‘Loudermilk star’ Brings Tour to Santa Rosa
Brian Regan, known for his sharp observational humor and role as Mugsy on Peter Farrelly’s hit series Loudermilk, will bring his national stand-up tour to Santa Rosa’s Luther Burbank Center on Sept. 19.
Fresh off the show’s recent move to Netflix, where it’s been among the Top 10 TV Shows for three consecutive weeks, Regan’s performance promises a night of laughs from one of comedy’s most seasoned talents.
In Loudermilk, Regan showcases his range beyond stand-up, playing a recovering addict estranged from his family—a role that earned him critical acclaim alongside co-stars Ron Livingston and Will Sasso.
With eight stand-up specials under his belt, including Brian Regan: On the Rocks (2021) streaming on Netflix, Regan’s blend of clean humor and relatable wit has cemented him as one of the most respected comedians in the industry.
We traded emails with Regan ahead of his upcoming show to talk about the tour, his experience on Loudermilk, and what fans can expect from his latest material.
Bohemian: Your comedy is often described as clean yet universally hilarious. What was the calculus behind this decision?
Brian Regan: When I first started, I wasn’t always clean. Nor was I universally hilarious. But I was always mostly clean, even in the beginning. So, after a short while, I realized the stuff I liked most of mine was the stuff that others might describe as clean. So, I just decided to do what I liked to do. I never did it to try to go after a particular audience, but it just so happens that there people who like my comedy the way I do it. And I think that’s f*****g great!
B. You’ve been performing stand-up for over three decades, maintaining a reputation as one of the most respected comedians in the industry. What keeps you on the road when others of your generation of comedians have opted out?
BR: I still am amazed that I’m fortunate enough to have a nice following. I enjoy doing stand-up, and since there are still people out there who want to hear it, I’ll still keep doing it for a bit.
B. Your routines often delve into everyday situations, turning the mundane into something extraordinary (or making the extraordinary mundane — “Dog on a Zamboni” comes to mind). Can you walk us through your process for identifying and crafting these moments into comedy gold?
BR: I couldn’t tell you how I come up with stuff. I don’t really sit down and try to come up with comedy. Material just kind of hits me. It could be from an experience, or from something I’ve read, or from something I’ve heard. If my brain thinks it’s funny, I’ll try it onstage. If audiences laugh, I’ll work on it until I get the words better and better.
B. How does working on a scripted show like Loudermilk (congrats!) differ from the spontaneity of stand-up, and do you prefer one over the other?
BR: When I do stand-up, I’m bringing my own words to life onstage. When I’m acting, I have to take someone else’s words and make them sound like they are my words. I’m not as good at acting, as others. I often hear of actors who “don’t take notes.” I would describe myself as an actor who wants “all the notes you can throw my way.”
B. Comedy is often seen as a reflection of the times. Given the current social and political climate, do you feel any added pressure to address more serious topics in your comedy, or do you prefer to stay in the lane of observational humor?
BR: I don’t let anyone or anything, outside of myself determine what I talk about onstage. I think freedom of speech means you can talk about, or not talk about, anything you want. I’m glad there are comedians who like to hit on different things, including politics. But, I also like comedy that addresses other stuff. I wish I could write more, but I have to go hit a political rally…
