The Verdict is in: Eddie is Silly

Much Music’s Video on Trial and Love Court host: Eddie Della Siepe

Like many comedians, Eddie Della Siepe started at the bottom. Had the audience known then that the 17 year old boy they were booing at would turn out to be the host of several shows on Much Music and frequently hosting tours across Canada for Yuk Yuk‘s Comedy Club – they’d probably feel a little silly. But that’s what Eddie prides himself on: the ability to be silly.

Sitting with this rising star to talk about his new show: Love Court, I wanted to know what happens on his own dates. What would the jury have to say about them? Let’s start at the beginning, when he decided to venture into the terrifying world of comedy.

Eddie: I’ve wanted to be a comic since I was 12 years old. Ever since I saw Jim Carrey on In Living Color I just thought “wow, he’s even funnier on the set than on the show”. I knew then that I wanted to do comedy, and when I was about 17, I tried out for Yuk Yuk’s amateur night. They eventually called me to give it a try, and I did – I sucked.

Pony: I was going to ask how your first show went.

Eddie: Bad. I went up there, and in those days their management had TVs behind you that would play clips of explosions or car crashes if you were totally bombing.

Pony: That’s awful!

Eddie: And I remember I was doing awful, and suddenly the whole audience was bursting out laughing, so I looked behind me and saw what was happening on the screen. I wasn’t mad I just got defensive and impulsively started insulting the audience – at which point they started to boo me. So naturally I decided to go home; I put my head down on the kitchen table, and just balled my eyes out. And right at that moment my mom walked in and asked if they hired me.

Pony: Not yet, I guess. So how did you go back after that awful experience?

Eddie: I didn’t. It took me a solid two years. And I would torture myself: going to shows and watching them thinking “I’ll try it next week”, friends would pressure me etc. Until finally, a friend invited me to come to one of his shows and I automatically said “yes” without giving it much thought. So that’s when I made the leap to try it again.

Pony: That was a good leap to make.

Eddie: Well now I have that mentality where if you’re good at something, and you enjoy it, you shouldn’t stray from it. Eventually, things will come to you rather than you always having to chase them.

Pony: So now that you’ve settled into comedy full-time and are working at Much Music, tell me about your show Love Court!

Eddie: We shot a pilot episode in March for it, during the filming of Video On Trial, and basically; the show’s a combination of VOT and Blind Date. We critique a date, make fun of it – it’s a lot of fun! We shot 15 episodes this summer for which I wrote about 110 pages of jokes. That’s a lot of jokes! But it’s been so much fun, and interesting too watching what the editors choose for the show.

Pony: What sort of stuff do they leave out?

Eddie: Oh they always tell us to push the envelope a little bit, because it’s easier for them to scale back the material rather than having to re-shoot it. I try to keep within the parameters of what I think will work on TV, but I’m never disappointed with the material they choose. Ultimately everything I write I’ve considered for the show anyways.

Pony: So how does doing Video On Trial and Love Court compare to doing stand-up comedy?

Eddie: Having re-takes is obviously better when you’re doing TV. But even yesterday I was filming for Video On Trial and you’re working with this core group of people who’ve seen all this stuff before. I’ve heard horror stories about great comics who just freeze up in front of a camera because you’re alone. It’s just you, the cameraman and the producer – that’s it. There’s no audience that you can feed off energy from, and no reactions to your jokes. You can only trust your gut that hopefully what your saying is funny.

Pony: Sort of like talking to a mirror I guess. So in terms of material, have you ever had an ex-girlfriend or anyone get mad at you for using them in your routine? Especially discussing your sex life?

Eddie: I don’t talk about sex on stage.

Pony: Sure you do, I’ve seen it.

Eddie: Maybe a little bit haha. But relationship stuff is what everyone can relate to. I try to only talk about the little things, never anything on the grand scheme that would hurt people’s feelings. Girls have always been able to relate and laugh at it.

Pony: So what’s the weirdest thing a fan has said to you?

Eddie: I get a lot of: “I thought you were taller.” That’s television though! They make you look taller. So I’m always like “…Great.” I’ve also had a swinger couple ask me to join them for a sex party.

Pony: Wait, what? Really?

Eddie: Yea…I guess the tall comment isn’t that good anymore huh. This couple came up to me after a show and the woman was like: “I think you’re so funny”, so I thanked her and she was like “you should hang out with us sometime.” That’s a normal comment – I was fine with that. But I was a little tired so I turned her down, and she then said “No really, you should come to one of our BBQ’s  at home sometime.” Which is, you know, a little more personal, but then she adds: “It’ll be a sexy time.” So at this point I think it’s either going to be sexual or ironic. I asked her what that meant, to which she replied: “maybe we should all just hang out. As swingers.”

Pony: You should have gone!

Eddie: Why does every girl say that to me?

Pony: It would make a great story! But anyways, back to Love Court: you analyze so many couples – who’d be your ideal girl to date?

Eddie: A girl with a sense of humour is good, but even if they just love to laugh – that just makes everything more fun. I’m sure some people want more of a challenge in a relationship, but not me. I just want to be myself and be accepted for that.

Pony: And what about pet peeves?

Eddie: I’m pretty passive. I don’t mind peoples’ behavioral traits, that’s just who they are you know? Although, I don’t really like girls that aren’t planners. I like to know what’s happening, and to be able to plan around our schedules (not obsessively like: “sex at noon, and at 12:05 we’ll clean up, 12:10 we can eat”). I like girls who don’t mind calling me! Waiting three days for a phone call sucks. Games suck. Ideally, I’d like to hear from the person I’m dating haha.

Pony: Do you think because of the show girls might be nervous to go on a date with you? Because you’d be analyzing it?

Eddie: Oh big time. I’ve had girls get so intimidated by humour, I mean they all say they want a “funny guy” but after my shows they rarely come up to me. One time I sat down with a girl, and she was so nervous – gorgeous, but nervous. So I asked her why she wasn’t talking much and she said: “I’m afraid you’re going to make fun of me”. I’m not a vicious guy or anything, but I guess because I’m not timid they get scared or something. There’s also the other extreme where you grab lunch with a girl and they’re like “Are you going use this? In your routine?” And I’m like “you canceled your order and asked for the omelet… there’s not much material here.”

Pony: Speaking of material who are your favorite comedians?

Eddie: Louis C.K., Todd Barry, Jim Gaffigan, Greg Giraldo, Dane Cook’s pretty good as well, people always overlook these commercial guys. They’re just more accepted now it doesn’t mean they’re any different. I mean, my comedy’s not very serious it’s just silly. Not as far as blue collar silly, but it’s definitely absurd; quirky, a reflection of my personality. You know there’s a great quote from Mike Myers, I think he was talking to his father, I’m not sure of the exact words but it was something along the lines of: “the world needs silly.” And I have no problem embracing that – with whatever aspect of comedy I’m doing. I’m not there for a message I’m just there to be silly.

Catch Eddie Della Siepe Fridays at 6:00 p.m. on Love Court, and Mondays at 6:00 p.m. on Video On Trial.

– Emma Farquharson

The Verdict is in: Eddie is Silly, 5.0 out of 5 based on 2 ratings