Interview with Steve Byrne

HalfKorean.com is excited to present this new interview with stand-up comedian Steve Byrne. When we initially caught up with Steve he had been hard at work on his new one hour Comedy Central special The Byrne Identity. The special was taped in November 2009 and should be seen on Comedy Central sometime in early 2010. This is his second one hour Comedy Central special following Happy Hour which was released in 2008.

Known as one of the hardest working and energetic young comedians currently out there, he has been featured in numerous comedy tours and festivals including the The Kims of Comedy with fellow Korean-American comedians Bobby Lee, Ken Jeong and Kevin Shea. He’s also appeared on TV and feature films with roles on NBC’s The Real Wedding Crashers and movies Couple’s Retreat and The Goods.

He’s always on the road performing and probably will be in a town near you soon, so be sure to check his website for his schedule to catch him live.

Please note that HalfKorean.com comments/questions are in BOLD.

Background: The Basics on Steve

Where and when were you born?
I was born in Freehold NJ in July of ’74

Where were you raised and currently reside?
I was raised in Jersey and then I moved to Pittsburgh and I consider that my hometown. I love Pitt. I spent 10 years in NYC grinding it out in the comedy clubs and I now reside in LA. LA sucks by the way.

How did your parents meet?
My father was enlisted in the Army and met my mom while stationed over in Korea. She’s the one that introduced him to Kimchee.

Do you have any brothers and/or sisters?
I have one younger brother. He, too, went into the Army and met a girl while in Korea and got married. I will never enlist in the military for this sole reason. I like being single.

Are you fluent in Korean?
I was a bit when I was younger, especially when my cousins moved in with us from Korea, but as I got older I just lost it. I studied Korean for a year while at Kent State, but language is something you just have to keep up on. So, again, I lost it.

What is your favorite Korean food?
Kalbi. I could eat Kalbi all day. Some people can just wolf down a can of Pringles. I am that way with Kalbi. I can just eat it all day. It’s like candy for me. I can easily put on 8 lbs at a Korean BBQ.

Did you grow up around other half/mixed Koreans or people of mixed heritage?
In Pittsburgh? Absolutely not. I was a rare breed in Pitt. Our house was considered Chinatown.

Did you ever experience any identity issues while growing up?
Of course. I had some problems with it and more so when I was writing as a comedian up until this new special. This new hour special is called The Byrne Identity and it is all about being mixed and how I view myself and the world.

In general, do you think that the Korean & Korean-American communities are accepting of Koreans of mixed heritage (half/mixed Koreans)?
I suppose so. Here in America, yes. In Korea, I am not so sure. I never had any problems with kids when I was younger and we all hung out at my mother’s Korean church. Everyone was pretty darn cool.

When was the last time you have been to Korea?
I haven’t been yet. I have been to China and Japan, but not to Korea yet. It’s certainly my next big trip. I am very excited to get there. The closest I’ve come is Koreatown in LA and that needs to change!

What do people think your ethnicity is?
They really have no clue. They assume a mix of something and they usually ask.

Entertainment Career

How did you first get involved in stand-up comedy?
I finished up at Kent State and moved to NYC to hang with my folks for a bit. I ended up getting a job at a comedy club in Times Square. I was sweeping the floors and answering phones. I got to see a lot of shows and I thought that I would love to give it a try. So, after 4 months I worked up enough nerve and never looked back. On Sept. 30, 1997 I got up and haven’t looked back since.

What did your parents think when you first got involved in stand-up comedy?
They were pretty supportive. They always have been. I owe them so much. When you start at open mikes, it’s usually a “bringer” show. You have to bring two audience members to pay a cover charge and you get 5 minutes of stage time. My parents were my two audience members once a week for about 3 months. They were so very supportive of me and stand up. I owe a lot to them.

Within the stand-up comedy industry, do you think that being of mixed-Asian (Korean) descent has had any effect on your career?
It’s had a great impact on my career in terms of what I chose to base my act on. It was never a topic until now. I think that my new special is really going to stand out for the sole reason I am mixed and so many mixed race people are relevant. Tiger Woods, Obama, etc.

In regards to your comedic source material, what do you base the majority of it from?
Before it came from weird observations and now it simply comes from me being upset with whatever bugs me and me writing as much as I can about that particular subject.

Are there any other specific comedians that you respect or that have influenced you?
Just all the great NYC comics I started out watching and performing with. Not one comic, per se, just a collective group of great guys in NY.

I know that you have traveled worldwide doing comedy shows. Where have you enjoyed performing the most?
I enjoy going back to NYC because it’s like going back to college for me. That is where I started. I did 4-7 shows a night, 7 days a week for 8 years straight. Not one night off. I worked my ass off in NY and it’s such a huge part of who I am today and I have those clubs and that city to thank for it.

Earlier you mentioned that you have never been to Korea; do you plan to perform in Korea in the future?
I’d love to!

