Dan Mahoney
Q: What's the first joke you ever wrote?
A: It was a bit comparing the Starbucks coffee menu to a South American soccer roster. "Numero Cinco, Carmel Macchiato. Mocha... Macchiato... Mocha... Goooooooooal!!!" I've come a long way.
Q: What is the source of your sense of humor?
A: My father Joe and the rest of the family. My friends Bill Burke, Coley Cleary and Mike Tata. Mel Brooks taught me growing up that there was something bigger than Phil. Eddie Murphy taught me family was funny and parachute pants were cool.
Q: In school, were you the class clown or quiet nerd?
A: By the time I got to high school I'd been expelled from 5 schools. Definitely the class clown. The Catholics couldn't really take a joke.
Q: Is it better to be feared or loved on your way up the comedy ladder?
A: I think it's better to be massaged. It's a tough climb in a stressful vocation and I get knots. I've got a lot of love for comedians, comedy and fans of comedy; obviously it feels nice to get it back. My greatest fear is that you won't love me. You do love me... right?
Q: Your stardom: a karmic inevitability or old-fashioned luck?
A: My grandfather used to say, "The harder you work, the luckier you get."
So I would say definitely a karmic inevitability.
