Actor, comedian and writer Taylor Negron called Windy City Times from a cold and foggy California beach, armed with comments about fake people and Hollywood-obsessed culture.
'I saw a woman at the gym with a Vassar sweatshirt, rocket abs, and a tiny, little ass the other day,' Negron said. 'The only problem is she was 64. See, I had to write Satellites—it's the only way I could get through it all.'
Negron is bringing his unique show, 'Satellites,' an evening that blends tragedy and comedy with storytelling and music, to Chicago during Thanksgiving weekend.
The actor, known largely for his appearances in numerous '80s comedies, 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' and 'The Aristocrats,' entwines episodes of his life with music by violinist Lili Haydn. Negron takes a new approach to storytelling, sharing stories such as his experience as an assistant to Lucille Ball, where he reveals 'the tears behind the clown.' He also shares tales about the trouble he and his childhood gay best friend caused, among many other personal stories.
Negron is excited to share 'Satellites' with Chicago before the show heads Off-Broadway. He chatted with Windy City Times about music, orgies and reality TV.
Windy City Times: When did you get the idea to combine storytelling with music?
Taylor Negron: My cousin was the lead singer of the group Three Dog Night. When I was a kid, when 'Jeremiah was a Bullfrog' was playing on the radio, my family, including my grandma, would literally get on the table and start dancing. I always thought music was such a powerful conduit. It really coagulates everybody. You hear a song and it just vibrates. I love music.
I have this line in my show, where I say, 'No matter how low it's gotten for me, and how sad and despondent I've become, I will always hear the song 'I'm Still Standing' by Elton John, and then I'm completely restored again.'
I like the juxtaposition between tragedy and comedy, and there is just something intrinsically warm and vital about the violin. It can sound like an orgasm. It can sound like whining, like crying or like ghosts are coming. She's [ Lili Haydn ] huge. We're able to have this huge panorama of emotions.
WCT: Are audiences surprised because they are so used to knowing you, for example, as 'the pizza delivery guy from Fast Times as Ridgemont High?'
NG: We've all grown up together. I was in high school with everybody. I'm the first Gen-X slacker in movies. I was the one who was too old and overqualified for my ridiculous job as a pizza boy. We all grew up together, although I'm currently a year older than everybody else, of course. But I think the audience will see me, love me and remember me, and see that I'm maturing, becoming wiser and taking more risks.
WCT: This is a change of pace for you because you've done so much character acting over the years.
NG: Well I am in that, when I read the stories, I become the character.
WCT: That's true, because they are different parts of your lives.
NG: Yes. And there are different people, like this one scene where I'm invited to a gay orgy during Hurricane Katrina.
That's one of my stories that I talk about in 'Satellites.' Somehow I was stranded in New Orleans, and a Christian queen invited me. It's the whole seduction of me, and the seduction of these people who wanted me to go to this orgy. I play all the characters. So, it's like a personal thing and I get to play myself. But then I get to show you what it's like to be a cowboy. And I'm good, real good. [ Laughs ] . [ Gets into character as a Southern queen ] . 'Taylor, I'd like to say I'm an awesome cock sucker, as well as the cowboy here. You know how straight boys are about cock.' The audience, during that part, will generally become very quiet.
WCT: People get a little uncomfortable, I guess.
NG: People get uncomfortable! 'You know how straight boys are about sucking cock.' There were these two girls at a down and dirty club where I was performing, and they were having this dreadful, middle class, dreary conversation about nothing. Totally rude to everybody. And they would not stop. I said to them, 'You know, the two of you, when I look at you, make me want to suck cock.'
WCT: Did they shut up?
NG: Their mouths hung open and the audience burst out screaming. Then I rolled my eyes, and to the rest of the audience, said, 'Just the top of it.'
…Sometimes you just have to go in for the kill. In a way, 'Satellites' is going in for the kill, because it demands people to be there. The audience is required to pay attention. There are no excuses because you have a funny guy, a brilliant cello player and a marvelous violinist. It's conspiring to make you feel something.
Because in the world, there is this 'fuck you' vibe going on. It's terrible, with raisins on it. On every level, for every minority, for every country, for every child, for every old person. When are we going to lift ourselves out of the quagmire and start addressing the bigger picture, which are our souls? We need to take care of our souls now. All I wanted to do with the show is take care of my soul.
WCT: Do you hope people go home from the show, and say, 'I need to take care of my soul now?'
NG: Yes. And the overwhelming theme of the show is that, its kind of a Nietzschean tone, where sometimes the very worst thing that could happen to you is the very best thing. We're always running away from the bad things, but sometimes the bad thing is the short cut, where you can become a more understanding, apologetic and courageous person.
Culture has made it hard for us to be human. Like, men are treated badly if they show emotion. And then this new kind of metrosexual men have been mowed over by really small, bitchy …women with these terrible, sad guys with them.
…Heterosexuals should be banned from marriage. They should be forfeited the right. I don't understand why people come down on that. Why isn't Britney Spears in prison?
Now it's all up to us to sort it all out. I really like communities. That's why I'm doing this show. Because how many different 'Ugly Betties' do we have to watch? …That's why this writers strike is great. It's a chance for us to step back and ask what are we doing here? There's some good stuff, but there's a lot of shit out there.
WCT: In that care, what do you think of reality TV?
NG: I love it for all the wrong, elitist reasons—to say, 'See? I'm right. People are stupid as posts.'
…I say that VH1's 'I Love New York' is my favorite reality show because it's like macramé night at Alcatraz. Reality shows show our complete pre-occupation with celebrities. If anything, it tells me that I need to get out more and fuck more people. I think people, like in the movie 'Network,' need to turn off all these shows and let it all out, start making out with strangers and heavily coming on to people, go to museums and flirt and hold hands with all members of all sexes and ages and have a free-for-all of love.
Reality television, if you fall for it, will ruin your life. You need to turn it off and get out of the house and at night, go to shows, go to museums, go online, have an orgy.
Chicago is a little different, where you have a community, people are boppin' around and things are happening. That's why I wanted to come to Chicago during Thanksgiving weekend. I thought my show is a really good place for people to have a destination after Thanksgiving with their family. People's families can come together and hate me together. [ Laughs ] . You need someone to hate at Thanksgiving. The thing with my show is it's galvanizing of the human experience.
See www.lakeshoretheater.com to learn more about the Nov. 23 and 25 performances of 'Satellites' at Lakeview's Lakeshore Theater, 3175 N. Broadway.
