When you’re in high demand, it’s no surprise when your schedule gets chaotic. That’s what comedian and actress Fortune Feimster (Zootopia 2) has been navigating for the past couple of years.
Along with her stand-up performances across the globe, Feimster is keeping busy with TV series including the Netflix action-comedy FUBAR alongside Hollywood icon Arnold Schwarzenegger and films such as the upcoming comedy Judgement Day with Will Ferrell.
Feimster’s demanding schedule is the reason she had to postpone her trip to San Antonio twice in the past six months for her Takin’ Care of Biscuits tour. She’ll make it up to fans on Friday, April 17, when she takes the spotlight at the Charline McCombs Empire Theatre for two back-to-back shows.
“San Antonio, unfortunately, had to bear the brunt of my film schedule,” Feimster, 45, told the Current during an interview this week. “It was a highly unusual situation for me and so unexpected! We try so hard not to do that. So, I’ll try to be extra funny in San Antonio.”
During our interview, Feimster talked about what fans can expect from her new material, how she decides which personal stories she shares with audiences, and what it was like starting her career in the entertainment industry as a journalist.
Where did the name of your comedy tour, Takin’ Care of Biscuits, come from?
I’ve talked a lot about biscuits in other stand-up specials. It’s a funny word. Being Southern, it sort of encapsulates that part of my personality. Naming a tour is always so difficult, because you have to do it before you’ve written your material. The hope is that it shows people they’re in for a fun, silly time.
What can audiences expect from this tour that feels different from your previous specials or live shows?
My stand-up really follows a timeline of where I’m at in my life. I touch on some of the things I’m currently going through. I’m getting back to nostalgia. I performed some nostalgic jokes in my last special, Sweet and Salty. Those are the ones that resonated with people so much. It’s fun to dip back into that kind of storytelling again. So, there’s a lot of fun stories from my childhood. And, of course, my mom is always a huge topic of my comedy. It’s a nice mix of funny, silly and earnest conversations.
You were born on July 1, 1980, and I was born on July 2, 1980! What do you consider nostalgic? For me, anytime the original The Karate Kid movie is on TV, I have to watch it.
Oh, we’re practically twins! I love it! I think what makes me nostalgic are these childhood stories about the ridiculous things that my mom put me through; those funny childhood stories that scar you a little bit, but once you grow up, you can see the humor and how ridiculous they were. Part of that is a byproduct of having a very quirky, eccentric mother.
Do you ever hold back when you tell stories about your life?
I mean, I hold back some. Before, I didn’t hold back as much. I kind of just talked about everything in my life. Going through some of the personal things I’m going through currently, I haven’t really decided how much of that I want to share, which is very new for me, because I was an open book while I was in my relationship. And now, [that relationship is] going through … changes. And my mom is going through some health stuff. It’s hard to know when to be funny when these other difficult things are happening.
I can imagine how challenging it is to find the humor in the heavier stuff.
My comedy has always been very light — like an escape for people. So, I’m still finding the balance. I think that will continue to evolve until the end of the tour [and] as I go through my own personal journey [and] evolve with my material.
I think all comedians are different when they’re going through something personal. Some people can talk about it right away, and others need a lot more time to process everything. Are you the latter?
Yeah, for sure. I’m somebody that needs to be away from a situation. A lot of the stories I tell currently are from my [distant] past. I’ve had time to process and see the humor in it. If you look at some of the stories, there were difficult things happening, but I’m so far removed from them that it feels very light. When you’re literally in the middle of it, it’s very hard to see what your perspective is.
How has your comedic voice evolved since your early years with the Groundlings?
I wish I could have performed at the Groundlings with the skill set I have now. But that’s the place where you go to learn and grow. It’s sort of meant to be [a] training ground. I look back at those times and think [about] how green I was as a performer. I feel like I would be such a stronger performer now, but that’s just from experience and time and doing this job over and over again. It provided such a huge jumping off point for me. Everything I know about acting and comedy started there. That was the place that really gave me my toolbox. So, I think very fondly of that time in my life and that I got to train there for six years with some of the funniest people ever.
I read that you’re a big Carol Burnett fan. She’s originally from San Antonio. I didn’t know if you knew that.
That’s right. I forgot that she grew up there and then moved to Hollywood to live with her grandmother at a young age. I grew up watching reruns of her show with my grandmother. I didn’t realize that I was really soaking in her essence. If I could be a 10th of the talent she is, what a blessing that would be.
How did your time as an entertainment journalist influence your perspective on this entire industry?
I think it was a cool way to start my career in LA. I never set out to be a journalist. It was a job that kind of fell into my lap. I grew up with a mother who was a teacher, so she really instilled grammar in me at a very young age. I [was a journalist] for about seven years, and it allowed me to pay my bills and have a job. I would step away from work and go to the Groundlings [and] the Comedy Store. It allowed me to keep my head above water while also pursuing my dream. The job itself was cool because I got to interview so many people [and] go to all these events. I had the most incredible experiences with a lot of legends [and] people I admired. I got to see how the business works from an adjacent perspective. I saw the importance of the press. It’s a mutually beneficial relationship. Everyone’s part in this business makes the whole salad.
Who was your favorite interview during that time?
Julie Andrews would probably be a top one for me. I interviewed her twice — once on the red carpet at the re-premiere of Mary Poppins, and once at one of the Shrek premieres. Getting to talk to her felt like royalty. She was as lovely as you could expect. Another legend I clearly have a thing for, Betty White, was my very first interview. I think I cried at the end of it. I was just so enamored with her as a person. I was 23 years old [and] interviewing Betty White! It just blew my mind!
One of your upcoming movies, The Fifth Wheel, is directed by Eva Longoria, who’s from South Texas. What was the experience like working with her?
It was incredible. Eva was so impressive as a director. I only knew her as an actress. I think I realized during this process how funny she is. She really gets comedy. Desperate Housewives was very funny, but you still kind of think of it as a dramedy. [Co-star] Nikki [Glaser] and I would always comment on how she gets the joke and the timing. She’s one of the most prepared directors I’ve ever worked with. It was wild how on top of things she was. We couldn’t believe how much we got to in a day. She was very decisive.
Now that you’re doing more movies, is there a dream role that you would like to take on?
I mean, I never expected to do the action series FUBAR with Arnold [Schwarzenegger], so that was a twist in my career that I didn’t see coming. I’m certainly open to any other twist that comes. My hope would be at some point to film a movie that I’ve written. That’s always been my biggest next goal. I’m trying my best to get something made because as a writer, that’s your dream.
$44.01-$208.75, 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., Charline McCombs Empire Theatre, 226 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 226-5700, majesticempire.com.
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