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Between his successful comedy specials, a sold-out five-night run at Madison Square Garden and having Robert De Niro as his co-star in his first major film, Sebastian Maniscalco has become one of today's biggest comedians. He recently completed an eight-show residency at the Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City where he brought his observations about growing up in an Italian family, people's manners and life as a father to Ovation Hall. I met with Maniscalco at the hotel's Italian restaurant 'Linguini By The Sea' where over some great Manhattans -- as well as Homemade Meatballs, Eggplant Rollatini and Chicken Marsala from Chef Ian Wilson -- we discussed his favorite drink, why he's much more social than he seems on stage and how Jerry Seinfeld taught him the best way to end a meal.
Was wine a regular part of dinner growing up in an Italian family?
It's not like I was knocking back a glass of wine when I was 10 years old. But it was 'here's the knife, here's the glass, have a little sip.' So it wasn't taboo growing up. I remember my grandfather having a large jug of wine. Not Opus One or anything like that. I think it was Ernest & Julio Gallo. But, yeah, food and wine were pretty much a staple growing up.
Do you enjoy wine now?
I really enjoy red wine. My wife and I got married in Napa. My father-in-law introduced me to the world of wine when I met my wife 15 years ago. I mean up until that point I was drinking wine, but I didn’t really know anything. I’m not a wine connoisseur where I could taste anything and say ‘oh, that’s a cinnamon whatever.’ It’s more of an appreciation for a nice bottle of wine as opposed to just grabbing whatever at the store.
Do you remember your first drink?
Amaretto Stone Sour. This is back in the early 90s, growing up in Chicago. The Armaretto Stone Sour was the drink. Along with Dewars. My father used to drink Dewars on the rocks. I was a scotch drinker for a little bit.
Which cocktail is your favorite now?
I’m recently falling in love with the Manhattan. I dabbled with the Manhattan about 20 years ago and then kind of forgot about it. I became strictly tequila if I was going to do cocktail. But the Manhattan now seems to be the one. If I’m out at a bar I’ll just get a Maker’s Mark Manhattan.
Your comedy draws a lot on people's manners and behaviors -- or lack thereof. Does this bother you as much in real life or is that more for the show?
A lot of my comedy is based in nostalgia. This is how it used to be, this is how it is now. I often look back at how I grew up and now, being a father, how I want to take those kind of core values and traditions and implement them into my kids. I’m not saying I had the perfect parents, but I like the way they taught me manners. They taught me respect. And you know, I see the parents of today not parenting their kids. It’s a little disheartening to see how things have changed over the years.
I've interviewed some fashion designers, but you're the first person where I thought maybe I should dress a little nicer.
(Laughs) That’s funny, I don’t want to make people feel uncomfortable about being comfortable. My wife deals with this a lot of times. People think that I’m not social, that I don’t want to be around them because in my comedy I’m very opinionated about certain types of behavior and whatnot. And I don’t want to be the guy that you’re like I got to be a certain way around him. I’d rather people be themselves and then let the chips fall where they may.
Do you like to cook?
First and foremost, I love meat. I love steak. I’m not a gastronomist by any means. No one’s saying ‘oh my God, he came up with this beautiful puree.’ Mainly I cook for my kids and try to introduce them to food I was introduced to. I mean I was eating fish at nine and my grandfather was sucking the eyeballs out its head (laughs). So I’m not doing that. But if somebody eats something that I cook and they enjoy it that’s almost like telling a joke. You get enjoyment from other people’s enjoyment.
Other than touring for work, do you enjoy travel?
We went to Italy this summer and took the kids. I have an eight-year-old and a six-year-old. We went to France first and then we met mother and took her to the Amalfi Coast for her 80th birthday, where she’s always wanted to go to. And then we went to Puglia for the first time.
I took my dad to Cefalu, Sicily, where he was born and raised, about 12 years ago. He hadn’t been back since he had left for 50 years. So we made the pilgrimage and now he’s been back every year since.
Is there a time you got to share drinks or a meal with one of your own idols?
When I went out to dinner with Jerry Seinfeld -- that was kind of a moment for me. He had seen me do comedy at the Gotham Comedy Club in New York City. Then the next night his wife came to see me. And then subsequently he invited me on his TV show (Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee).
Did you talk about comedy or do you try to talk about anything else?
When we get together it’s normally about comedy. There was one thing that he did at the restaurant that I found fascinating. I’d never seen it before prior to going out with him.
What was that?
The end of the meal came and there was no bill. There was no nothing. And as we got up I go ‘where’s the bill?’ He goes ‘no, it’s taken care of.’
Later I asked him what is your method of taking care of a bill? Because I didn’t see it come to the table. He goes ‘well, when I make a reservation I just give the credit card in advance. Tell them to put the 30% tip on it. I don’t want to see the bill.’
It eliminates that ‘no, I’m going to get it.’ It’s just all done. I love the just getting up and nothing is on the table and we’re done.
You’ve been doing a lot of acting roles the past few years. Is that something you want to pursue even further, equal to stand-up?
If you told me I’m going to get to do stand-up or do a movie, I would always pick the stand-up. Making a movie is a very long process. You’ve got to wait around. It’s 14-hour days. I don’t particularly care for the process. Although this TV show that I was involved with called ‘Bookie’ -- I really enjoyed doing that. That was by far the best experience I’ve ever had in making any TV or film.
I think entertainment is changing. In the sense that everybody who has a cell phone thinks they’re a comedian and they’re doing bits in their living room. It’s definitely shifting to this quick format. Is that going to hurt live stand-up comedy? I don’t know. I’m at a point in my career where I just want to pick projects that I feel passionate about and go from there. It just has to be the right fit for me.