A few days after his second-place finish on NBC's "Last Comic Standing," Tommy Johnagin stopped by the Post-Dispatch to talk about the show, his life and his upcoming appearance at the Funny Bone at West Port Plaza. A short version of this interview will appear in Friday's GO! section, but here's the full-length version. Also, be sure to watch the accompanying video in which Johnagin talks about his hope of throwing out the first pitch at a Cardinals game.
The worst thing about coming in second on “Last Comic Standing” wasn’t losing $250,000, Tommy Johnagin says. After finding out he didn’t win, “I had to stand in another man’s confetti for 20 minutes. It was too much confetti. Of course, if it had been my confetti, it wouldn’t have been nearly enough.”
Johnagin, 27, who grew up in Benton, Ill., and now lives in St. Louis, has been doing stand-up since he graduated from Benton High School in 2001. He’ll perform Friday, Saturday and Sunday at his home club, the Funny Bone at Westport Plaza.
Q. How long have you been funny?
A. My whole life, I guess. I’ve known since I was 8 that I wanted to do comedy. I was watching David Letterman and I thought, I want to do that. Now I’ve had a chance to be on Letterman once a year, and that’s really special.
Q. You dropped out of college to perform?
A. I went to Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. I was majoring in mass communication, and one day we had a class on what a person could do with a mass communication degree. I already knew what I wanted to do, and it wasn’t any of those things, so I went right down and filled out the papers to leave.
Q. What then?
A. I lived in Chicago for nine months and did nine or 10 stand-up shows a week for no money. I waited tables and worked as a messenger at the Sears Tower, riding the elevator up and down all day. Then I moved back in with my parents in Benton for awhile and went on the road full time when I was 21.
Q. What’s the hardest thing about breaking into stand-up?
A. In the beginning, the challenge is getting bookers to know who you are. But really, the roughest part is all the travel. You’re not home a lot, and it’s hard to have a relationship, or start a relationship.
Q. Why did you move to St. Louis?
A. The Funny Bone is a great club, and they’ve been so supportive of me. A comic needs the support of a home club, and the Funny Bone is as good as it gets. Also, St. Louis is two hours from my parents, close but not too close.
Q. What’s your act like?
A. I tell true stories about my family and people I know.
Q. How did you wind up on “Last Comic Standing”?
A. I auditioned in 2007 and got to the semifinals but not into the finals. The producers encouraged me to try out again. I auditioned in New York for just the judges, and then performed in the showcase that night. And I kept moving on.
Q. What was the finale like?
A. There were five of us, and they eliminated one at a time. I felt like I had a good chance of winning, and I was more hopeful after each cut. By the end, my heart was racing.
Q. Even though you came in second to Felipe Esparza, was it a good experience?
A. Yes. I’ve built a good career, and the show made it a lot better. Coming in second, people say to me, “You should have won!” That’s exciting and makes me feel good. After the St. Louis shows, I’ll be on the 65-city “Last Comic Standing” tour with the four other finalists. I hope to do Letterman again in October. All this helps with my goal of selling out club shows and then theater shows.
Q. Beyond that, what’s next?
A. I’d like to open a restaurant and bar in St. Louis with some friends. And maybe create or host a TV show that’s just right for me. In my act, I tell true stories about my family and people I know, and that could be good for scripted TV. But even if I wind up having to move to Los Angeles for that, St. Louis is still my home now.
Tommy Johnagin will perform at the Funny Bone at Westport Plaza at 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 3; at 7:30 and 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 4; and at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 5. Information: 314-469-6692.
