You might not have any clue who he is, but it’s likely you’ve seen or heard him on any number of random shows. He’s a comedian in a lesser known (and should-be-more-appreciated) group of comedians centered in NYC that include Maria Bamford, Zach Galifinakis, Arj Barker, and Mike Birbiglia. He’s the landlord in the popular HBO series Flight of the Conchords. And He’s the voice of the nun in Lucy, Daughter of the Devil. I suggest you look him up and listen to some of his stuff. Eugene has a recording of his stand up that was released recently on Sub Pop called God is 12 Year Old Boy with Asperger’s and a self-help/self-deprecating book called Will to Whatevs.

CS: Does it feel strange touring with Flight of the Conchords? You normally tour with actual bands like Modest Mouse and Yo La Tengo.

Eugene Mirman: No. Not at all. I’ve toured with other comedians, as well.

…ok. How do you feel about your role about bringing intelligent comedy back into the forefront?

EM: Glad? Is that a good answer?

Yeah, that works.

Well, I mean I’m glad that there’s a large scene that’s getting more an more prominent. And that it’s slowly becoming the more mainstream sensibility. You know, there’s still lots of terrible things, but there are more and more better things now. And that’s very exciting.

What is “The Will to Whatevs”?

It’s a book I wrote? Is that the right answer?

Probably. There will be multiple choice next time, though.

It’s definitely a book I wrote and it’s definitely a fake self help, sort of humor book.

How long have you been writing it?

I spent probably a couple of years on it. Like 1 1/2 or 2.

Is it out?

It came out Febraury 10th (2009).

Can you talk to us about “Invite Them Up”? What was it and will it ever come back?

It was a weekly show I did with Bobby Tisdale and Holly Schelsinger. We talked a about, sometimes, doing a monthly or bringing it back. But we do it periodically in random cities. It was sort of just an informal showcase of new and older people trying stuff out. It was a lot of fun… it was marked by being super fun.

A lot of NYC comedians don’t list influences in comedians like Richard Pryor or Red Foxx. Could you ever see yourself being in front of a black audience and performing stand up like Richard Pryor?

You mean, do I see myself as a Richard Pryor?

Yeah, could you do that sort of standup?

I don’t know, man. Richard Pryor was channeling some sort of… he did some incredible characters and was channeling this whole world. And I’m not particularly good at characters or things like that, ya know? And I’m not quite sure how personal my stand-up is. It definitely has elements where you can extrapolate what I think,  but I don’t know that it’s the same thing. Bill Cosby, in a sense, is much more… I feel like, sometimes, I’m a sort of cross between Steve Martin and Bill Cosby. When I was a kid I had all of Bill Cosby’s tapes. So, I would say he’s an influence, but to say I’m doing what he does: ‘No’.

What about all the cartoon voices that you do?

Not really. I mean, literally, I did a nun. That’s about it. I did a Russian voice once, but ti’s not the same thing. Bill Cosby is truly a master of the characters and voices. Same with Pryor. Same with lots of people. But what is does is way better than my one time playing a nun. It’d be unfair of me to compare. But I feel like Lenny Bruce sort of pre-dated Pryor; though a lot of it doesn’t totally work.  But I still admire what a lot of these people did for stand up.

Can we expect an HBO PResents: Eugene Mirman anytime soon?

I don’t have one in the works, but I would gladly do one. Like a late night HBO hour special or something sounds great. You should talk to someone.

I’m still curious about your book, The Will to Whatevs. Can you tell us more about it?

The book is sort of a blending of made up and true stories. In terms of advice, some of these are very genuinely helpful and some of them are hazardous and potentially dangerous to follow. That’s all just sort of blended together.

I saw the excerpt you did for Staying in College… Don’t Murder Anyone.

Yeah, that was a video to promote the book. But that’s true… Don’t kill anyone.

Can we ask some questions to add to our own Will to Whatevs?

Go ahead.

How would you get an elephant to mate?

I don’t know. I can’t tell if you’re asking me a joke, a riddle, or you actually have to elephants your trying to get to fuck each other.

It’s all three.

In that case: probably Barry White and some wine.

How do you get a girl that you’ve been stalking to finally talk to you?

Save her from a dangerous situation; preferably one that you did not put her into.

How do you become a stand up comedian?

Write jokes and perform them for a decade. Then, eventually get better and probably play a TV show, or something. The earlier you start the better. If you’re 18 when you start writing, then you’ll be 28 when you start to make it.

What do you say to someone trying to make it in New York City in comedy right now?

I’d say stick with it. Give it 10 or 15 years and you’ll make it. I know that’s beyond hopeful, but I feel like the chances are really very good. I mean, if you really stick to it.

Is it weird to hear that I grew up on your comedy?

A little. How old are you? 23 1/2?

I’m 20.

That’s even easier. I had some stuff out about 5 years ago, so yeah. When you first were like Googling things I had stuff out there. That is sort of odd. It is funny to think that  in about 2 or 3 years I’ll have been an influence on somebody. That’s sort of surreal.

Do you feel like the brand of comedy that you have getting more popular and being on shows like Flight of the Conchords is an affirmation to the efforts that you’ve put in?

Sure. I think my career has slowly gotten more exposure. I don’t know. I’m not like I’m anywhere near a house hold name of any sort. It’s not like I’ve been in a movie or something. I’m totally glad that I have a career, but I don’t know how to gauge my success other than the amount of high fives I get walking down the street. Which has gone dramatically up. Along with other various events that have happened more recently.

Could we expect you and the other New York comedians to band together and create movies of your own? Something like Judd Apatow and Seth Rogen.

Possibly. I don’t know exactly. We all work together and stuff, but I think there’s a possibility. I mean, there’s lot of movie that I’d like working on. And I’m working on a few out here. I’m working on a documentary right now. So would I be in a movie? Sure.

Is that the one where you go back to Russia?

Yeah. And actually a bunch of friends of mine I’m taking out there, so I guess that counts.

Well, I hope it turns out great.

[laughing] Thanks. Me too.