and little smell machines and stuff?
RR: No.
BYT: Mmkay, we'll leave it at that. How have your new years resolutions been holding up?
RR: Great! I didn't make any this year... I'm tired of setting myself up for failure.
BYT: Is there such thing as Comedy Steroids and if so what is it? Scotch?
RR: Nothing that glamorous, just beer and cigarettes... and idiots.
BYT: I never watched SNL. Were you funny?
RR: Too funny, it turns out.
BYT: What Daily Show interviewee was most frightened by you?
RR: Nobody was really scared of me, my character's persona and mine are totally different. I'm big teddy bear in real life... that is, if teddy bears enjoy red meat, cage fighting and smashing stuff in general.
BYT: How much of the Daily Show correspondent segments are improv?
RR: A large part of the "field pieces" that we did as correspondents were improvised. It's just you and a field producer out there in whatever town USA (or Iraq & China) and you have to react to what is happening in the moment. We do try to plan somethings but we discover most of it when we get there.
BYT: Did any of the guests on the show turn out to be total dicks?
RR: Of course, but I'm not telling you.
BYT: You can tell us, you’re not working there anymore.
RR: I don't know you! You're just a screen with questions on it...
BYT: Anything scary happen in Iraq and/or China while you were there?
RR: Yes. There was a lot of gun fire in Iraq. During our USO shows we would hear explosions and machine gun fire. We toured around the country, going primarily to FOB's or Forward Operating Bases. China... well, it was the Olympics so security was through the roof. Increased security in a already existing police state is crazy. We managed to gather a rather robust security team of soldiers and police as we did our bits throughout the country.
BYT: Has Lewis Black overstayed his welcome?
RR: Never! Lewis Black is awesome! He's an amazing man.
BYT: He may be amazing, but he's not funny. Is it true that John Oliver’s accent is totally fake?
RR: Yeah, he's actually from Brooklyn... no, he's Liverpool tough despite the fact that he speaks like a Frenchy.
BYT: I see that you’re playing Bonaroo – what bands are you excited to catch? Be careful, elitist hipsters will be reading this…
RR: I'm outta the loop right now. I know I'm performing at Bonnaroo, but I haven't had a chance to see the line up yet? But I think it's fair to say that when I'm not performing, I will be somewhere watch a band, drinking a beer and looking for idiots. Not for trouble, just material.
Rob Riggle
Adam Lowitt
Thursday, February 19
Sixth & I Historic Synagogue
600 I Street, N.W.
http://www.sixthandi.org
7:00 p.m. (Doors open)
8:00 p.m. (Show)
Tickets are $20.00 in advance or $25.00 the day of the show and can be purchased here.
Previously in comedy:
- 2/10: Behind The Desk 35: Spotting THE Crazy In the Arts (Vol. 2)
- 2/7: LiveDC: Demetri Martin @ Warner Theatre
- 1/24: LiveDC: Adam Carolla @ Fillmore
- 1/20: Behind The Desk 32: Eddie Brill Is Common
- 1/17: LiveDC: JB Smoove @ 930 Club
- 12/8: Tom Arnold - Up Close & Very Nice
- 12/5: LiveDC: Michael Ian Black @ Sixth and I Synagogue
- 12/5: Lauren Weedman-BUSTED
- 12/1: R.I.P. Patrice O'Neal - brilliant 1969 to 2011
- 11/30: BYT Interview: Michael Ian Black
God loves a cheerful giver.
for the record, i totally do know who this is.
i love the synagogue but havent had the chance to go yet. i cant believe the variety of acts they get. and cheers to you guys for interviewing rob riggle. i love that you said that about lewis black. so true. anyway, keep up the good work. i hate on this site less and less each day, haha (i cant believe i missed tim and erik!)
I knew Riggle could improv on the Daily Show, but wasn't sure how his stand up would be, but he totally killed it tonight. I mean I was keeled over gasping for air quite a few times.