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PeoPle & arts Tuesday 12 sepTember 2017
Billy Eichner: from ‘Street’ life to ‘American Horror Story’

By FRAZIER MOORE different, this week he hate obsession with the en-
AP Television Writer bows as a supporting play- tertainment industry.”
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Many er on the second episode A TV series version naturally
viewers first met Billy Eich- of “American Horror Story: followed, which led to “Dif-
ner in his guise as a manic Cult” (airing on FX Tues- ficult People,” whose co-
quizmaster hammering pe- day at 10 p.m. Eastern). No star and creator, Klausner,
destrians with cockama- spoilers here. Let’s just say had first partnered with
mie pop-culture queries like Eichner plays a quirky next- Eichner as a “Billy on the
“When Matt Damon day- door neighbor of series star Street” producer.
dreams he’s running for the Sarah Paulson who keeps “He’s a flavor that just
Senate, what state does bees and likes guns. wasn’t out there before,”
he imagine he’s in?” and “Cult” takes its cue from Klausner said. “He makes
“Where were YOU when the election of President choices that nobody else
Kelly Osbourne left ‘Fashion Donald Trump, which itself does.
Police’’’? constitutes an American He commits like nobody
Eichner’s breathless “Billy horror story in the eyes of else does. He never goes
on the Street” premiered on the series. for the obvious thing.”
Fuse in 2011, then moved to Trump’s presidency “is a This image released by FX shows Billy Eichner as Harrison Wilton When time allows, he
truTV, where its fifth season topic that everybody’s in “American Horrow Story: Cult. hopes to be back on the
hit the pavement last fall talking about every single Associated Press street as Billy — a character
(and is up for an Emmy as day,” says Eichner, “but the Street.’” That was just a some crazy line for an au- who by now, says Eichner,
outstanding variety sketch it certainly hasn’t been funny idea I had, and thank dition for some regional has come into his own.
series). talked about in this way. God it got me in the door. musical and seeing how “He was commenting on
Along the way, Eichner’s To combine political com- But when I was growing up, many people there were. I pop culture before, but
career as an actor has mentary with the horror I wanted to be some com- thought, ‘This CAN’T be the now he’s PART of pop cul-
blossomed. Now he can be and gore that ‘American bination of Nathan Lane only way in!’” ture,” Eichner says. “I’m
as hard to miss in his TV act- Horror Story’ is known for is, I and John Malkovich.” He set about writing his very proud of that. And
ing roles as he was on the think, really cool.” For him, the seeds were own stage show, called I never in a million years
street accosting puzzled To discover Eichner off the planted growing up in New “Creation Nation.” It took would have thought that
passers-by. “Street,” performing in roles York, the son of parents who the form of a late-night TV he would be my entry into
He’s co-starring in the other than his Billy alter loved the arts and show biz. talk show — he played the acting.”
third season of “Difficult ego, is to be surprised. And His accountant dad read excitable host — and it was Even so, Eichner feels like
People,” the Hulu comedy impressed. A commanding him the newspaper gossip staged all over town to in- he’s just getting started.
where he and Julie Klaus- figure at 6-foot-3 with woe- columns by Liz Smith and creasing popularity. “Now I’m trying to become
ner play 30-something bes- ful eyes and a mouth that Cindy Adams and together As one of the evening’s the guy that I always in-
ties bonding in a snark at- seems to alternately signal they watched “Entertain- bits, he introduced a pre- tended to become prior to
tack on New York and the pique and wry amusement, ment Tonight.” With his par- taped segment called “Bil- ‘Billy on the Street.’ Giving
entertainment world they he has much more to offer ents, he saw movies and ly on the Street.” it time and trusting the pro-
lackadaisically are trying to than his hysteric “Street” attended Broadway shows. “The initial conceit, and it cess and then delivering: I
break into. performance. He appeared in school still makes me laugh, is the get what has to happen for
In Netflix’s comedy series “I’m not sure people knew plays and took voice les- idea that I am interrupting me to be where I want to
“Friends from College,” he that acting was in my bag sons, then headed for normal people heading to be.”
appears alongside co-stars of tricks,” the 38-year-old Northwestern University’s work or the dentist or oth- Where does he want to
including Fred Savage, Co- Eichner says over a quiet legendary drama school. erwise going about their be?
bie Smulders and Keegan- cup of coffee on a recent After graduation, back in day, and I’m forcing them “A lot of places.” A hearty
Michael Key as a grumpy day off from “Cult” filming. New York, Eichner’s scram- to talk to me about Cate laugh. “But I’m very aware
gynecologist. “But no one grows up say- ble began. Blanchett! That becomes a of the work it’s gonna take
And for something a little ing ‘I want to do “Billy on “I remember standing on comment on my own love- to get there.”q

Chappelle, Lawrence, Hughley celebrate ‘Def Comedy Jam 25’

By SANDY COHEN Tracy Morgan, Craig Rob- series as the same time he
AP Entertainment Writer inson and others at the was starring in his own net-
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) Beverly Hilton Hotel Sun- work sitcom in 1992.
— There was no YouTube day to tape “Def Comedy “It blew up my career,
when “Def Comedy Jam” Jam 25,” a Netflix special along with the ‘Martin’
premiered on HBO in 1992. airing later this month that show and everything,”
The only way for standup celebrates the 25th anni- Lawrence said on his way
comedians to find an au- versary of Russell Simmons’ into Sunday’s taping. “I’m
dience beyond the club groundbreaking comedy just so happy to be a part
circuit back then was to showcase. of all this.” Morgan com-
score a spot on TV, and “It put me on the map,” pared the event to a high-
“Def Comedy Jam” pro- Robinson said before step- school reunion. Hughley,
vided that opportunity for ping into the Beverly Hilton who hosted “Def Comedy
black comics, including Hotel’s International Ball- Jam” in its later incarna-
Martin Lawrence, Dave room to tape the special. tions, said he didn’t initially
Chappelle, D.L. Hughley, His first-ever TV appear- appreciate the show’s im-
Sheryl Underwood and ance was on “Def Com- pact. “I didn’t know that it
Cedric the Entertainer. edy Jam” in 1992. was going to be as explo- In this Aug. 5, 2017, photo, Tiffany Haddish attends the Black
Those comedians were Lawrence hosted the origi- sive and special as it was,” Girls Rock! Awards at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center
joined by Steve Harvey, nal “Def Comedy Jam” he said. q in Newark, N.J.
Associated Press