Before local audiences catch comedian Jeff Caldwell performing Saturday night at the Wagon Wheel Theatre, they can catch him Friday night on "The Late Show with David Letterman."
Before the taping Monday of his appearance on "The Late Show with David Letterman" for Friday Night, comedian Jeff Caldwell talked during a telephone interview about his career.
Caldwell caught the comedy bug while he was in graduate school in Baltimore, Md. He said he had two years left toward earning his doctorate in environmental science. The school was expecting him to start his thesis.
But he began going to open mic night. He loved it, and started getting paid to do it. He never earned his doctorate, but he's still paying for college.
"I think of it as a learning experience," Caldwell said. "Luckily, my parents didn't pay for it."
When he started doing comedy, Caldwell said he was all over the map with his routine. "I was dreadful, just dreadful," he said.
Comedy is not an easy thing to do. It's very hard, he said. Something you have to learn to do. Luckily for him, when he started there were comedians at the Baltimore clubs who were making appearances on "The Late Show" at that time. He learned from them.
Now, he said, he gets more laughs than not.
His appearance Friday night on Letterman's show is his second. His first appearance went really well, and Caldwell said he hopes people like this appearance just as much.
"It was really amazing. They were a great audience," Caldwell said of his first appearance.
Before going on for his first appearance of "The Late Show," Caldwell said he sat in the waiting room and chatted with Elvis Costello and Tony Bennett. That helped him relax.
"It was really great," he said. "I hope they like this appearance just as well."
He's been polishing his routine for awhile now. Caldwell said the "Late Show" people want it to be short and have high impact.
In his act, Caldwell said he talks about real life stuff - money, health insurance, health care, nutrition and a little bit of politics.
"I hope I don't get audited for the rest of my life," he said.
Letterman isn't Caldwell's only television appearance. He has appeared on "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson," Comedy Central's "Live At Gotham" and "Evening at the Improv." He also can be heard on the "Bob & Tom Show."
With all the comedians out there, Caldwell said it can be hard to stand out.
"I think I'm getting a little bit of notice," he said.
In 2003, CBS offered him a deal for his own television show. It didn't get on the air, but Caldwell said it did get his name out there.
"The trend is good, but I'm still working on it," he said.
For more on Caldwell, visit his Web site at standupguy.com
Opening up for Caldwell during Saturday night's "Comedy and Cocktails" will be Dave Dugan and Warsaw's own Joe Schroeder.
Dugan, a regular at the Comedy Store, Los Angeles, Calif., will highlight his comedy from television appearances on HBO and Comedy Central. He also can be heard on the "Bob & Tom Show."
Schroeder's set covers topics such as sex, dating, relationships and life in general. After beginning his career at open mic nights, he moved back to his hometown. He has shared the stage with comedy veterans Kevin Pollack, Tom Simmons, Jim Florentine, Nick Griffin and Melanie Malloy. He's played the stage of the Washington, D.C., Improv and is a regular at the Mishawaka Funnybone.
Show time is 7:30 p.m. The evening will include comedy and a cash bar containing beer, wine and cocktails. Tickets are $19. Order tickets by calling the box office at 574-267-8041 or toll free at 866-823-2618 or online at www.wagonwheeltheatre.com
