Bert Kreischer is arguably fearless when it comes to comedy. He’s more storyteller than stand-up artist, as famous for relating any subject up for discussion during podcast experiences to himself as he is for going shirtless during shows and public appearances. As one may imagine, Kreischer has had more than one Bert shirt purloined before the end of one of his sets.
“You’d be shocked with what people take if they can get their hands on it,” he says via email interview from an undivulged location in Spain. “It’s hilarious, and I don’t think it’s meant maliciously. We’ve had people sneak backstage and almost reveal it to me like they’re proud to tell me they snuck backstage, like I’m gonna be excited for them that they got one over?”
Kreischer is bringing his brand of topless entertainment to Resorts World Theatre for the second time, carving out a home away from home at the Vegas venue currently preferred by comedians Kevin Hart, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, and Tony Hinchcliffe. Fans will witness significant new material.
“Anyone who saw me last time at Resorts World Theatre knows that it was all over the place,” says Kreischer. “A little bit of best of but a lot of new, that’s the fun of Vegas. You’re doing one show each day, so you get to really throw everything into it. I’ve been working really hard and have a ton of new material, so I have a feeling we have a bunch of great new stuff along with a couple of oldies but goodies.”
Kreischer promises “a great show top to bottom,” although his pants will stay on in order to keep the curtain from being pulled on him. Kreischer’s pants staying on was not always the case, as accounts of his days (’90s) as the No. 1 partier at the No. 1 party college (Florida State University) testify.
He’s a parent now, though. He’s also built a career that’s flush with as much success as excess, so he has to be responsible to some degree. He’s aware of the fates of his some of his comic forebears.
“I think it’s always been clear that I’ve been drawn to tragic characters like (Chris) Farley and (John) Belushi, but when I got into comedy everyone seemed to be on the straight and narrow. I didn’t meet Ron White until later in life and (Dave) Attell quit drinking pretty quickly into me doing stand-up. I think if you’re wondering who my canary in the mine is, that, of course, is Doug Stanhope.”
Kreischer admits to suspecting he is the canary in Stanhope’s coalmine as well. Both hard-living comedians hold their own onstage but thrive on podcasts when the right chemistry is present. Kreischer also factors in an episode’s day and place in the formula as well as the caliber of talent.
“Tim Dillon makes me laugh hard as s***,” he says. “Theo Von and Stavvy (Stavros Halkias) you never do a bad podcast with. Same with Big Jay Oakerson and Dan Soder. All those guys just absolutely deliver when they’re on a podcast.”
Resorts World Las Vegas 8 p.m. March 21-22, starting at $59 plus tax and fee. axs.com
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