Ben Schwartz is one of the busiest men in comedy. But he doesn’t let it show

As I delve into the captivating tale of Ben Schwartz, a man who embodies the spirit of comedy with every fiber of his being, I am utterly enchanted by his journey. From his humble beginnings to his current status as one of the busiest men in comedy, Schwartz has managed to maintain an authenticity that is truly rare in today’s world.

Ben Schwartz, the versatile comedian known for his roles as a writer, actor, director, and improviser, can be found unwinding in the serene green room at Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre with his shoes off, exuding an unexpected calmness. One might assume that a man who has just completed a whirlwind journey spanning Brazil, London, Los Angeles, and soon New York City promoting his lead role in “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” would be anything but tranquil.

According to Schwartz, he enjoys having a full schedule, particularly when it involves tasks that bring him joy and motivation.

For Schwartz, the amount of work he handled hasn’t varied. Right from the start of his entertainment career, Schwartz was eager to absorb as many experiences as possible. In 2003, Schwartz was a page at CBS, handling audience loading for “Late Night with David Letterman.” Additionally, he interned at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in New York, an improv theater renowned for its founders like Amy Poehler, Matthew Walsh, and Adam McKay. In return for tasks such as ushering and cleaning, Schwartz received free improv classes.

Schwartz shared that his favorite part of working at the ‘ASSSSCAT’ UCB shows, which frequently host well-known celebrities as monologists, was remaining in the audience following the seating of guests. He simply enjoyed observing the audience react, often with unbridled excitement, as the stars made their entrance.

Schwartz left New York for Los Angeles and he remembers the exact day: Jan. 11, 2009.

Schwartz shared that there’s a photo of him, his best friend, and himself taken in New York during snowfall at his parents’ home. Interestingly, he mentioned that on the very same day in January, upon landing elsewhere, he found himself near a pool under sunny skies. These contrasting images are still saved side by side on his phone.

Shortly following his relocation to L.A., Schwartz enjoyed a streak of triumphs in the entertainment industry that many spend their entire careers striving for. He landed the principal role in a film, a television series, and secured a writing position for the 2009 Oscars, earning an Emmy for his work. Within twelve months, he made his debut on “Parks & Recreation” as the beloved character Jean-Ralphio.

As a cinephile, I struck it lucky when my foray into the world of entertainment didn’t pan out with a TV show or movie release. Instead, my luck took a comedic twist in the burgeoning online comedy scene. I found myself gracing the screens of College Humor and was an early guest on the “Comedy Bang! Bang!” podcast back in 2009.

Schwartz clarified he wasn’t earning money during that period. Instead, he was a freelance joke writer, contributing to Weekend Update on “Saturday Night Live” and “Late Night with David Letterman”. However, his payment was only for jokes that actually aired, amounting to 23 in total across both shows.

“The money I would get would basically pay for the fax machine,” he says.

During my chat with Schwartz, it can be challenging not to veer off topic. This comedian is always inquisitive and often manages to redirect the conversation back towards the interviewer. To truly witness Schwartz’s influence, one should watch his interviews with Larry King from 2017 to 2020. The dynamic between them is reminiscent of a seasoned comedy duo: Larry King as the straight man and Schwartz as the mischievous jester. Mentioning King’s name instantly brings a heartfelt response from Schwartz, “I miss him so much.

As a cinephile, I find myself intrigued by Schwartz’s assertion that his curiosity has a hidden agenda: “I’m always eager to learn about people, but discussing myself doesn’t come as easily.” However, when the topic shifts to improv, Schwartz’s enthusiasm simply erupts.

Just as you can sense when a song’s chorus is approaching, signifying a key moment in the track, so too does a scene in a movie or story often reach its climax, followed by a return to more routine events,” Schwartz explains, echoing his musical upbringing.

As a passionate cinephile, I’ve been tirelessly advocating for improvisational theater for quite some time now. Back in 2015, my hour-long improv show with Thomas Middleditch, titled “Middleditch and Schwartz,” made its debut at the Largo theater. Three of these shows were eventually recorded and released on Netflix in 2020, still going by our original name. The essence of our show lies in my fellow improvisers and me crafting an hour-long narrative from stories shared by a few audience members.

Following his rebranding of the show as “Ben Schwartz and His Troupe”, and commencing performances alongside a group of three other improvisers, he has since filled venues such as Radio City and the Sydney Opera House with ticket sales. However, Schwartz consistently returns to the Largo, a venue that holds 280 seats, where he’s built a devoted fanbase who consistently fill the venue.