What was it like to perform and entertain our troops overseas in places such Iraq, Afghanistan, etc.? It must have meant that much more to you since your brother had been stationed in Iraq.
It was an incredible experience. Anytime you get to do a show for the troops it’s a great time. They are such an appreciative audience and I am so appreciative of their service to our country. My father’s side every man has served in the military except for me, so I’ve always had a burden of guilt. That is why I do so many USO shows. Getting to hang with my brother in Iraq and do shows there was surreal. It to this day is one of the cherished memories I’ll always carry with me.

How was the Kims of Comedy tour created and what was some of the initial reactions from crowds to an all Asian-American comedy tour?
It was created by all of us wanting to work together. We all enjoyed each others acts and friendship and it just went on from there. It was a great time!

I know that the tour went around again in 2009; do you guys plan to continue the Kims of Comedy in the future and how come Bobby Lee wasn’t on that tour?
Usually when someone isn’t present like Bobby its due to scheduling. I am not sure that the Kims will continue. The dynamic has changed. I find it a shame, but it was fun while it lasted. It’s a very sore subject for me.

What is your take on the Asian-American backlash regarding the “Pearl Harbor” bit with Ken Jeong in the recent film, The Goods?
I think people need to lighten up. For the love of God, it’s a comedy. If we can’t have fun at the expense of ourselves how can anyone have fun with us? Someone will always be offended and that wasn’t offensive. It was so out there, I thought it was the funniest scene in the film.

On your album Little by Little you have a bit where you mention that you would like to catch a squirrel or have a bird land on your finger. Have you fulfilled those experiences yet? haha
I never lived out that fantasy, but that is what dreams are for.

Your documentary film 13 or Bust was very interesting. Do you know if anyone has attempted a “14 or Bust” yet?
I haven’t heard of anyone getting to 14? I am all for it. I would love to see someone else do it.

The Another Awkward Situation skits you have are hilarious! Do you plan on continuing them?
I may. Not sure. Maybe more to come this year…

Now after seeing you twice live and on video/TV for your specials I noticed that you wear a suit during the majority of your shows; is there a reason behind that?
I like to class it up. If someone is paying to see me, I don’t want to look like I just got off work at Urban Outfitters.

Any projects we should look for in the near future?
I am two weeks away from filming my second hour special. I have lots of tour dates this year and I am working on a TV pilot as we speak, so wish me luck.
Note from HalfKorean.com: This question was originally from early November 2009 as the special Steve mentions has already been filmed.

How about your future career plans/goals; you have done quite a few cameos and other TV parts so would acting be next step?
We’ll see. My goal is to obviously get on the tube. Gain exposure, fill theaters, get a girlfriend half my age, rack up a drug problem, lose all my money, then start the comeback and end up taking over for Regis on Regis and Kelly. That is what I hope for.

Random/Personal

What is your current relationship status?
I have a great girlfriend. She is a nerd and I think the world of her.

Have you had any personal preferences while dating?
Not really. I am a guy; I’ll date anyone that will date me. Just don’t have a weird limp or a knife wound in your back and your good to go.

Do you have any hobbies or interests that you do to relax?
Sleeping. I love to sleep and listen to music. I love following the Pitt Penguins. I really think they can win the cup again this year. They are off to a great start.

Anybody you respect/look up to?
I will always look up to my father. He’s great with advice and he’s always had a bartenders ear. Just a great, great guy. I am fortunate to have a great group of guys that I consider my best friends. They are truly a great group of sane, centered and gracious guys. Gentlemen. It’s very comforting knowing you have good friends.

I know that you have traveled extensively during your career so far; do you have a favorite location/destination?
I love Chicago, San Fran, New Orleans and Nashville come to mind. Just great cities. I may move to Chicago soon, I love it so much there.

Do you drink and/or like soju?
I do enjoy booze. After shows, I always get a Jameson and ginger. It’s been my mainstay for the last 3 years. It’s like candy.

How do you feel about other prominent half/mixed Koreans and have you met any of them?
I haven’t really met any to be honest. I sent Hines Ward a letter in the last year and some Kims of Comedy DVD’s. I never heard anything back from him.

As a Pittsburgh native, I’m assuming you must be a Steelers fan. What do you think of Hines Ward and Korea’s reaction after he was MVP of Super Bowl XL in 2006?
I thought it was awesome. I am a Pitt fan, so I was rooting for the Steelers.

Do you get on the Internet often?
Yes, I am 35 and I have to check up on Facebook. I really can’t stand it, but it’s a necessary evil with my job.

So what are some of your favorite websites that you go to?
I’d discuss that with you, but it’s not very enlightening. Usually the word milf can be found in the domain name.

How did you find out about HalfKorean.com and what did you think about HalfKorean.com when you first saw it?
I thought it was pretty darn cool. We are a select few, but I believe that when you are from a glaring and obvious mixed background it makes you see the world in a better light. I think you gain a better perspective of humanity and you can look at people as people, not as race. At the end of the day, we’re all just people.

Any words that you would like to pass on to the community?
Eat more Kimchee.

Be sure to check out Steve’s official website SteveByrneLive.com and MySpace to keep updated on his performance schedule and upcoming projects.

Interview by: David Lee Sanders

Posted: 1/15/2010

Clip from “Happy Hour”

Another clip of Steve’s standup comedy