Yazz Fetto is a very funny man, and his comedy team Four Monks and a Nun is a very, very funny group. Unfortunately for us Americans, they're located across the pond, but it's been a real pleasure to get to know him (he's also an 80's Christian metal fan like me) and enjoy his group's work on Youtube.
I asked Yazz to do my five questions survey. His answers are below.
1. Saturday Night Live or Monty Python?
Even though I am a Brit, I actually prefer SNL to Monty Python. Sure, SNL does have a lot of sketches that 'miss' as do all sketch shows but SNL produced so many of my favourite comedians: Chevy Chase, Dan Ackroyd, Steve Martin, David Spade, Chris Farley, Adam Sandler, Bill Murray, Eddie Murphy...the list goes on. I love watching the old episodes and seeing these guys 'come of age' as it were.
2. What's your favorite skit you ever saw on a TV sketch show?
Wow. Tough question. I'm torn between SNL's 'Jaws' spoof ('Land Shark') and 'Fork Handles' a sketch by the legendary British comedy duo The Two Ronnies in which every phrase said by the characters has a very funny double meaning.
3. Is there an actor whose style or skill has influenced you most? Who and why?
I can't single out one actor or actor/comedian who has influenced me the most. I like to think the following have influenced the way I perform although I do consider myself unworthy of comparison to them: Eugene Levy, Groucho Marx, Chevy Chase, David Spade and George Peppard. Why? I have watched a lot of their work repeatedly and can only assume it has therefore influenced me.
4. Do you have a favorite on stage disaster story you'd like to share?
One or two... We did a gig once where the compere insisted on taking the names of each group on the bill beforehand. As the comedy evening went on, he got steadily more drunk. When it came time to introduce us he had completelty forgotten our name so just welcomed us on stage to a bemused crowd who had no idea who we were. Another time, we were doing a student show and the makeshift stage they set up for us collapsed midway through a sketch. That was an odd situation to bounce back from. It got laughs though...
5. What advice do you have for someone who says, "I want to be in a Christian comedy/sketch group for a living?"
My advice would be don't do it as I don't want competition! Ha! Well, I think if you want to make a living from comedy Christian or otherwise you are facing a tough road ahead. It's simply not easy, it takes endurance, fortitude and a very thick skin. It also takes quite a while before people will pay you enough to make a living from it. You will probably have to work another job and do comedy as well before you can live off it. If you are going to found a Christian comedy group or be a Christian comedian, the game does change quite a bit. I heard Oz Fox, guitarist for legendary Christian rock band Stryper, say in a recent interview that to be in a Christian group you do need to be called. God needs to be calling you to do it and that is essential. If God is backing you, everything will work out fine, some how, some way because when God is on our side, victory is assured. If you are going to be in any sort of Christian group, prepare to face a lot of opposition and for a lot of people to not like you or what you are doing. Having said that, God takes care of His own and He will ensure that you can make a living from it, once you have proven yourself faithful. All this very high and mighty talk reminds me that I have a long way to go...
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