Michael Jr: Comedy is a Vehicle, not a Destination

Michael Jr. has been funny for a long time, but his entry into comedy and his career as a comedian came with a persistent effort over time. Well into his third decade as a stand-up, with a string of club and television appearances, podcasts, videos and movies credits, he wants to make an impact on the faith of whoever is ready.

Following a “Funny Thing About Life” tour two years ago, he includes his wife, Ebony, on a current tour, “Funny Thing About Marriage.”

I caught up with them at a show in Bellville, Ohio, Sunday, in which he displayed his stand-up stuff, and they presented their take on strengthening marriage, to share their perspective on the term compromise, which seems to be an assumed tool of any marriage.

“But, if a bridge is compromised, do you want to go across? A roller coaster is compromised, will you ride it? A compromised marriage may not be the goal we should be after,” he said.

They urge people to study the causes that make people think they
have to compromise, and to find the sources of the buttons that get pushed that start arguments.

“God didn’t give you those buttons; find out where those buttons originated and let your spouse know” so you can face it together.

The couple invites a download of their “Funny How Marriage Works” app and offers a “master class,” for couples ready to move ahead in their marriage.

When did he first feel like a professional comedian? not when he started getting paid, but after that, one day in the green room of a prestigious comedy club, when he was in the company of Jay Leno, Jimmy Kimmel and George Wallace.

“I was just hanging in the corner, not even feeling worthy of eating from the fabulous food spread; I just nibbled some french fries.

“The guys were talking about a football player who had lost sight in one eye because a ref had thrown a penalty flag at him and injured him, and now he was suing for $40 million.

“They were making wisecracks and thinking up jokes about it, and I was just hiding. I had nothing.

“Suddenly the conversation stopped and they all looked at me, as though I should offer a punch line.

“I said, ‘$40 million? I know he won’t see half that money.’

“Then I knew, and I reached for the good stuff on the table.”

Michael Jr. speaks: Just Funny:

“My daughter had a hamster. I said, had a hamster, because we were in the backyard playing and a hawk took the hamster.

“She’s like, ‘Daddy, where’s Mr. Jacobs going?’

“He’s going hang gliding. We’re going to pick him up later, at the pet store.”

On comedy:

God has given me this gift of bringing laughter to people, but a gift isn’t a gift until you give it away, and it is not measured by how many people like it, but by how many people need it.

On the Bible:

Reading the Bible is kind of like paying bills. You’re supposed to pay attention to everything, but when the red ink shows up, you better do something!