Spotlight on Sam Super of Comedysportz

By Megan Green

Note: The Real Chicago decided to poke fun at a recent celebrity-profile interview of actress Katie Holmes in a different publication.

Celebrities are people, too. At least, that is what I kept telling myself as I waited for Sam Super to arrive for our interview.

Super is a noteworthy improviser and actor in Chicago. He regularly performs at ComedySportz Chicago. He can also be seen with the team Revolver at I.O. and the musical improv group Baby Wants Candy. Super is a busy man.

Knowing Super’s career, I was impressed when I was able to make contact with him personally and didn’t have to go through a series of assistants. I arranged to meet with him at a coffee shop — a place where regular people go. I thought he might like that change of pace from the usual jet-setting lifestyle I assume he leads. I ordered a coffee and kept an eye on the door.

Super walked in right on time. He was wearing a cornflower-blue button-up shirt and trademark black glasses. Super made himself comfortable in the booth, ordered a Café au lait and we began the interview.

Name: Sam Super
Age: 28
Hometown: Portland, Ore.

What led you to this point in your career?
I’ve always liked making people laugh. In elementary school, I would make silly comments to make people laugh. I was also really good at not getting in trouble. I knew when to stop. I guess that has really served me well. I can make people laugh, but I can show a little restraint.

During high school, I took a drama class. The last 15 minutes of each class, we would play improv games. I always wanted the whole class to be (improvised).

I got into an improv troupe called Absolute Improv during college. Then, I started doing ComedySportz in Eugene, Oregon. After that, I came to Chicago and started taking classes at ComedySportz. I eventually got into the ensemble in 2005.

Who are your icons?
Growing up, my icon was Fred Savage. When I was little, I actually got mistaken for him a lot. That was the first time I think I realized you could be a kid and be an actor.

As far as people who actually inspired me in my career path, I watched a lot of the British version of “Who’s Line Is It Anyway?” in junior high and high school. Comedy-wise, I was also inspired by a lot of my family members.

Do you ever get tired of the paparazzi and the fans?
Sure. Since I am not mistaken for Fred Savage anymore, it doesn’t happen as much. But, after ComedySportz shows, we will sign autographs for little kids. This is fine, but we get a lot of germs from those little kids. I guess I can handle all of the pressure as long as I have lots of anti-bacterial wipes.

You probably get really tired of the rumors about you, but I have to ask: Do you have a response to the current rumor that you are pregnant?
That’s kind of offensive. I am a larger fellow, but I don’t think I look pregnant. I haven’t heard that rumor. I would like to say, for the record, I am not with child.

What would you say to people who print offensive rumors like that?
They should do a little more research. There are interesting things about me that don’t involve me having a child. The attention is nice. I’m not pregnant. I feel like after this interview, I would like to know where you heard that.

I will be glad to e-mail you my sources. But, if you were to have a child one day, would you like for them to grow up and follow in your career path?
Yes, but I would make sure they had anti-bacterial wipes. I think they could do whatever they wanted to, but I would encourage them to find a way to do it with health insurance.

Do you think the paparazzi will ever leave you alone?
No, not as long as there are rumors I am pregnant. I am also thinking of getting plastic surgery to look like Fred Savage again.

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