He takes holiday cheer to a whole new level. 

This winter, revel in the brilliant humor of Brian Regan when The Clyde Theatre welcomes this prolific comedian to perform live on Thursday, Dec. 7. 

However, be sure to purchase your tickets now — seating is getting sparse!

Where have I seen him?

Television king and live-performance icon, Regan is highly acclaimed in the trade of the stage. Having entertained audiences since the ’80s, his timeless reach extends far beyond that of “ordinary.”

Perhaps you know the comic from his Netflix specials, 2021’s Brian Regan: On the Rocks, 2018’s Stand Up and Away! with Brian Regan, or 2017’s Brian Regan: Nunchucks and Flamethrowers. Or maybe it was his appearances in Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, the long-running Netflix talk show hosted by the very funny Jerry Seinfeld that initially sparked your fancy.

Maybe you recognize him from his set on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in 2019. No? What about his more recent appearance in 2021? 

Oh, you’re more into the Johnny Carson era of the show — no worries. Check out Regan’s 1991 appearance with the legendary host.

So, you’re more of a silver-screen enthusiast. Perhaps 2014’s five-time award-winning Top Five, directed by and starring the phenomenal Chris Rock, rings a bell? Or, if you’re a cable devotee, then you’ll surely remember MTV’s Half Hour Comedy Hour, where Regan made one of his first national television appearances in the late ’80s.

Point is, show after show and performance after performance, Regan hits it out of the park with a combination of grace and humor like no other. 

Taking a different path

So, where did it all begin?

“There were a number of different factors,” Regan said during a recent phone interview with Whatzup.

In his youth, Regan enjoyed watching comedy but never really imagined it as an occupation. He simply admired the craft. He pursued an accounting degree while playing football at Heidelberg College in Tiffin, Ohio. But somewhere along the way, he shifted gears toward communication and theater arts.

He was soon serving as emcee for different college events. From dorm games to basketball and cheerleader introductions over the microphone, Regan grew and molded his passion. 

“I would try to be funny while I was doing that,” he said. “That’s when I started thinking, ‘I wonder if I could do something like this for a living.’ ”

But college wasn’t the only thing driving him onward. Talent inspires talent, and with Regan, it’s no different.

“Steve Martin I really liked, because he did comedy from a perspective that I had never seen,” Regan said. 

Specifically, Regan said, he liked the character Martin played in the movie The Jerk. The naivete of that character, but the intelligence of the comedian behind the character, intrigued Regan. It was a fascinating duality. 

“You laughed at the character, but you laughed with the comedian at the same time,” Regan said.

Carson is another comic Regan salutes. 

Lauding Carson’s personable skills with his guests, Regan said, “He was a very good listener, and he was funny, but he also knew how to get out of the way. He knew how to let his guests be funny.”

Regan also remembers fondly one of the first comedy clubs in which he performed, Florida’s Comic Strip in Fort Lauderdale. 

Upon moving to New York, Regan also was a stand-up regular at illustrious venues Catch a Rising Star and The Improv.

Describing his path to stardom as “a gradual incline,” Regan does note a special realization upon the release of Brian Regan Live, his first album.

“After it came out, I remember people coming to my shows with the CD in their hand, saying that they had heard of me through this CD, and they’re coming out to see me,” Regan said.

Instead of folks strolling up to a comedy club for a general good laugh, it appeared Regan was beginning to earn his first fans — and seeing a financial benefit.

“That seemed like one of the first times that people were coming to see me particularly,” he said.

COMEDIC FLARE

And he must be doing something right because people are still coming in droves to see him. Regan described his material as “all over the place.” In a good way, of course. 

“I like the ride to be uneven and herky-jerky when I’m onstage,” he said. 

This eclectic, electrified, entertaining spirit is sure to be present during Regan’s upcoming Clyde performance. And he promises a much different show than the one he put on in January 2022 at Honeywell Center in Wabash.

“I usually try to move on from material,” he said. “The act I’m doing now, I would say 75–80 percent of it is stuff that is not out there on TV in any way.” 

He’s constantly on the hunt to form a new hour of comedic entertainment, so be prepared for new bits or even stories on Dec. 7.

Regan is also known as a “clean” comic, meaning he typically forgoes crudeness.

“It’s a different path,” he said. “I like it because I like the personal challenge of trying to get humor out of everyday things without hitting certain buttons.” 

But Regan also tips his hat to those who aren’t necessarily considered clean comics.

“I think if it’s truthful and organic to who you are as a person, then everybody should work how they want to work,” he said. “It’s also OK that there are different lanes, and I choose to be in the lane that I’m in.” 

The joy of bringing joy

So, what exactly made Regan want to turn his back on the stability of becoming an accountant for the risky, unpredictable world of stand-up comedy?

Well, while getting your taxes done might feel like a relief, it’s not really something that brings you great joy. Regan gets that with comedy.

“When someone is laughing, they feel good for that moment, regardless of what’s going on in their life,” he said.

“People have physical circumstances, people have pain, people have loss, people have challenges. But during a laugh, you feel good. And it is a powerful feeling to be able to provide that for other people. If I can make somebody feel good for a moment or for an hour, it’s an honor.”

It appears that to Regan, this process is paramount. 

“I mean, I know I like to laugh, and if I can let somebody else have a good time for a few minutes, it’s a tremendous feeling,” he said. “And so I love being able to do it.

“It’s fascinating to see a group of people come together,” he added. “That group of people have never been together before, and that same group of people will never be together again. But for that night, they are an audience. 

“I look forward to it every night, and I will, of course, be looking forward to it in Fort Wayne, as well.”