Loni Love Exclusive Interview

Superpowered comedian Loni Love is gearing up for her One Hour Comedy Central Special "Loni Love: America's Sister" set to debut May 8, 2010. Variety and Comedy Central named  Love one of the "10 comics to watch" (awesome alert) and Love has long captivated audiences across the country with her electrifying wit and scrumptious sass. The irresistibly charming comedian has appeared on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno",  VH1's "I Love the 70s/80s/90s" and as a panelist on "Chelsea Lately". All in all, Loni Love translates to "crazy cool" in pop culture world.

MM: What was the process of developing your own Comedy Central special?
Loni Love: It took 7 years to develop the material. When you're a stand up comic, you have to decide what you want to be. I tried out material on the road and then I decided how I wanted to present myself. Then I went for it and performed.

MM: How would you describe your comedic style?
LL: Just telling it the way it is...not having an attitude about it and being real. The world is so politically correct all the time. Sometimes only someone close to you, like your family, can talk to you in a certain way. That's why I named my Comedy Central special "America's Sister" because there are so many things happening that we need to be real about.  I talk about relationships, politics, celebrities. I have something to say and am getting to the meat of it. America is going through a lot. People don't have jobs, people don't have money. I think it is an honor to help people forget about their problems. I just want to entertain people.

MM: You originally were an engineer (smartie alert!) before becoming a comedian. Do any of your engineering skills come into play in comedy?
LL: The thing about engineering is that it is problem solving. Joke writing is solving a conflict with an ending and that ending is supposed to be funny. They both involve problem solving except with two different things: science on one end and comedy on the other end.

MM: What do you consider your "aha, I made it" moment?
LL: I did the showcase at the Aspen Comedy Festival in 2002/2003. It was scary at the time but that is when it hit me, 'This is real, I can do this.' 

MM: Growing up in Detroit, did you ever have aspirations to be a powerhouse comedian?
LL: Growing up in the projects, TV was my companion. As I got older, I realized that TV was a way to disseminate information to a large amount of people in a short amount of time. In a way I feel like I'm now giving back... maybe to a latchkey kid who only has a TV and they see me as bringing companionship, because that's how I saw it.

MM: What is it like being a panelist on the hottest show on TV aka "Chelsea Lately"?
LL: It is a great show. We have a great time. They're crazy and they're real. We really do care for each other. We never thought the show would take off as it has. I think people wanted to hear something different and see something different in late night.

MM: What inspires your material?
LL: I'm a news junkie. When I'm on the airplane I have to read magazines. I get inspiration everywhere then I think, 'how is it funny to me?' I never want people to feel they wasted their time listening to me. I just want to entertain.

MM: What is the secret to your success?
LL: The biggest thing is hanging in there. A lot of people put time limits on things, 'If I don't do this in a year...' That is not how life is. Just hang in there.