Which of these themes is a recurrrent subject on the show ?
There is recurrent theme always, sex. I talk a lot of sex because only talk about what I do not know (laughs). This is a typical Portuguese, talks, talks and do what you say and that in this case I do not do! Sex is a theme shared by all, because it messes with notions that you can play.
Notes a difference between the public? Madeira is different?
Yes, that's why I decided to make my debut solo here in Madeira because people react very well and give value by coming here to present our work. And we also appreciate the responsiveness of the people. Give me the idea that it is a public that perceives the comedy perfectly, that its used to. And Madeira is an island with many cultural events that may be happening all at once, because there is public. It is a heterogeneous audience that likes to watch shows and the proof is that this is not show done in Funchal, is in Calheta. And it is all sold out. And how I will have to work hard now! It is a disgrace, I have to push myself.
Can you live of comedy in Portugal?
I not live only of stand up comedy. Moreover, is not an income. It is the foundation of comedy, it’s the one I loved more to do and also what we do for 5 to midnight, for the magazines I write and for other projects I have. I do it because it is the purest form of comedy, because the reaction of the people are there at the moment. I make a joke and they laugh or not and I'll have to find my own pace. In Portugal are emerging many comediants and there is no concept of being good or bad, there is space for everyone. Previously we had two channels, RTP 1 and 2, everyone saw Herman, because it was just him. Then came two more channels that allowed open room to others.
Is it different writing sketches for a show than for television?
Yes It is one thing to do this: there is now a joke, and be spontaneous now. How many times, I was told to write sketches due to go on air in a hour, becouse we had a problem. Or write a sketch for nine hours of broadcasting live to be delivered in four days. In hose sitautionsis harder to have fun ...
You’re talking about 5 to midnight?
Yes, but not only.
Where do you feel most comfortable? Because on stage you have the impact of the public, but television is not so immediate.
I get more nervous on stage in such shows of stand up comedy, in live television because we have television cameras, is now, what we do it is done and gone. Here is an hour upon the stage where we have the direct reaction of the people that does not happen on television. And just for being different, I have more freedom here that when I am on television. I say all the crap I want, and I'm not limited, well I can not torch fire to anything, can not beak anything they already warned me. And there are a few props that I liked to destroy. There are things I can break, I have a fascination for doing that kind of stuff, but in television they wont let me. SIC had a program in which I had loved to tear down the set, but they would not let me, the just allowed me to dismount it, well, it wasn’t that bad!
Do you think there is room for young comedians like you, in a market as small as Portugal?
I think there is room. And it's the kind of debates we have in Portugal, me with my friends who are comedians. I, for example, still do not consider myself a comedian, despite living from comedy. Like when I was a journalist, not even considered myself a journalist, because to be professional is not enough to have a professional portfolio and writing in a newspaper, is something much more personal. You have to feel it. And I still do not feel comedian. And in this profession its necessary a certain humility and not just saying: I want to be a comedian, because it is very fashionable. Doesn’t work that way. You have to work, knowing what people like and be prepared to create and there is something very terrible, when things are not as good as we want, not been funny anymore and that’s also horrible. The country is small and there is a Portuguese mentality that no longer applies that is: this guy is good, but only this guy. The others do not matter, they are imitating. What is not true, what happens is that we have the same influence.
Are you talking about someone in particular?
Herman is a person who has influenced everyone. I have the happiness to know him and is someone that I love, I talk a lot, because we are always laughing, laughter after laughter. For example, I remember the phenomenon of stinking cats, that was just them and there was nothing else. I continued to do comedy. There were the contemporaries, but they said that they were copying the others. The Portuguese mentality of limited vision. And there is space for everyone. I may like a comedian that nobody else likes or the contrary. I think there is room for everyone.
When you discovered you wanted to do comedy? Because you were saying earlear that your professional live began in journalism?
Yes, from journalism to comedy is a short hop (laughs). I was a journalist until 2005. I worked in the Independent and the Capital. Collaborated with other publications. The newspaper closed, I went to the fantastic world of unemployment and started writing a blog, in the boom of blogs, and friends started to like it, they told me there were some very funny things. It was on tv the show "get up and laugh”, I contacted Carlos Moura, and he invited me for coffee soon and I thought these guys from television just liked flowers (laughs). But, not him, he wanted to talk about comedy and he gave me the break that launched me into the world of comedy. Although I went to do a television show in RTP as a journalist, but then I realized I was tired of putting up with insults of not being recognized for the work I develop. Journalism is about closing pages, to occupy the space, because what sells a newspaper is advertising and rather what we do and we rarely heard it, it's not cool, and I like having the feedback of things. Then I had my first appearance on "always on foot," of Luis Felipe Borges and I started to dedicate myself more to comedy. Then yes, I entered the 5 to midnight as one of the comedians and writers of the program, especially for Pedro Fernandes, I work in his team.
Who are your references on stage? I know that Herman is one.
Yes, Herman is a reference for everyone. Ricardo Araújo Pereira, not on stage but in the style of comedy. My references are foreign. I love Conan O `Brien, he is not a comedian is a screenwriter, which began on" Saturday Night Live”. Dane Cook is a comedian, probably the best of today. And especially one that is Michael Gerber is an American comedian who is now dead, was similar to Kurt Cobain, physical resemblance, and vices, he did not suicide, but died of an overdose. And it's curious, that I contacted with his widow sending her a message through facebook to tell her that I liked her husband's work and that had influenced me so much, she replied and we started to exchange some messages which is very funny.
Do you have feedback from the public through social networks when it comes to television?
Yes, yes. The midnight to 5 has a large network of fans on facebook and when we do some thing that are placed on the net. They make many comments.
Is there a sketch that went seriously wrong and you had complaines?
There’s some who said they dislike the show. There was one guy who kept saying atrocities and spoke of clouts. And offenses that did not make any sense. And I send him an email, you may not enjoy my job and it's up to you, but you are not right about this thing of the wedges, makes no sense and explained to him my whole route. I received an email of apologizing. The net disguises people. They hide behind the computer. Then again, we talk, he is very critical and I think its ok. There is a sketch I can recall that was weak, one that imitated the SMS from Tiger Woods, who was not funny, but it was amusing for not having any. But, things have gone well and there are more people who like more than those who not.
