Before “Colin Quinn Long Story Short” even hit the Helen Hayes Theater, it was being groomed for broadcast on HBO. A Broadway play was an afterthought for the 51-year-old comedian and his director, Jerry Seinfeld. After a successful run on the Great White Way, Quinn’s show premieres Saturday at 10 p.m. on HBO.
Are you a big history buff?
No. I mean, I like it like I like anything else, but I just wanted to do a show that was about bigger, sweeping things. I wanted to do stand-up without it just being bits.
You and Seinfeld have similar humor styles. How was your working relationship?
Nonexistent. No, I’m kidding. We worked as a team. I learned he likes to really focus and tinker on individual things. He likes to get in and do the work.
If you could have dinner with any historical figure, who would it be?
I like Aristotle. He had some really deep thoughts. Maybe Joan of Arc — she looked pretty hot. She’s probably a little young for me. One of the Mayans, since 2012 is coming — I’d like to know what’s really going to happen next year. Of course, Jesus Christ.
Where do you hope to see America in the future?
I’d hope that we could become like modern-day Greece in the sense of really starting to analyze and look at human behavior, but I don’t really feel like the world goes that way. Scientifically we do advance, but [humans don’t] really change.
“Jersey Shore” gets a mention in your show. Are you a fan of the series?
Sure I am. I want to see the new season in Italy. The real change, which nobody talks about, has been Vinny. [He] went from this nerd to playboy in the past two years. And really he could do no other. It’s what any guy would have done in that circumstance.
Do you ever get stage fright?
No. I mean, you get a little butterflies before you go out but it’s more of an excitement. But put it this way: If I didn’t prepare, [it’d be different].
