How would you like to have a talk show where not only do you get to work with your friends, but celebs are actually asking to be guests? For comedian & funnyman extraordinaire Stephen Kramer Glickman, this dream is his reality. Some people just have a direct line to your funny bone. And Stephen – whose big claim to fame was through Nickelodeon’s Big Time Rush, Shrek: the Musical, and the animated film Storks – is one of them. His podcast and monthly live show The Night Time Show is a comedy talk show held at Hollywood Improv with a guest lineup featuring the who’s who of Hollywood, such as Drake Bell, Tiffany Haddish, Max Landis, Craig Robinson, Joey Fatone & many more.
We talked to Stephen all about his show, the official Night Time Show Artist Shop, and about the variety of roles he’s taken on. Read all about it below!
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First things first, you just had a birthday AND a birthday show! Happy birthday! How was it?
Thanks so much for the birthday wishes! This month’s The Night Time Show LIVE was a nice mix of phenomenal comedic performances and the movie Blood Sport. We had performances by Billy Gardell, from Mike and Molly, and we also had a full-blown fist fight break out after the show in the parking lot. What can I say…people have a very emotional reaction to The Night Time Show.
How did your live show turned podcast, The Night Time Show, get started?
We started The Night Time Show as a LIVE late night show at Hollywood Improv and celebrities kept asking to be on the show. So we decided to begin a podcast to do those interviews. The podcast and live show are basically an excuse for my best friends and me to hang out and make each other laugh while interviewing incredibly talented people.
Who are some of your favorite guests?
Tom Green, TJ Miller, Tom Segura, Harland Williams, Nick Swardson, Tiffany Haddish, Marc Maron, Louie Anderson and Fortune Feimster. Every single live show is jam-packed with a wide array of incredible comedians. We are very lucky to have Eric Peterkofsky book so many legends for us to work with every month.
If you could pick your top three episodes (and why), what would they be?
It’s hard to pick favorites because I make the show with my best friends Matt Walker, Mike Black, Mike Glazer and Robbie Carlysle, so every episode is a blast. However, Bruce Vilanch – the writer of the Oscars for 30 years – told stories about writing The Star Wars Holiday Special that blew my mind. I also love the Joey Fatone episode because it was so revealing and incredible hearing about the journey of NSYNC and how it all began.
You were in Nickelodeon’s Big Time Rush! What did you learn from being on that show?
I learned to trust my instincts and to believe that I can create a character that is memorable and unique. That’s the plan with any role; push it to the next level. I bought some of my clothes, hats, and jewelry for the first season of the show because it wasn’t in the budget for wardrobe and I knew what I wanted Gustavo to look like. That role needed gravitas I was lucky enough to bring that to it.
One of the big things I learned is the impact a show like Big Time Rush can have on people worldwide. I have made friends with Rushers from all over the world. Big Time Rush still airs every day in 109 countries in 9 languages and I hear from fans every day about how the show has affected them. I really hope Rushers enjoy the clothes and accessories we designed with them in mind. I really want to have these people in my life for the rest of my life.
Speaking of, tell us a little bit about your Threadless Artist Shop!
A little over a year ago, a friend that worked at Industrial Lights and Magic in San Francisco introduced me to a very talented artist and the owner of Moth and Dagger Tattoo, Mario Delgado. Mario and I became fast friends and he started painting posters for The Night Time Show. He is absolutely one of the most talented people I’ve ever met. With such a huge collection of original art pieces and a new one every month, it only makes sense to start a Shop!
A ton of your designs have some awesome pop culture influences. What are some of YOUR pop culture influences?
Care Bears, Gummy Bears, and Bear Grylls. Small Wonder, Small World, and Small Soldiers. Thanos, Teletubbies, Swedish Fish and finger guns. Mork, Mossman and The Music Man.
Tell us a little bit about preparing for your most recent role in the animated film, Storks! Did your background in stand up comedy and improv prepare you for voice acting or was it a big adjustment?
Nick Stoller, the co-director of Storks, is all about improv and the funniest joke wins. It was my goal to make him fall off the couch every time I had to record.
You were also in the original Shrek in Shrek: The Musical in the Broadway workshops! Did you ever expect to go into that world? What was that experience like?
I went to school at the American Musical Dramatic Academy in New York City and got my degree in musical theater. I never in a million years thought I would get to help create a role for Broadway, especially a role as well known as Shrek. During the two years of working on that show, I was fortunate enough to work with Jeffrey Katzenberg, David Geffen, Sam Mendes, Jason Moore and Tim Weil. I was in musical theater heaven.
If you could hang out with one fictional character, who would it be?
Yoda.
What’s your philosophy on comedy & creativity?
Comedy gives us permission to indulge the dark creative corners of our minds… and other bullshit comedians say.
Anything else you’d like to share?
The Night Time Show LIVE is once a month at Hollywood Improv and The Night Time Show podcast airs every Wednesday on iTunes, iheartradio, Soundcloud and more!
Featured image is “The Night Time Show” logo.
