Debra DiGiovanni is being called a “late bloomer” to the comedy scene, but since 2000, she’s cleaned up: In 2002 she won the Canadian Comedy Award for the Best Stand-up Newcomer in Stand Up, and has since appeared on “Last Comic Standing,” the game show “Match Game,” and “Plastic Makes Perfect.” Launching a new coast-to-coast tour “The Late Bloomer Tour” from January till February, Debra sat down with Crave to gab about how she feels being called a “late bloomer” and what her experience has been like going from living in Toronto to Los Angeles.
CraveOnline: Tell us about your upcoming tour.
Debra DiGiovanni: It’s really exciting – this is my first solo tour, and to have that is really like the Holy Grail for comedians. It’s what we all strive for. We spend so many years in clubs and doing corporate events and this is what we want – now my actual name is on the ticket. It’s a dream come true.
You’re often referred to as a “late bloomer” – is this something that has been advantageous in this business?
I don’t ever think it’s going to be a negative. Comedy is an old person sport. It’s one of those things where people get funnier as they get older because more life has happened to them. You often see people starting in comedy later in life – I’ll see people in clubs at 50 years old because it’s something they’ve always wanted to try. Comedy is something you can grow into.
You live in LA now? We’re guessing that’s pretty different from Toronto?
I just moved there in January this year. First and foremost I want to say Canada will always be my home. LA is inevitable – I feel like most performers go there for at least for a bit of their life. It’s like the grad school to college. So I’m giving it a go and will see what happens. I have no preconceived notions. For me I needed some new-ness, a little fear in my life. A little change. It’s scary but scary can be good.
Do you make it back home often?
I will. I’ll go back and forth. I’m always in Canada every other month or so. I’m like the luckiest girl in the world – I get to live and work in LA but make a living in Canada so I can live in LA.
If you hadn’t gone into comedy, what career would you have possibly pursued?
I’m a bit of an artist and I wanted to be a fashion illustrator. Or perhaps an art teacher. It was always the creative part of my brain that was working.
You’ve been on numerous television shows over the years, including reality shows… what’s your take on the TV scape of today?
I watch TV. I like it. I want to be on it. But it changes though. The only reality television I watch is reality TV with a point. I love cooking shows. I like when they’re doing something. There’s a lot of really good sitcoms out there too. There’s some real quality TV.
What’s one thing people would be surprised to know about you?
I don’t drive a car. I’m just learning to drive. I’m not great with things with wheels. I was never a good bike rider, I could never roller-skate – there’s something with me and wheels that don’t agree with each other. Driving is not something that I love… it’s a hassle for me.
I think people would also be surprised to know that I’m really shy, and I think that’s the case for a lot of comedians. I can stand in front of 700 people but if I have to walk into a party where I don’t know people…. wwhhooaa!
Is the glass half empty or half full?
Half full. It’s always half full. I’m just really grateful and lucky… for me it’s very full.
For more info on Debra’s tour, click here.
