Comedian Vince Royale is a true well-rounded talent handling business from the stage to big screen. This year he's been blowing up by popping up in a commercial, a movie, and on Logo TV's “Bad Sex” where he puts it all out there addressing real life addictions and issues. As if all of those props weren't enough, he'll also be headlining the Brea Improv on July 24th and before he hits the stage, we hit him up to get the details on his latest ventures and to see how his family is dealing with them. Rather, if they even know about them!
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OC Weekly (Ali Lerman): So I watched your episode of “Bad Sex” on Logo and at first I thought it wasn't real!
Vince Royale: Some parts were exaggerated but the issues that the people had on there were real. I mean, it was kind of edited to make it look like I was going to the strip club every night so I was portrayed to be a lot more sexualized than I am in everyday life. As a comic, I don't have enough money to be in a strip club every night! [Laughs.] And Christopher Donaghue is a real doctor and he wouldn't put his credentials on the line by not giving sound advice. He's very serious about his work. Initially I did think I was going in there for sex addiction but after the process, I realized it wasn't really a sex addiction. I mean, what is a sex addiction? Everybody has sexual needs. It's like asking somebody, do you like to eat? [Laughs.]
Ha right? It's like, shut up, you just like to eat more than others. Do you think being able to talk about your sexual appetite has ultimately helped with your comedy though?
Yeah actually I do. As far as my sex life, I do talk about it on stage. Every guy talks about it though, I'm not doing anything different except I'm on TV and stage talking about it. Not a lot of men have that platform so I'm just voicing what single men do on a daily basis.
And so now that a doctor has helped you work through it, do you think it will hurt your comedy or help it?
You know what? That's what I was scared of at first initially because when I went into therapy I was like, part of my comedy is my pain. It allowed me to work through it on stage. I felt like, if I get better, will it make me less funny? That's not the case at all though because these experiences and emotions never go away. I was able to overcome that so I think I'm even funnier now. I now know both sides and have pain and happiness and with comedy, that works well.
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I hear that! Have your parents seen the show?
I hope not! [Laughs.] As a comic, I put up really random posts on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram so sometimes my mother can't tell if I'm joking or not so she gets concerned. I had to delete and block my mom…not because I don't love her, it's just to protect her from worrying about me. Also, I don't want other comics friending her. I don't need my mom having 200 comic friends because she's a beautiful woman and I don't need her to be at someone's comedy show! [Laughs.]
Hey! What about this article? If she reads it she is going to know!
[Laughs.] Yeah, that's why I deleted and blocked her! The only way she'll know about my career progress is if she calls me and asks. I like it better that way because this is what I chose. As a comic, I chose to get all of the attention. My family didn't ask for that. They're good church going people. [Laughs.] My mom still sees me as her boy and I want to protect that!
I feel your pain. My family is wonderful but I know my writing topics paired up with my truck driver mouth makes them cringe. OK so besides killing it with your comedy, it's safe to say that you've been having a pretty great year so far yeah?
Oh for sure. I was in a Mazda commercial, I did “Stand up and Deliver” on NUVOtv, there's “Bad Sex” on Logo, I was in an independent film called “LizardMan,” and I also shot a video for the theme song that plays on the ending credits. I'm of course also excited to be headlining the Brea Improv so yeah, this has been a great year so far!
Check out Vince Royale at the Brea Improv July 24th, 120 South Brea Blvd. Brea, CA 92821. (714) 482-0700. For tickets go to www.Improv.com. You can see the full episode of “Bad Sex” on Logo and for more info, go to his Facebook fan page and follow him on Twitter at @VinceRoyale.
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Ali Lerman knows much about comedy, basketball, and celebrating Wu-Tang Wednesday. She’s been writing for sixteen years and still calls her mom with grammatical questions.