You may not know the name Paul F. Tompkins, but if you’re a fan of alt-comedy (a dreadful term, yes, but it gets the job done), you’ve definitely seen him around. And maybe just not on Mr. Show, The Daily Show, Real Time With Bill Maher, Tenacious D and so on; Tomkins hails from Philly, it turns out. And in addition to being just about the only funny person to ever be on Best Week Ever, he’s also currently working on a pilot for Comedy Central, sure to be lined with his no-bullshit, common sense humor. He returns tonight to begin a 4-night run at Helium Comedy Club. We caught up with Paul for a brief chat late last night before his flight back here; it follows after the jump.

So where in Philly are you from?
I grew up in East Mount Airy. Moved downtown when I was 17 and started standup.
In Center City?
The two big clubs at the time were in Old City. I lived in just about every neighborhood… as I could not keep an apartment, job or girlfriend.
Many Philadelphians know this phenomenon well. You must have had huge stones to be working in these clubs at 17.
I didn’t know any better! I just had to do it.
I have to confess something, and maybe you can talk me through this: I’ve never been to a comedy club. Love comedy, refuse to go to a club. They just seem like deadly unfunny. Am I right about this? Or is it like gay bars and you just have to find the right one?
It’s not about the club, it’s about the comics. Comedy clubs have to book comics all year round. How many comics are that funny that you can just walk into any old club not knowing who you’re going to see and have a great time? Music venues are different. You might not really LIKE the band, but they have a good beat that you can nod your head to. Maybe they sound like somebody else you like. You forgive much more.

Well, maybe not, though: I’d hazard a guess that there’s just as many sucky bands as there are bad comics.
Oh, absolutely. 99% of any art form is absolute garbage. That’s what makes it special — not everyone can do it.
Tell me your absolute worst joke, like one that bombed every time.
Fuck no.
Hahah, c’mon!
You presume that I have a “worst joke.” You also presume that I have “jokes.” My stuff is more long-form than that.
Well, you know. A bit. Anyway, I won’t grill you about that. It’s just not gentlemanly.
Exactly.
Speaking of, talk with me a little about your whole style vibe. I get the sense that this is a very well-thought-out thing for you…
It’s only thought out in that I really love clothes. I have gotten a little more elaborate with it over the years… But not to the point where it’s like “The Pickup Artist.” I’m not Mystery. I won’t be wearing goggles.
As it became a trademark of sorts, I started to pay more attention to it.
So it’s not like a thing where, “These people paid money to see me, I at least oughta look good”?
Nobody cares. I was in Houston and people asked me why I was wearing a suit.
I’d tend to disagree. I mean, restuarant hostesses CARE.
Oh, that’s different. But people really don’t want to dress up for anything anymore.
That kind of pisses me off.
Yeah. Like you’ll see a guy wear a pair of sneakers to a wedding. Or no tie.
Maddening.
Come on.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, September 5th, 2007 at 1:08 pm.