Day two of the homecoming festivities included an evening comedy show featuring Gary Owen. Owen has a variety of movie and TV credits to his name, including the movies “Think Like a Man,” “Ride Along” and “Daddy Day Care.” The Daily Helmsman sat down with Owen following his show on Monday to get a little more insight on his 17-year-long career.
DH: What made you want to become a comedian?
GO: “I don’t know, I think it’s just in you. I think with all comedians, it’s just in you. You can’t really explain it.”
DH: What’s the best part about being a comedian?
GO: “I’d say it’s my drug of choice, I’ve never done any kind of drugs, but when I got my first laugh on stage I was hooked.”
DH: A lot of people are apprehensive of comedians because they “go too far,” what’s too far for you?
GO: “Well obviously I’m never gonna say the N-word. I’ve seen comedians do that, and that’s about as far as it goes.”
DH: What was your first big break?
GO: “My first break was “Comic View”. My first movie was “Held Up” with Jamie Foxx. But I really think my big break was “Think Like A Man” because I think, when you get in this business you hope to be a part of a hit movie that becomes a franchise, and that’s really what it was. It fit right into my fan base. I could've did “Avatar” but I don’t think I would've had the reaction. Black people already knew me, but “Think Like a Man” really validated it.”
DH: Essence named you “Black America’s Favorite White Comedian,” How does that make you feel?
GO: “It was cool, [laughs], I didn’t know they did it until it came out. I was like ‘Oh okay’. I didn't know [anything] about it.” [Laughs]
DH: You’ve starred in hit movies like “Think Like A Man” and “Think Like A Man Too”, most people would say you’ve “made it”, what made you still want to do college tours?
GO: “I don’t think you ever make it in this business. If you win an Oscar you want to win another Oscar, if you sell 10,000 seats you want to sell 11,000 seats. I think [with] every comedian that’s the drive. You aspire for goals you’re never gonna reach so you just keep working, and colleges are fun.”
DH: What do you hope your audience gets from your comedy sets, besides, of course, the laughs?
GO: “Not just comedy. When I leave a room I want people to be in a better mood than when I entered the room, and then I did my job.”
