Emmy-nominated actor and stand-up comedian Kevin Nealon (“Saturday Night Live”) chatted about his comedy tour, digital series “Hiking with Kevin,” and the Oscar-nominated Apple TV documentary “Come See Me in the Good Light.”
American author, speaker, and leader John C. Maxwell once said: “Dreams don’t work unless you do.” This quote applies to Kevin Nealon.
Comedy Tour
Presently, he is touring nationwide as part of his “Loose in the Crotch” Tour.
On his headlining comedy tour, he remarked, “It has been great! We have had good turnouts from the audience and everybody is loving it. The material is strong and I’m glad I got to document it all.”
Inspirations for his comedic routine
Regarding his inspirations for his comic routine, he shared, “I am influenced by everyday life. It’s just things that happen to me, or the way I look at things and people. Little observations and ideas.”
“It’s kind of philosophy in a way, where you really put a lot of thought into why things are happening in the world,” he noted.
‘Hiking with Kevin’ digital series
In his long-running digital series “Hiking with Kevin,” Nealon invites fellow artists and friends on literal hikes for unguarded, often hilarious conversations.
“It’s funny and it is stronger than ever,” he admitted. “Each year, when I perform at comedy clubs I ask people if they’ve seen it, and I get bigger and bigger responses, so I am excited for that.”
Oscar-nominated documentary ‘Come See Me in the Good Light’
Nealon and his wife Susan Yeagley are executive producers of the Apple TV original film “Come See Me in the Good Light,” which has earned an Oscar nomination for “Best Documentary Feature Film.”
“Come See Me in the Good Light” is a moving and unexpectedly funny love story about poets Andrea Gibson and Megan Falley facing an incurable cancer diagnosis with joy, wit, and an unshakable partnership.
Through laughter and unwavering love, they transform pain into purpose, and mortality into a moving celebration of resilience.
“This film has been amazing,” he admitted. “The documentary was just featured at Sundance, where it won the ‘Festival Favorite Award.’ I am really excited about it, and we can’t wait for March 15th!”
The digital age
On being a comedian in the digital age, at a time when streaming, technology and social media are so prevalent, Nealon said, “When I started off, it was a long time ago. That was back in the late 1900s.”
“There was no social media, so the only outlets were television, mostly ‘The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson,’ and some of the afternoon talk shows, so things have become more accessible for everybody now, including myself,” he elaborated.
“There seems to be a lot more comics than ever before,” he observed. “It used to be a novelty, but now it’s a commonplace. If you tell somebody that you are a comedian now, it’s like telling them that you are an electrician. It’s not a big deal anymore.”
‘Saturday Night Live’
Nealon recalled being on “Saturday Night Live” for nine reasons. “That was a lot,” he admitted. “Nine seasons was a great run! Back then, it was the longest run anybody had, and I got to experience some amazing things!”
“There were so many musicians (who were my idols) and hosts that I got to work with. I got to see Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Aerosmith, James Taylor, Paul Simon, as well as hosting-wise Stevie Martin and Dolly Parton,” he elaborated.
“I’ve been a fan of Steve Martin since the beginning, and I actually got to work with him, which was really remarkable,” he added.
Emmy nomination for writing ‘Saturday Night Live’
In 1987, Nealon earned a Primetime Emmy nomination for “Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program” for his work in “Saturday Night Live.”
On earning that nomination, Nealon stated, “That felt great! Whenever you are nominated for something or if you receive an award, it’s hard not to feel great about it, especially since you get some recognition for your hard work.”
“Even through we didn’t win, we knew that we did great work, and that’s what mattered most,” he acknowledged.
Career-defining moments
When asked if there were any moments in his career that have helped define him, he responded, “I think there is an accumulation of moments. These include doing ‘The Tonight Show’ for the first time when you’re starting out, and that validated you, but you’re not famous all of a sudden. You have to keep going!”
“So, there were a lot of moments that built up,” he admitted. “One of my proudest moments was doing ‘The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson’ for the first time.”
Stage of his life
On the title of the current chapter of his life, Nealon revealed, “The journey continues!”
Superpower of choice
If Nealon were to have any superpower, it would be “confusing people.”
Success
Regarding his definition of the word success, Nealon said, “Success means a happy life. It doesn’t mean money or fame. I think it’s just being happy with your family or what you enjoy doing. Also, peace of mind.”
Message for his fans and supporters
For his dedicated fans and supporters, Nealon expressed, “I would like to thank them for their constant support and inspiration. I love that the fans come and see me wherever I swing through.”
To learn more about veteran comedian and actor Kevin Nealon, visit his official website and follow him on Instagram.
