Greg Warren, Jess Walter’s biggest fan, makes his debut at the Spokane Comedy Club
Jess Walter, if you’re taking a break from writing your latest novel and have an hour to spare, you’re most welcome to meet Greg Warren at the Spokane Comedy Club over the weekend.
“My favorite author is Jess Walter,” Warren gushed, calling from his home in St. Louis. “I love this guy! I stumbled across Beautiful Ruins and it’s one of the best books I’ve ever read. I’ve never been to Spokane and know it’s from there, so I’m looking forward to it , to see what inspired him in his city.”
Another reason Warren is so excited to make his Spokane debut is his love for the movie Vision Quest, which is arguably the best wrestling movie of all time.
“I was wrestling in high school when the movie came out (1985) and I was into it,” Warren said.
“Vision Quest is such a great film. I know there’s some pretty good high school wrestling all over Washington state.”
The former West Point cadet wasn’t just a high school wrestler. Warren was an All-American college wrestler at the University of Missouri who majored in journalism. After graduating, Warren worked for Procter & Gamble.
“It took a while, but I finally found my calling after leaving Procter & Gamble,” Warren said. “Most comics start at 20 at the latest, but there is no retirement age. You just keep going as long as you can make people laugh.”
Warren, 53, still draws on his P&G experience. “I talk a lot about peanut butter,” Warren said. “When I worked at Procter & Gamble, I sold peanut butter. I am very obsessed with peanut butter.
“The Smucker company has agreed to buy Jif from Procter and Gamble. If these guys catch a bread company, there should be a Sherman Antitrust Act against it. You can’t walk around owning a whole sandwich.”
Warren will also riff on insurance, healthcare and COVID-19. “I get tested every day,” Warren said. “It’s difficult now because so many places are booked. But I go to this place where it’s $79 for a test and $99 if you want it to be negative.”
When Warren’s uncle played him a Bob Newhart comedy album when he was pre-adolescent, the stand-up bug was planted. “I love Newhart,” Warren said. “He’s one of the greatest of all time.”
Much like Newhart, Warren will revive the art of portraying two people conversing. Its refreshingly old-school approach works. “I do what I’m comfortable with, and some people like it,” Warren said. His comedy worked well enough to get him to the semifinals of Last Comic Standing in 2007 and 2015.
“I met a lot of cool people on ‘Last Comic Standing,'” Warren said. “The second time I thought I could win it, but I let myself be talked into doing material I didn’t want to do (by the producers). It did not work. It’s a game show. It helped me with the exposure and it’s fine. Who would have ever thought I’d be a comedian?”
Warren has been a comic for 20 years and he has just completed a new hour of material presented with a special. “I’m still in the process of putting the finishing touches on it,” Warren said. “You get everything when I get to Spokane.”
And maybe Warren’s favorite novelist will show up too. “That would be so amazing,” Warren said. “I love his work and think it’s so cool that he still lives in Spokane. I’ve been everywhere and I can’t believe I haven’t been to Spokane as I’ve been doing this for so many years. It’s about time I see this city.”