Born in New Jersey and raised on the west coast, Chris D’elia is a Los Angeles-based comedian whose fame grows with each performance. Best known for his role in the NBC sitcom “Whitney” and his current spot on the show “Undateable,” D’elia has played characters in shows such as “Workaholics” and “Glory Daze.” Though D’elia has made a name for himself on TV, he is also active in the world of stand-up comedy with his Comedy Central Special “White Male. Black Comic.” The Daily Reveille sat down with D’elia to talk about his style of comedy and upbringing.
The Daily Reveille: You have a major presence on social media, especially Instagram. How has this helped to build your comedic brand?
Chris D’elia: “Yeah, everything helps. I look at social media as an extension of what you do on stage. So, just because people aren’t at your show, it doesn’t mean they can’t know your style of humor.”
TDR: Where do you find inspiration for your material and how did you create your distinctive style?
CD: “When I’m just hanging out with my friends, we’ll just kind of make each other laugh and whatever works there, I’ll just take it to the stage. Or if think of something funny I’ll just wait until I get on stage and start talking about it.”
TDR: How do you think living and growing up on the East and West Coast influenced your work? Gave you a different outlook?
CD: “I do feel like I am from New Jersey, but I started stand up in L.A….A lot of comedians represent other cities, but I feel like nobody represents Los Angeles, so that’s why I thought it was important to shoot my next special in Los Angeles. I was born on the east coast but raised on the west coast.”
TDR: You filmed your special [White Male. Black Comic] in New Orleans. Do you have a special connection with the city?
CD: “Comedy Central wanted me to do it there, and it seemed like a good idea because there wasn’t much of a comedy presence there. And, I like that because I felt like [for] people who want to see me, I don’t know when they would get the chance to. I like New Orleans…It’s great. I love the vibe there. I love the way my special turned out, and I was happy with so I was happy that I could do it in New Orleans.”
TDR: You’ve established yourself in television, but are you planning to make that transition to major motion picture roles?
CD: “I just kind of want to be in good content. It doesn’t really matter what it is. I’ve been really fortunate just getting acting work, but the thing I like most is stand-up because I can just create what I want to. I like doing stuff from the ground up.”
TDR: Your impressions of drunk girls are extremely popular and almost unparalleled, how did you build this impression?
CD: “I don’t really think of it as an impression, but I just had an ex that would get drunk as a generalization and I made it more like ‘this is what girls are.’ And then it just went viral and that kind of changed my life. It put a lot of butts in the seats. But, once I film and shoot it, I don’t do that bit anymore. When I put it on the special, I’m done. I try to retire everything.”
TDR: You’ve called out Drake as well as other stars in a couple of your bits, have you gotten reactions from any of them, and were they negative or positive?
CD: “I don’t know if he’s seen or not. I make fun of it because it’s from love, I don’t dislike him. I just think it’s funny to make fun of stuff that you know about, and I definitely know about his music.”
TDR: With such a creative family, do you find there is an interesting dynamic between you, your brother and parents? What was it like having your father direct your Comedy Central special?
CD: “My family is just really entertaining, and we would always just make fun of each other. It’s just how we showed love, so in one way or another, we’re all just kind of wired that way. So, that’s why we all do what we do by trade. I like to work with people I like and if they’re in the family it’s even better.”
TDR: How does this tour differ from your past tours/material?
CD: “It’s like a half-step up on my thoughts and opinions. It’s still the same silly style, but if that special was me as a 30 year old, this is me as a 34 year old.”
TDR: What do you like to do when you’re not working?
CD: “I’m obsessed with just trying to make people laugh. I drink a lot of coffee and hangout with friends. I have two dogs that I hangout with but that’s about it. I’m not really a social [person]. I’m excited to do these last few dates and then film my special, and then get going.”
D’elia will be performing at The Civic Theatre in New Orleans on Nov. 20, as part of his 2014 tour “Under No Influence.”