Whatever Happened To Jim Breuer?
It's been awhile since we've seen much of Jim Breuer's comedic stylings and distinctive face. A Saturday Night Live mainstay of the 1990s and Dave Chappelle collaborator, Breuer has an outsized spot in the memories of alternative comedy fans, most memorably through his appearance as the stoner Brian in 1998's weed-fueled epic Half Baked. But we've seen less of him during the new millennium, leading many to wonder where the guy went, especially after his undignified ouster from NBC's comedy flagship.
Breuer made waves by revealing on Marc Maron's WTF podcast that he never exactly felt welcome at Saturday Night Live, with his blue-collar upbringing and sensibilities clashing poorly with the attitudes of the more east coast, Ivy League SNL writers' set. Furthering the indignity, in 2015 Rolling Stone put him next to dead last on a brutal, comprehensive list ranking the SNL cast members, which must've stung a little. If anything, such a perception speaks to how little we see of Breuer now compared to his turn-of-the-century heyday. But the truth is, he hasn't really gone anywhere. As a matter of fact, he's working just as much as ever, albeit with a slightly lowered profile one might expect from a man who's settled down. Here's a taste of what you may have missed.
Stand-up
A comedian in the classic sense long before he started scoring film or TV roles, Breuer hit the road in 2008 after a six-year hiatus. He heralded his return with an inspired set, bringing along his 85-year-old father as a special guest on a series of dates he called the "Breuniversity Tour." He chronicled the cathartic occasion, a sort of a family autopsy live on stage, for a lengthy comedy set and documentary titled More Than Me that remains for sale at shows and through his website on DVD. Another special called "Let's Clear the Air" premiered on Comedy Central in 2009, covering family life with stories that ranged from dealings with his elderly parents to the trials of raising his three young daughters. He still plays the circuit with some regularity; dates for future events can also be found at his website or on his Facebook page.
Podcasting
Following in the grand tradition of, well, just about everybody these days, Breuer launched his own podcast, The Podcast Masters, with co-host Pete Correale in 2011. Operating with the mission statement "no politics, no news," the show found the duo covering topics such as the misery of being a Mets fan, the banality of show business, and of course, metal. While the show has long since ended, the produced episodes are still available on streaming sites like Stitcher.
Voice acting
As often tends to happen with actors you think disappeared, sometimes Breuer's hiding in plain sight. With a recurring role on the cartoon Motorcity as the character Tooley, Breuer joined the likes of Mark Hamill and Kel Mitchell—two other common "whatever happened" candidates finding good work through voiceover roles. In addition to his run on that show, Breuer has also had cameo roles in shows like Family Guy, where he played Joe Pesci, an actor whom he straight-up credits with sparking his career through providing material for his well-known impression on SNL. On the other end of the spectrum, he's also done work on real kiddie fare like Wonder Pets!, which is pretty valuable information in case you were wondering why the video you use to put your kids to sleep reminded you so much of Goat Boy.
Man about town
Breuer's increased distance from the spotlight isn't just professional—it's physical. He and his family live in Chester Township, New Jersey, a fair remove from the Hollywood hubs in New York and Los Angeles. In the small town of 7,000, Breuer is known as an active participant in his local church, Scrooging it up at Christmas time one year.
Mets recaps and other videos
In recent years, the comedian has also taken to airing his sports commentary over social media, but he does more than mere live tweeting. Rooted in his fandom for the Mets, Breuer has become more and more known for the irreverent postgame recaps he posts to his Facebook page. It's not just jokes he's serving up, but real analysis—as he will scathingly remind you if you disagree with his considered takes. Among the videos that can be found on his slightly less-frequented YouTube channel, there's a longform—freeform, really—interview with the band Metallica, which you can tell that he's conducting as an admiring, longtime fan.
And your host
Breuer also hosts Fridays with Jim Breuer on SiriusXM's "Raw Dog Comedy" station, where he talks comedy and maintains his metal fandom, occasionally singing on air with metal gods like Judas Priest's Rob Halford—because why not? Formerly known as Breuer Unleashed, the show airs weekly from 4 to 6PM ET.
Making metal
Breuer has also taken his metal fandom to the next level to indulge an obvious long-standing need to shred. Providing vocals and the raw creative mission, he's the frontman for touring act Jim Breuer and the Loud & Rowdy. A band with serious chops, they play metal that toes the line of parody through songs with titles like "Be a Dick 2Nite." Also see "Raising Teenage Girls," a disco-inspired snarler about a dad stressing over his daughters' well-being that comes across as more than a little autobiographical. With assists from AC/DC frontman Brian Johnson, the group's album, Songs from the Garage, is more than just a vanity project by a suburban dad. It's a love letter from a suburban dad, rocking out without apology and embarrassing his kids on a grand scale.
A memoirist and author
Setting aside all considerations of Breuer's acting ability, there are two good reasons why he's so well known for playing such a convincing stoner in Half-Baked—his half-lidded, bleary eyes. "I get it," he told Marc Maron in a 2013 interview. "I got heavy eyelids that cover half my pupil. I look f—ed-up all the time. People's expectation levels of me are below zero." In a nod to this peculiar aspect of his appearance, which he has also gamely described as perpetually "wrecked"-looking, he titled a 2010 book release I'm Not High, subtitling the whole collection (But I've Got a Lot of Crazy Stories about Life as a Goat Boy, a Dad, and a Spiritual Warrior). Another reason not to judge an actor by his roles, or a man by his inexplicably blitzed-looking appearance.
Cruise Life
As for future gigs, Breuer will be one of many guests on a cruise themed around Train—as in the band Train, on their fourth annual Sail Across the Sun sojourn. Joining the likes of Matt Nathanson and the hip-hop group Arrested Development, he'll be on board when anchors go up Feb. 15, 2017 on a round trip from Tampa to Costa Maya. You've been wondering where Jim Breuer is? Follow him out to sea and ask him yourself.