SXSW Spotlight: Eugene Mirman

Hey, a big part of SXSW is going with the flow, and trying to experience as many new, cool things as possible. I also think, that since it has progressively gotten more and more crowded, the best way to make things work is to zig when everyone else is zagging.

So, I've never gone to see comedy at the fest, and I have heard a lot about Eugene Mirman. And he is playing a shitload of shows, so I'm adding him to the list. Here he is, talking about himself in his official bio:

Brooklyn resident (and Russian immigrant) Eugene Mirman is a really great guy and comedian. After escaping the clutches of communism, he grew up in Lexington, MA (where the American revolution began through no fault of Eugene’s). He attended Hampshire College and designed his own major of Comedy — doing a onehour standup act as his thesis. People made fun of him for it, because they were majoring in practical things, like playwriting and semiotics.

Since college, Mr. Eugene Mirman has appeared on television, which is still a relevant medium for another few years. Some examples include: his own half hour special on Comedy Central, appearances on Conan O’Brien and Carson Daly, a recurring role on HBO’s Flight of the Conchords, MTV, Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Home Movies, Lucy, Daughter of the Devil and the new Adult Swim live action series Delocated.

There’s lots more, but who cares, right? Are you really going to be any more impressed to find out that Eugene once did one of those crappy VH1 talking heads things, was a suspected arsonist on the hour long drama Third Watch (holy shit! No way!?) or played a spokes-potato on Food Network during potato weekend in 2002? Probably not. But you should know that Pete Townshend (from The Who!) e-mailed Eugene in 2001 to say he liked Eugene’s Marvelous Crooning Child. That’s great.



SXSW:
Tue, Mar 17 Eugene Mirman, John Mulaney, and Nick Kroll Emo's, Austin, TX
Wed, Mar 18 SXSW Book Signing 4:15 Austin Convention Center, Austin, TX
Fri, Mar 20 SXSW (Wes and Eugene's Cabinet of Wonders) at midnight Maggie Mae's, Austin, TX
Fri, Mar 20 SXSW (10:10pm) Esther's Follies, Austin, TX
Sat, Mar 21 SXSW (9:30pm) Esther's Follies, Austin, TX
Sat, Mar 21 SXSW (10:40pm) Velveeta Room, Austin, TX

He's also touring with Flight of the Conchords:
Tue, Apr 21 Massey Hall, Toronto, ON
Wed, Apr 22 Massey Hall, Toronto, ON
Fri, Apr 24 Fox Theatre , Detroit, MI
Sat, Apr 25 IU Auditorium, Bloomington, IN
Sun, Apr 26 Overture Center for the Arts, Madison, WI
Tue, Apr 28 Aerie Crown, Chicago, IL
Wed, Apr 29 Aerie Crown, Chicago, IL
Thu, Apr 30 Fox Theatre, St. Louis, MO
Sat, May 2 Riverside Theatre, Milwaukee, WI
Sun, May 3 Northrop Auditorium, Minneapolis, MN
Tue, May 5 Nokia Theatre, Dallas, TX
Wed, May 6 Jones Hall, Houston, TX
Thu, May 7 Bass Concert Hall, Austin, TX