411 Mania Interview: David Koechner
Posted by Leonard Hayhurst on 03.20.2007
The comedy star talks about his new Naked Trucker and T-Bones CD and upcoming film The Comebacks
Releasing March 20th, The Naked Trucker and T-Bones Live at the Troubadour cd captures the complete live stage show of the duo of Dave "Gruber" Allen and David Koechner in their deranged alter egos. The pair have been playing shows at the Largo in Los Angeles for years and have even toured with Tenacious D. The characters were introduced to the world through the recent Comedy Central series "The Naked Trucker and T-Bones Show" with Koechner as Gerald "T-Bones" Tibbons.
Koechner says that while fans of the Comedy Central series should enjoy the disc, almost fans and those unfamiliar to the characters should also find entertainment value.
Koechner says, "It's a different format from the show. It's a different energy. It will give a different insight into the characters that we weren't able to do on the show."
While the show received some good notices, it's unclear if the series will return for a second season. If it does, Koechner says we will see some format changes for the better. The first season was a hybrid of a sitcom and a variety show, featuring taped segments and on stage sections in front of a studio audience like other Comedy Central shows "Chapelle's Show" and "Mind of Mencia." There should be less focus on in studio segments and more bits on the road. One idea that wasn't used for the first season was to do a VH-1 style storytellers to set up the characters and explain their background.
"It's easy to play Monday morning quarterback now, but the hybrid format didn't give the best entrée into the characters. It's hard to introduce characters people don't know in that format. They don't know what they're watching or what's going on. That just doesn't turn off viewers, but it can even make them angry," according to Koechner.
One misconception of the T-Bones character that fans have is that he is mentally challenged, when that couldn't be farther from the truth.
"Gerald is a conman and a drifter. He'll do what he has to in order to get what he wants, but he's really very smart. He changes the rules just when you think you know what they are. He'll argue the color of the chair you're sitting in just to get you to doubt yourself," explains Koechner.
One highlight of the series has been the number of guest stars; like Will Farrell, Stephen Carrell and Tenacious D.
"When you get your own TV show it's a special thing. You have to go for broke and calling in favors is just what I did. All those guys are so busy with what they're doing, so for them to make time to do the show for me meant a lot," Koechner stated.
Koechner is certainly part of the current frat of comedy stars in Hollywood that are producing films of a similar flavor, such as ones he's been in like Anchorman, The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Talladega Nights. While Koechner calls the specific tone of these films "smart broad comedies" he thinks there is more to it.
"I would say it's a trend to ensemble comedies. One thing we did on Anchorman was pass the ball around. We didn't have to focus on the big star and let him get all the laughs. We filled the film with a lot of fun characters."
Koechner says that you never know when something is going to be a hit when you're working on it, but he did know Anchorman was "pretty special."
"It was such an uncommon experience to work on it. We had such a blast doing it and when you're having that much fun doing something you know it has to translate on the screen," Koechner said.
Another cult phenomenon Koechner was a part of was Snakes on a Plane. He said that while making it they all knew it was "tongue in cheek" and "campy fun," but the outcome was startling.
"I was amazed by the internet buzz and was surprised when it didn't translate into box office," lamented Koechner.
One project that has lived up to the buzz is "The Office," which Koechner has a recurring role on. Koechner said that he almost shot an episode recently, but his character was written out of the script. However, he will certainly be back on the show and working with pal Stephen Carrell.
Of Carrell, Koechner jokes that he's "a machine. He's just not human. He works so hard all the time. He's a robot built in a secret lab somewhere in Minnesota of all places. No, actually I think it was closer to Boston."
Koechner might also be teaming with Carrell again for a big screen adaptation of Get Smart, but he couldn't say much on the project at this time. This wouldn't be the first television program update Koechner will be a part of, as he played Cooter in The Dukes of Hazzard. When the film came out, original Cooter Ben Jones didn't have many nice comments. Koechner felt his statements were "disingenuous" as he auditioned to be in the movie as the governor that shows up in the end. Koechner said that they tried to show respect to the original actors and offered them parts in the film, but the problem was that they wanted to take on their original roles.
Koechner rightly states that "so many Broadway actors didn't get to replay their characters in movies. It's just the way it goes. It's a long shot to think they (the original Dukes cast) could land those parts."
Koechner doesn't dwell in the past though as he's gearing up for The Comebacks set for August. Koechner plays the worst coach ever in sports who gets one last chance to make good with a crew of a ragtag college football players. Koechner describes it as a football comedy that skewers and spoofs the genre. Koechner takes his first starring part in stride.
"It's great, but really it's just more words to say. I have to be there all the time instead of a couple weeks here and there. I'm trying not to get a big head. I'm approaching it like all my other work."
If Koechner holds true to that we should be in for a great film.
(editor's note: Koechner promised another interview when The Comebacks hits theaters right on my lap. "Not on your laptop, on your lap.")
