LiveWorld Transcripts

Boxtop presents

Comedian Craig Shoemaker
Chats about his career!

March 24, 1998

Growing up around Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the 60's in an all female household with an estranged father who left the family to own a mule riding business, Craig Shoemaker was not destined to be an accountant! Craig began his television and film career in his hometown in the eighties. He performed characters for the local show "Saturday Night Dead" on KYW-TV and garnered two NATAS Emmy awards for video shorts that he produced, wrote and played all the parts in for PRISM. A few years later, Craig moved to Los Angeles in 1987 and after a few months of sleeping on stolen pool furniture -- he hasn't looked back.

Page 1 of 5

JaxCCC: TalkCity Presents(tm), in association with BOXTOP LIVE(tm), welcomes you! Tonight please welcome our special guest Craig Shoemaker. Craig is currently starring in VH-1's new trivia show "My Generation" and hosts ABC's specials, "Real Funny" Please welcome Craig to Talk City!

Craig Shoemaker: Hey good to be here!

Parkbench: For a comedian, you've done a variety of roles, from trivia to an ABC hour long show "Real Funny" and even Scream2. what roles do you like best?

Craig Shoemaker: Actually since I do comedy so often, I enjoy the darker characters. Hopefully, I will be in Scream 3, perhaps a love scene with Neve Campbell!

Parkbench: You've starred with some great stars, like Courtney Cox, Farrah Fawcett, and Courtney Thorne-Smith, what's it like working with leading ladies like these? Scary? Fun? And who was your favorite?

Craig Shoemaker: It’s intimidating at first, but once Farrah grabbed my ass I knew she was one of the family. I really enjoyed working with Courtney Smith!

C: What do you consider as the highlight of your career so far?

Craig Shoemaker: Doing Comic Relief and meeting Don Knotts (Barney Fife). I imitated him and he said, “You do me better than me!” and of course doing the American Comedy Awards on ABC was a real highlight too.

Bat: How did you start as a stand up comedian?

Craig Shoemaker: In High School, I guess. I was 5 foot 1 inch tall and 91 pounds. It was either make them laugh or get a wedgee!

Potato: Ever get back near the infamous Rte. #320 any more?

Craig Shoemaker: If you mean Philadelphia, I am going back this weekend to be a best man in a wedding. Closer to Route 95 for the wedding though.

Applepie: How do you feel about the phrase describing you in the New York Times, as "a sitcom star waiting to happen?"

Craig Shoemaker: I am still waiting. It was two years ago and I am still waiting! You are not a network head are you applepie?

Gerryreed: What was it like starring in, writing and co-producing "The LoveMaster?"

Craig Shoemaker: I loved doing all those things because I am a control freak! The most enjoyable part was being able to hire all of my talented friends and winning the film festival was an added hoot. I hope you all saw it!

Jimt: Votes for you for "Best Stand-Up Comedian" at the 1997 American Comedy Awards came in from all over the country via the Internet. Are you yourself connected, and if so, do you like to chat?

Craig Shoemaker: I did not grow up with computers. I am on the International Info Cul-de-Sac. Seriously I have been online for 3 years or so but don't have that much time lately, so STOP THE SPAM! (Those hot chicks keep writing me.)

Page 1 of 5