Sure, he made a name for himself with those gigs. But that was back in the 90s. Rather than riding a brief wave and sinking back into anonymity, Breuer's career has never been better. He's working theaters with his stand-up comedy, he released a comedy music album in 2016 (Songs From the Garage) and he has a recurring role on the Kevin James sitcom, Kevin Can Wait.
Ahead of his March 3 show at The Palladium, Breuer told us what the Tampa Bay comedy scene was like when he started out, how he structures his live shows, and the only band you absolutely have to see live this year.
CL: You use social media videos to share personal events in your life (your wife's chemotherapy, your father's passing). You seem very comfortable sharing with fans.
Jim Breuer: I'm a normal person, and we're all the same at the end of the day. I want us to feel connected. I like my social media to be more of the person I am, and to let you in.
CL: You used to live in Palm Harbor. Did you do comedy here?
JB: I started stand-up down there in '89. I'd do open mic at Howard Johnson's in St. Petersburg. I always get a little feeling when I go by there.
CL: What was the scene like back then?
JB: It was phenomenal comedy scene. That whole crew. You're talking Billy Gardell, Darrell Hammond, and Brian Regan was already a headliner. You had Larry the Cable Guy who would come by every couple of months, who back then was Dan Whitney. You had Tom Rhodes and my good friend Phil Tagliaferri. We had a phenomenal crew. It was like going to college, and these were your roommates.
CL: You probably don't go to a Howard Johnson's anymore to work out new material. So how do you do it these days?
JB: I'll book a club, and at the club I'll work five shows. And in those five shows I have my premises and I'll just grind out what I'm going to do. But in the theaters I'm sort of the same way. I develop (material) at these theater shows. I still create on stage.
CL: So every show of yours is going to be a little different.
JB: Always. I don't know if that's a flaw or it's actually good. But I can't do word-for-word (performances). I can't live by that.
CL: You have fans who love your classic bits, and you're always writing new stuff. How do you balance that in your show?
JB: I give you my new hour. When I'm done with that, then it's "what do you want to hear?" You shout it out and I'll give you what you want. But I don't do it during my new hour. You need to trust me that I'm going to crush you, and that when we're done, if you still want to hear something we'll address that.
CL: You made it clear on Twitter that you were unhappy with the way Metallica was treated at the Grammy's (mic was turned off, band not introduced). Why did that bother you so much?
JB: What bothered me was the disrespect to Metallica that never would have happened to any other musician — and the fact that they didn't apologize. To me, that makes the Grammy's a low-class organization. They mean nothing to me. They deserved everything I said.
CL: So if you earned a Grammy for Songs From the Garage, you wouldn't go?
JB: Well, I didn't say that (chuckles). But it never will.
CL: That album is designed to be both funny and a legitimate rock record as well. How did things turn out?
JB: It was the hardest thing I ever did in my life. I've never worked so hard in my life. Thank God I landed Rob Caggiano to produce this thing. I'm really excited about the way it came out.
CL: For music fans, who should be on people's bucket lists to see on tour this year?
JB: One and only: Metallica. Case closed.
CL: Just Metallica?
JB: For hard rock? Metallica. Show's over. They're animals live. It's like a spiritual experience. There's something about that band.
CL: You're a passionate baseball fan. Who do you like in the next World Series besides your beloved Mets?
JB: That's it. I don't need to see anyone else in that World Series. It's our turn now. Let's go Mets!
CL: Comedians aren't always known for their happy personalities when they're off stage. Sometimes it's quite the opposite. But you're known as a positive guy. What keeps you that way?
JB: I have a strong foundation in life, in family and in faith. I don't like using the word "faith" because people go "Oh, you're religious!" I'm not religious. I have faith. I have a strong outlook on morality and what's good for the soul and what's good for others, and I do my darndest to walk the walk rather than talk the talk.
Life is very precious. We forget we're on borrowed time, so every day is a blessing that you get to see your child, your wife, your father, your mother, your friend. Every laugh is a gift, because you really don't know when it all goes away. That's the reality of life. And I've had enough of those realities that I get it now.
CL: Your most famous roles on television and movies happened around two decades ago. But you're working theaters more than ever, you're making new fans and you still have loyal fans who keep coming to see you. How do you keep your popularity growing?
JB: It gets better and better as time goes on because I get sharper and sharper. I found my voice, who I really am and what I want to talk about. My comfort zone is real life, what everyone can relate to, and family. And that is what I live for. That's my passion and it's my honest life. And people can relate to it. Then you add the funny, which is the most important part, and they're going to keep coming back.
Each year I keep saying this is the happiest time I've ever had in my life. Every single year. And right now I think I'm the funniest I've ever been. But that's for the audience to judge.
Here's a bit of Breuer's comedy:
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$28-35. Mar.3, 8 p.m. The Palladium, 253 5th Ave. N., St. Pete. 727-791-7400. mypalladium.org.
Michael Murillo takes comedy seriously. Follow him on Twitter and watch for regular comedy coverage at cltampa.com.
This article appears in Feb 23 – Mar 2, 2017.