‘Throwing Shade’ podcasters Erin Gibson and Bryan Safi take on Dallas
Feminasty” Erin Gibson and “Homosensual” Bryan Safi just want to make you laugh. And trust me, they will, as they hit the stage of Dallas Comedy House March 14 with their absurdist, stream-of-consciousness comedic dialogue in the podcast-cum-live-show Throwing Shade.
The West Hollywood-based (and Texas-native) comedy duo host the popular podcast, which has been running for two years (now with video) and has surpassed 3 million downloads worldwide. They will be serving up social justice realness with outrageousness. If you’re not a listener yet, get on it stat. For the past two years, Throwing Shade has been named the “Best LGBT Podcast” by the Podcast Awards for its satirical look into important social justice issues like gay rights, women’s rights and pop culture — including banter about RuPaul’s Drag Race and angry pro-football cheerleaders. We caught up with Gibson and Safi to find out more about what we can expect at their upcoming Dallas live show.
— Eddie Garza
Dallas Voice: How did you two first meet? Gibson: We met in an orphanage. Miss Hannigan hated us both, but we were adopted by [Upright Citizens Brigade] Theater and started doing comedy there with each other instead of with brooms and mops.
Safi: We met at UC Berkeley, a comedy theatre here. Then we got a job at Al Gore’s network Current TV, where we wrote on a show everybody in the world has heard of called Infomania.
And that’s how we blossomed into adult comedy partners who make Annie references.
Why did you decide to start the Throwing Shade podcast? Were live shows always part of the business plan and vision? Gibson: Our show Infomania got cancelled, which was actually a blessing in disguise. We started our podcast as an extension of our segments on Infomania, ”That’s Gay” and “Modern Lady.”
Safi: Except we were free from any sort of network oversight. No quality control, no time constraints, no one telling us to keep it classy.
Gibson: So we started talking honestly, like two friends would do. Using words like “fuck” and “shit.”
Safi: Our Texas mothers would not be proud. Or would they?
Gibson: They wouldn’t. We’re trained performers and natural assholes, so it was just the right thing to start doing live shows. Also, podcasts are kind of a lonely endeavor. We always hoped we’d have an audience to perform Throwing Shade for. We love performing. Whether it be at home, in the mirror, naked, doing our best Buffalo Bill.
Safi: Or singing “Happy Birthday” to strangers at a Pappasito’s.
How do the live shows differ from the podcast? Safi: Bigger in every way. It’s an actual show, not two people sitting down in front of microphones. We’re also totally nude.
Gibson: They’re more insane. It’s more like a two person standup show. We interact with the audience a lot.
Safi: We can’t really do exactly what we do in the podcast because Erin and I don’t laugh at each other’s jokes. Or we try not to.
Your tagline is: “We take a look at all the issues important to ladies and gays, and treat them with much less respect than they deserve.” Do you find that talking about important social justice issues in a funny way makes it easier to talk about them? Safi: I think we always try to do funny first, message second. There are so many stupid people saying stupid things. If you don’t laugh, you cry. Wouldn’t you rather laugh?
You’re both accomplished sketch writers. Who/what have you written for, and do you have a favorite comedian who delivers your jokes just like you write them? Gibson: At FunnyOrDie.com, here’s everyone who has perfectly delivered an “Erin Gibson” joke: Kaley Cuoco, Mary Steenburgen, Jerry O’Connell, Alfie Allen, Josh Molina, Natasha Lyonne, Taryn Manning, Tracee Ellis Ross and the glorious Teri Hatcher.
Safi: I just straight-up give people line readings. But yeah, we definitely prefer to deliver our own jokes. I would say that I’ve loved working with Jesse Tyler Ferguson. He was so good in The First Gay Bachelor thing I did. And I would also say Fred Willard was every bit as amazing as you’d think. Cheyenne Jackson in The Gay Christian Mingle was also fantastic.
What is the difference between writing for other comedians and developing material for yourselves? Gibson: I did a web series with Rachel Harris, and she was a delight! I just listened to her stories and ideas and then really just executed them. It was easy because I like her comedic sensibility. If someone gave me $40,000 to write for Larry the Cable Guy, I’d do it for the challenge, but I would absolutely mainline cocaine.
Safi: It has to be a comedian I really like. I wrote some stuff for Kathy Griffin this year for a Trevor Project benefit in Hollywood. Once I met with her and understood what she wanted, it wasn’t bad at all. She was so clear, and we have similar tastes. And she was obviously amazing.
How has Throwing Shade changed over the years, both philosophically and comedically? Safi: It hasn’t really. Our philosophy has always been the same: Bring skorts back.
Have you ever seen each other naked, either accidentally or on purpose? Safi: No. I mean … no.
Gibson: I draw pictures of Bryan naked. He looks like a velociraptor with a rainbow wig on. But we did just decide we’re ready to share a bed on tour, like brother and sister.
Safi: We’re gonna sleep Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory-style, head to feet.
What’s the grossest thing you’ve put in your mouth for no money? Gibson: I eat more tartar sauce than anyone would believe. Like, with a spoon.
Safi: Great question. Crack?
Do you look to any comedians for inspiration? Gibson: Tina Fey — duh and derh and doy — and Judy Gold. She was my first standup crush when I was a kid. She’s super tall and confident and understands pantsuits. Although she’s a comedic actress, Jane Lynch is pretty much the bee’s knees.
Safi: Sandra Bernhard. It’s always been her for me. She’s blunt, she never self-deprecates for a laugh, and she’s brilliant. She’s completely herself whether people like it or not.
Gibson: Like us. Except we actually just want people to like it.
Bryan, you’re originally from El Paso. What was your experience growing up gay in a Tex-Mex border town? Safi: I didn’t have a gay identity in El Paso. I’ve never even been to a gay bar there, which needs to change. I knew I was gay at about 15 or 16, and I kept it to myself. It definitely didn’t feel like my high school or my environment was a safe space in any regard for me to come out. I’m sure it’s slightly different now. Now I would probably just drive across the border with a huge car wrap on my car of me in bed with another man, and people would cheer.
Gibson: They absolutely would not.
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition March 7, 2014.