Almost Famous
Television comedian-shmedian. Bobby Lee wants it all, now.
Bobby Lee is sick to his stomach. His brother warned him about this West Los Angeles late-night sushi place that advertises itself to be a party every night.
"Now there is a party in my stomach," he groaned.
But it's nothing a Red Bull and cigarettes can't cure. The 33-year-old Korean American comedian takes long drags in between thoughts and waxes philosophical about his career.
This is Bobby's seventh year on Fox's Saturday night comedy sketch show, "MADtv," making him the second longest running cast member behind Michael McDonald. The cast begins shooting in a few weeks and Bobby has mixed feelings.
"I feel like it's been a long time. I hate the smell. You know how when you haven't been someplace in a long time, you walk in and there's a familiar smell? Like at your parents' house ... or in Korean houses, you have the smell of kim chi and dad's feet."
The Seven-Year Itch
Bobby has come a long way in seven seasons. He struggled in the first few seasons, mostly because the self-described "full-blown drug addict in high school" relapsed when he first joined the cast.
"When I first got to 'MADtv,' I literally could not get on. It was a really painful time. Now I can take a dump on someone's dressing room floor and say 'how about that, huh?'"
"I fought for it," Bobby continued. He's been sober for four years now.
Sketch comedy shows aren't traditionally a fertile breeding ground for minorities, especially Asian Pacific Americans. Steve Park made it onto the cast of "In Living Color," but only lasted for a season. Comparatively, Bobby is not only a veteran, but also a demigod.
From Bobby's twisted mind came some of the most memorable APA characters in television history: Tank, an overcompensating APA racer who tries to pick up chicks with his souped-up Daewoo, and bumbling translator Bae Sung (whose tagline "Uh-oh! Hot Dog!" drives Bobby mad).
But seven years of parodying television personalities like Connie Chung and political despots like Kim Jong-Il may be losing its luster. Bobby will start the new season without four returning cast mates, including longtime collaborator, Ike Barinholtz.
"I gotta' get out of there," said Bobby.
Looking for the Next Level
It's not that he's biting the hand that feeds him - Bobby is excited for season 13. He promises to bring more "24 with Bobby Lee" and "Blind Kung Fu Master" sketches and looks forward to working with his friend and new cast member, Johnny Sanchez.
He also plans to feature more of his real-life parents, who last season flew from Phoenix to Los Angeles to share camera time with their son.
"My dad is a functioning alcoholic. He needs to be buzzed to perform, so we have to have him drink in the alley," joked Bobby. "They're just really naturally funny people. I had problems with them growing up, but as an adult, I find them amusing."
But his excitement for the new season is tempered with frustration.
"They cut the budget by 40 percent. It's not going to be the same show. But maybe it'll be better and more raw because we're fighting for our lives," said Bobby. He pauses for a long drag of his cigarette. "Obviously, I want this show to last. It's like home to me. I want it to flourish."
Nonetheless, he's currently writing a pilot for Comedy Central, which is set to shoot during the filming of "MADtv." The show will be a cross between "The Sarah Silverman Show" and Bobby's own wild life ("I get beat and stuff in the show because I always do. This punk beat me up three times last week"). The Comedy Central show will also tackle social issues like the differences between Blacks and Koreans.
"Hasn't 'Rush Hour' helped us at all?" he deadpanned. "As an Asian American guy, I feel like we still don't have a voice on television. We're getting on shows like Daniel Dae Kim [in 'Lost'] but he speaks Korean most of the time ...
"I feel like two years from now sketch comedy will be more open to Indians and Asians and other people. I'm proof that the U.S. is a melting pot."
Humble Beginnings
The San Diego, Calif. native didn't always fit in and wasn't always funny. For a time in his 20s, Bobby was in a band called "Laxton's Superb," a type of apple.
"It was the worst band ever. I had long hair down to my ass. I literally thought I was going to be a rock star. I could barely play the piano."
He started waiting tables and stalking two white girls.
"Those were the dark years. All I did was read poetry and Kierkegaard and think about suicide," he said laughing. "I have like 28 first cousins and I'm the only one that didn't graduate from college. I never got good grades. I always wanted to party."
One day, he walked by the La Jolla Comedy Store and saw a sign. It said "Dishwasher Wanted," so Bobby answered. At the Comedy Store, manager Fred Burns told Bobby he was funny and should try standup.
His 'Movie Career'
"I don't have one," said Bobby about his big screen career. "Let's talk about the failure of 'Kickin it Old Skool.' Did you see it?"
No, we didn't. But neither did many Americans. The Jamie Kennedy comedy about some misfit breakdancers - including Bobby as Aki Terasaki failed miserably at the box office.
"I put all my eggs in that movie," he said glumly.
Bobby also auditioned for the role of Harold, as in "Harold and Kumar go to White Castle," but he lost to John Cho, who according to Bobby, lobbied the filmmakers to cast him as Kenneth Park, the squeaky clean Ivy League student role that was originally being offered to "some Canadian kid."
He has a cameo in Judd Apatow's forthcoming "Pineapple Express" ("I have like five lines.") and has completed shooting "Killer Pad," where he plays a transvestite real estate agent.
"It's never going to see the light of day."
So what does Bobby have to do to catch another break?
"I'm still an underground comedian," he said. "Everything is a question mark."
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