After years of flying under the radar, comedic duo Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim have noticed their increased popularity of late. “I think our following has gone beyond cult. I don’t know what’s between normal following and cult following, but it’s getting big,” says Heidecker. And rightfully so. Aside from keeping busy with commercials, television shows and movies, the two have recently embarked on their most extensive North American tour to date.
How has the reception been on this recent tour?
It’s been phenomenal; really fun to do and the audiences have been fantastic. Definitely the biggest tour we’ve ever done in terms of people. It’s an insane experience to get to do the weird s—t that we do and get these huge audiences.
How would you say your live performance differs from your taped shows?
It’s different from our shows, but it’s cut from the same cloth. The tour has been written to work as a live experience. It’s almost like a Broadway version of what we’re known for. If you’re a fan of our shows, you’re gonna be laughing the whole time. If you’re not a fan of our shows, or you just walked in off the street, you’re gonna be thoroughly confused.
Is it hard to explain your brand of humor to people who just walk in off the street?
Sometimes it can be hard to explain, but there’s always a frame of reference. If it’s an older person, you can say we’re a little bit like Monty Python. It’s out there. It’s weird. Older people seem to understand it more because it can be similar to that 70s kind of weird comedy. It’s unique, and they’re into it.
So would you say that Monty Python played a part in your comedic inspiration?
Yeah, Monty Python was huge for me as a kid. Even when you look at their early stuff now, it’s still beyond bizarre. They were doing weird, crazy stuff that makes me feel like we’re not even that far out there.
It seems as if your new show “Bedtime Stories” is a little darker and different than anything you’ve done before.
It’s certainly different, but different is our middle name. As soon as we feel comfortable, we feel uncomfortable. We didn’t want to repeat ourselves with this show. Bedtime Stories seemed to morph organically into something that warranted higher production value and a slower pace, which contrasts what we did on Awesome Show, Great Job! and felt like the right thing to do.
Is that why you and Eric never pursued a sixth season of “Awesome Show”? Was it becoming too comfortable?
We really believe in that British model of doing short runs on television. You just start feeling gross after doing the same thing for a while.
Aside from television shows, you and Eric have turned some heads with your Old Spice commercials.
Commercials can a fun thing for us to do. It’s an opportunity to work with some new people, or try something different while not having a strong emotional connection. It’s fun to make stuff, whether it’s a commercial or a movie or anything.
Speaking of movies, any word on a follow up to Tim & Eric’s Billion Dollar Movie?
Nothing actively planned right now. We got sidetracked with the TV show, which is honestly much more fun and productive for us. I feel like you put all your eggs in one basket with a movie. We might explore another movie in the future, but for now we’re just focusing on the show.
If you go
Tim & Eric & Dr. Steve Brule
Oct. 4
Berklee Performance Center
136 Massachusetts Ave.
$37.50, 617-747-2261
www.berklee.edu/BPC
Oct. 10
Keswick Theatre
291 North Keswick Ave., Glenside
$37.50
www.keswicktheatre.com
Oct. 11
Best Buy Theater
1515 Broadway, New York
Sold out!
www.bestbuytheater.com
