Laugh Tracks

Dark delights

By P.F. Wilson

Name: Nick Griffin

Age: 41. Sadly, 41

Years in comedy: 21, I guess

Hometown: Kansas City. I live in New York now

What makes you laugh?

I don't know. There's not much left. The British version of The Office, The Simpsons. Celebrities crashing and burning.

What are you talking about on stage these days?

Mostly personal stuff. I try to get ... as personal with my own life as I can, because I don't know about anything else. Lately I've been talking about being depressed a lot [laughs].

[I'm] also talking about having to deal with other people and how in a hurry everyone is. They're freaking me out a little bit, because I don't have to be anywhere at any time. I'm a comic. I have to be on stage one hour a night. The rest of the time is mine.

People are on the go. Wherever they are, they have to go. Not only do they want to go, but they want more. There are people in the front row [of shows] now texting some friend, who is two blocks away, in between jokes. Like you can't have one second of free time on your hands?

What's your favorite bit right now?

I was talking to a friend of mine this week and he said, "Nick, remember, no matter how bad it gets, there's always someone worse off than you." So, now I'm depressed and worried about this other poor guy.

If you weren't in comedy, what would you be doing?

Boy, I dunno. I'd probably be on disability, or trying to write screenplays. Anything to avoid a regular nine-to-five job, because I'd be a horrific employee. I really don't have anything to add to the nine-to-five workplace, except naps.

What's the best part about being a comic, besides working only one hour a day?

I can't believe after 21 years I'm still excited to get on stage and figure out what the next great joke I can come up with is. That to me is the best part, that I'm still thrilled, and I'm still trying to get better. It's rewarding and disheartening and heartbreaking all at the same time.

The worst part?

Spending 80 to 90 percent of my adult life by myself. That's probably not done great things for my mental stability. If you're a comic like I am that travels 40 weeks a year, you find yourself in the middle of nowhere by yourself and it's not healthy.

Does being a comedian leave you in an arrested state of development?

I could blame stand-up for keeping me in an arrested state of development, but I think it's really just my tiny, tiny brain. I could be a teacher [but] I don't think I'd be any more mature. My focus is mildly mature, but the rest of my mind is about 19 years old.

What would you like to do ultimately?

I'd love to keep doing stand-up and sell horror screenplays that I've written. I've probably written about four horror movies. Kind of ... funny horror movies, if you consider something like The Lost Boys. That kind of stuff. Scary, but Scream kind of stuff.

Have you always been a big fan of that genre?

I have. I grew up with a big brother who forced me to watch it very Friday night.

May 1, 2008

Copyright ? 2008 Columbus Alive, Inc. All rights reserved.