'Uncool' comedian lands the ultimate in dorkiness -- a talk show
The idea of being cool has haunted Greg Behrendt. He looks cool, with tattoos creeping past the sleeves of his black T-shirt, his hair gelled into perfect spikes. But he knows that 43 is a little old to be wearing a wallet on a chain. And though he'll go see bands like Arctic Monkeys, he knows he's ''the creepy old guy" at the shows now.
''Even saying 'Arctic Monkeys' makes me feel suspect," he says, speaking by phone from the home he shares with his wife and two kids in Studio City, Calif.
But Behrendt, who plays the Comedy Connection tonight and tomorrow, has turned most of life's transitions into jokes and, better yet, plum gigs. He embraced his inner Dr. Phil to write the best-selling relationship book ''He's Just Not That Into You" with co-author Liz Tuccillo two years ago, following up with ''It's Called a Breakup Because It's Broken" last fall. His January Comedy Central special was called ''Uncool."
''My new thing is just to become eccentric," he says. ''That way, people are like, 'What are you listening to?' I go, 'Oh, really? You're still listening to music? I'm into Japanese furniture and non-defined realities.' "
This fall, he'll launch the ultimate uncool project -- a daytime talk show. Behrendt sees himself in the mold of Phil Donahue, promoting topical debate and offering advice. He'd also like to inject some testosterone into the daytime schedule. ''We'll talk about what it's like from a man's perspective," he says.
Lest he get too full of himself, he reminds people that they are seeking the advice of a comedian. Whether problems get solved or not, the result has to be laughter. But ''my theory is," he says, ''once you're laughing at the thing that's wrong in your life, you're on your way in the other direction."
''I enjoy being a little more eclectic onstage, but I think Boston has a really great sports audience, and maybe it'd be good to try to develop a specific sports audience," he says. The show will feature sports clips and stand-up from Donovan and special guests.
