UNC alumnus Bryan Tucker, who works as a co-head writer for "Saturday Night Live," paid a visit to the PIT-Chapel Hill on Wednesday.
Tucker has been leaving his mark on the comedy world for the past two decades. He has written jokes for the "Late Show with David Letterman," sketches for "Chappelle’s Show," including the “Racial Draft” sketch, and numerous sketches for "Saturday Night Live," including “What Up With That?” with cast member Kenan Thompson.
Tucker spoke with Ali Farahnakian, a former writer for "SNL" and owner of the PIT-Chapel Hill, for almost two hours about his comedy career and various topics within the genre. The talk included a Q&A session with audience members afterward.
Tucker lived in Craige Residence Hall his first year at UNC and studied journalism. He said his comedy career began while working at UNC STV.
“I was the producer of it my junior and senior year, so I would stay up till three in the morning on Saturday night editing and stuff,” he said.
Tucker often performed improv, sketch and stand-up with friends around UNC’s campus during his time as an undergraduate. After graduating, Tucker and a few friends decided to take their act on the road.
“We played at a racquetball court at the opening of a health club," Tucker said. "We played at a bar in Burlington where we got bottles thrown at us.”
Tucker spoke about working his way up, hustling to get gigs at tiny, sometimes unwelcoming venues, to playing colleges on the National Association for Campus Activities circuit.
“We played like 500 shows in four years," Tucker said. "We were very good at colleges because we were high energy.”
