An Interview With Chez

Before there were rapping white guys on SNL preaching the virtues of Mr. Pibb and Red Vines, there was The Lonely Island, a comedy troupe of sorts which has been delivering hilarious audio and video bits on the net since 2000. Featuring Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone, and Akiva Schaffer (often referred to as "The Dudes"), The Lonely Island often appeared to be a couple goofy kids with camcorders who just happened to have real talent. In late 2005, every other goofy kid with a camcorder sat up and took notice when "The Dudes" from The Lonely Island were picked up by Saturday Night Live. A featured player on The Lonely Island, who can often be spotted alongside "The Dudes" is Chester "Chez" Tam, who is equally as funny and talented. Chez now acts as watchdog and keeper of The Lonely Island website and forum, as he awaits his own eventual meteoric rise to fame.

RM : Chez, thanks for agreeing to this interview. How are you doing this evening?

CT : Not well, I've been hungover since last week. I'm a complete mess.

RM : Ouch. Sorry to hear that. Could you walk us through an average day for Chez Tam?

CT : Have you not seen The Diary of Chez? It's very accurate...with a little bit of falsities added...but mostly true. I'm totally J/K'ing you, LOL'ing, LMAO'ing. An average day would consist of me getting up at around 8:00 a.m., taking a dookie, watching what I Tivo'd the night before, and then working my ass off to entertain all seven continents...there are seven, right?

RM : Um, not sure. I think there are seven seas if that helps any. Now I know I'm from the South and all, but don't be frightened by this next question : What is your heritage?

CT : I'm 50% Asian and 50% Tiger. So that makes me 100 percent fucking awesome.

RM : Or at the very least chimeralicious. How did you get started filming comedy shorts?

CT : True story, I started at NYU when I met Andy. I just started incorporating him into all of my video projects and then he started putting me in his short films. And we just clicked. NYU was great in the fact that no one else was doing what we were doing and during video class, when we'd screen, everyone would be falling off their chair laughing and our teacher and the pretentious asses would be pissed off that we wasted everybody's time with the funnies.

RM : Does your family support the work that you do?

CT : So much so, that they've quit their day jobs already and are waiting for me to become rich and famous.

RM : Where did you meet the Lonely Island guys?

CT : Me and Andy were roommates in NYU and we both graduated at the same time and afterwards we both moved out to LA in Sept. of 2000. It was then I was introduced to my good hombres Kiv and Jorm and immediately we all just got along. I think it was because we all enjoy malt liquor and '94 hip hop.

RM : Who doesn't? Do you still hear from the Dudes regularly? Have you been out to New York yet to see them?

CT : Me and the boys speak often. I was out there for the Jack Black show, I'm actually from New York so I timed it so that I can see them and see the fam for the holidays.

RM : With your extensive work with The Dudes, you're often considered the fifth Beatle... or the fourth Dude, or whatever. How involved in creating some of their comedy material were you?

CT : We definitely bounce ideas off of each other but when it comes to the actualization of writing a script Kiv and Andy hold the reigns on that. And most times when we shoot, we'll go off the cuff and start making up stuff on the spot and that's where Jorm and I add our deft touch. So it's hard to say.

RM : If the Andy Samberg / Chris Parnell characters evolve into this generation's Wayne and Garth, do you think Andy will get you a cameo in the first SNL movie? Any thoughts on what you'd play?

CT : I'm not planning on it mostly because it's upsetting if it doesn't happen. But if I do, I would definitely want to play a tall Asian guy named Chez who loves hangin' out in his chonies (undies).

RM : Well atleast that wouldn't be much of a stretch. Got any big plans for your career you'd like to mention?

CT : I plan on working with the Dudes in the future but also I have my own projects that I'm focused on that the Dudes will definitely be a part of. Long story longer, I'm planning on becoming a mega star!

RM : Do you have any tips for the younger up-and-coming short filmwriter / directors out there?

CT : I would say learn to love being broke and learn to embrace your monetary funds through laughter. You'll be the richest person in the world.

RM : Sage advice. Last question : Can I borrow $10 until next payday?

CT : Absolutely not.

Thanks very much to the uber-talented Asian-Tiger mix, Chez Tam, for taking the time to humor me on this whole interview thing. Watch for Chez to hit it big in the near future!