15 years after initially taking the stage at UCB on Franklin, Schwartz’s return to the venue marks a double celebration – not only is it a homecoming for him, but it’s also an opportunity to honor all the comedians he once shared the spotlight with. His very first improv group even featured a young Donald Glover. Today, he often collaborates with artists such as Gil Ozeri, Drew Tarver, Colton Dunn, Jess Mckenna, and Katie Dippold on tour and in performances.

Schwartz deliberately chose his team members with care when putting together his crew. While improv might have a negative connotation at times, which Schwartz acknowledges, he ensures that his improv teams are diverse in terms of characters (such as the straight man and character player) but also intentionally inclusive regarding gender, race, and sexuality. He wanted to avoid having just four white men, as this can be a common occurrence in improv.

Although Schwartz doesn’t envision himself as spearheading the movement to elevate improv beyond being a punchline for stand-up comedians, he takes pride in how “Middleditch and Schwartz” and his tour show have provided a seldom-seen opportunity for many to grasp the concept of longform improvisation.

“UCB isn’t attended by everyone. Only 90 individuals find this place suitable. The same goes for Largo. I suspect that’s why we often get picked on. Schwartz adds, ‘We can proudly show those who have been here for two decades and haven’t turned out to be terrible, saying, “Look at these individuals who truly dedicate themselves to their craft.”‘

It appears that Schwartz’s affection for improvisation stems from a source of innocent enthusiasm. His initial UCB improv production, “Snowpants”, is named after Schwartz’s childhood joy of leaping into snow while wearing snow pants. He aimed to create a show that mirrored this same sense of excitement by inviting people onto the stage who have no experience with improvisation.

At 43 years old, Schwartz might be poised to set a clear path for his career. When queried about potentially embodying Sonic the Hedgehog permanently, thereby joining other voice actors who are synonymous with their characters, Schwartz is receptive to the idea, provided it’s for movie roles only.

Schwartz shares that he takes great pride in his extensive career as a voiceover artist, a role he has held for many years.

For years now, I’ve been living with a flicker of hope, nurturing dreams deferred by stalled film projects. But just when it seemed like my scripts were gathering dust, “DNA” has emerged as a potential reality, poised to leap from page to screen. It’s been a secret I’ve kept close to my heart since at least 2016, but now, the cat’s out of the bag – this film is in development!

Schwartz persists with his projects, regardless of how long they may remain idle. “That’s the timeline for creating a movie,” he clarifies. “I have a TV show in the works that I wrote the initial 10 pages for 11 years ago. It’s currently in active development and is closer than ever to being produced.

What’s remarkable about Schwartz’s projects is how rooted they are in his early comedy endeavors. He’s sharing clips of his 2016 Funny or Die sketch series “The Earliest Show” on his social media to gauge interest in reviving the project. He continues to appear on “Comedy Bang! Bang!” and was featured on a recent episode of the series “Make Some Noise” on Dropout — a redeveloped media company from the people behind College Humor. There’s no sense any medium in Schwartz’s career was a stepping stone; he’s always been doing what he enjoys most.

Schwartz has mentioned three unique aspirations for his career that he initially aimed to fulfill: voicing a character in “The Simpsons,” appearing as a guest on Letterman, and hosting “Saturday Night Live.” However, only the last one – hosting “SNL” – is yet to be achieved.

“I’m built for that, I started at sketch [comedy],” he says. “It’d be a dream.”

Few artists get to see many of their dreams become reality. Yet Schwartz possesses an extraordinary ability to captivate audiences. Prior to his “Ben Schwartz and Friends” performance at Radio City in 2023, Schwartz shared that around 50 to 60 people approached him on the streets of New York, expressing their eagerness for the upcoming show. This extraordinary moment surpassed any he previously felt as a celebrity.

He remarks, “New York seemed to support me,” he states. “Strangers took pride in me, an unusual sentiment for strangers, but that day held a unique charm.

It’s not surprising that strangers are inclined to be supportive towards Schwartz. When I inquired about his feelings regarding having a comedic persona, it was evident onstage that Schwartz is inquisitive. He often engages the crowd by asking questions and leaning forward to interact with them. Occasionally, his quest for a show takes a detour as he shows genuine curiosity.

Schwartz emphasizes, ‘I’m staying true to myself; there’s no alteration in who I am.’ He aspires to create an atmosphere where it seems like everyone is simply enjoying each other’s company in a casual setting.

Here’s one way to rephrase it: One secret of a top comedian’s success is Schwartz, who remains fully engaged whether on a press tour, creating film and TV content, or performing live for crowds. He always seems as excited as a child playing in the snow, with the exception that more people are now joining him in the fun dive.

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2024-12-23 19:01