Interview: Kevin Nealon

I got a chance to sit down with funny man Kevin Nealon last week to talk about his new special airing tonight, Funniest Commercials Of The Year 2007 on TBS. Kevin has has starred in many films, he’s the king of one-scene cameos, most of you know him from his long run on SNL, and recently, he’s been seen as Doug Wilson, the banjo-playing city councilman on Weeds, but tonight, he’s hosting Funniest Commercials Of The Year 2007 on TBS at 9 PM (ET/PT). Nads: Kevin you’re probably the most iconic Weekend Update Anchor on SNL for me, and I’m so excited to finally ask you the story behind Shamalamadingdong.

Kevin: Yeah, I miss SNL. We had a lot of fun. No story, just Shamalamadingdong. LOL

Nads: You’re going to be hosting Funniest Commercials Of The Year, what’s your favorite commercial?

Kevin: They’re all very funny, but the one that I especially like is the Trunk Monkey Spot. There is a series of ads for a local car dealerships, and when emergency strikes, you push a red button and a money climbs out of the trunk and comes to the rescue.

Nads: I love that one, but my favorite for some reason is the Ikea ad from France, where the little boy is playing with his toy trains and his mom’s vibrator goes off…and well you know the rest. (Click here to see the toy trains/vibrator ad)

Kevin: LOL. That’s most definitely a funny one. Ikea is good like that. They’re all so funny, it’s really hard to pick a “favorite.” It’s up to the viewers this year, because they’re the ones that have chosen the top 10. To see all of the ads go to: Veryfunnyads.com

Nads: I’m also very curious about your PETA ads. I had no idea you were such a devout Vegan until I saw you funny PSAs for PETA

Kevin: Well, I’m a cheatin’ Vegan. It’s so hard to stick to no dairy, no fish…I occasionally cheat, it’s so hard not too. So, I’m not a militant Vegan, more of a Sunday Vegan. Hope no one gets mad at me for saying that. However, the spots were a lot of fun to do. I improvised the second one, and it turned out alright.

Nads: What’s going on with Weeds and the Writer’s strike, are you guys affected?

Kevin: Everyone’s affected, but thankfully we finished filming this past season in the summer, and we’re just waiting for the strike to be over until we start on a new season. It’s been a lot of fun for me, and I get to play the banjo! That’s something I always wanted to do in a role, and I got my wish.

Nads: Where on earth did you learn to play the banjo? And, did you learn to play for your role?

Kevin: Actually no, I’ve been playing the banjo since I was 18, believe it or not…I heard this song with the Dueling Banjos and picked it up. I play all the time now.

Nads: You do play a mean guitar. I saw your show at Largo early December on “A Very Federman Christmas” and your musical “Christmas” act was quite funny.

Kevin: OMG. I didn’t know you were there, that was a lot of fun. The whole show felt so unrehearsed. I had a lot of fun, but I kept thinking, what is the audience thinking right now?

Nads: The “un-rehearsed-ness” of the show was what made it funny. Random is better than being polished most times. So, what’s next for you?

Kevin: I have a book coming out this summer.

Nads: Can you talk about it?

Kevin: Well, I would, but I do want another interview. Lol…So, let’s just wait until I know I can talk about it, and you’ll be the first to know.

Nads: Yay! Thanks Kevin!

Kevin: Can I go now?

Kevin Nealon was a lot of fun. I’ve met a lot of people, but he’s one of those guys that is so funny on the spot and it’s never forced. And, not to mention, he’s such a nice guy. I wished he would have done more of his SNL characters for me, but one could only wish. Until next time Kevin…

Check out:
The Funniest Commercials of the Year: 2007 premieres tonight, Dec. 26, at 9 p.m. ET/PT on TBS.