Fortune Feimster. (Photo from DrPhillipsCenter.org)
Since bursting onto the national comedy scene with her 2010 appearance on NBC’s “Last Comic Standing,” fortune has smiled upon Fortune Feimster.
The 42-year-old writer, actor and entertainer has made a huge impact in the comedic world over the last decade appearing on TV shows such as CBS’ “Life in Pieces,” Netflix’s “Q-Force,” FOX/Hulu’s “The Mindy Project” and Showtime’s “The L Word: Generation Q.” She has also appeared in films like “Office Christmas Party,” “Father of the Year,” “The Happytime Murders,” “Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar” and, most recently, “Sex Appeal.”
Feimster is probably best known as a writer and panelist for Chelsea Handler’s hit late-night talk show on E!, “Chelsea Lately,” and for her hilarious stand-up comedy, which she will bring to the Dr. Phillips Center in Orlando Sept. 10 with her “Hey Y’all” tour — the tour’s only Florida stop.
Feimster took a break from her busy schedule to chat with Watermark ahead of her Orlando show.
Watermark: What can people expect on your tour “Hey Y’all”?
Fortune Feimster: It picks up where “Sweet & Salty” left off, where I was talking about my yearning or discovering who I am and figuring out my life. This is something new, this is much more about me being an adult and how I was adjusting to that. Getting married and trying to do those adult things that you’re supposed to do when you get older. … I’m excited to finish these last group of shows before I get started on writing a new hour.
On Instagram you express being exhausted, but content. Can you elaborate?
It was pleasantly surprising for sure. I didn’t know what to expect. Because, you know, I was supposed to go on this tour in 2020 then everything shut down and so I waited a year or two to get back out on the road, and then it felt like we put in all these shows that you would normally do in probably a two-year span in a years time. I went from sitting at home like everyone else, like quarantine, to suddenly this gate burst open. It was definitely tiring, about over 100 cities and 155 shows. I definitely had a whirlwind year but it was super rewarding.
How did “Hey Y’all” come into fruition?
It started as “Too Sweet, Too Salty.” I was six months into the first tour but we wanted to give it it’s own identity, so it wasn’t just another arm of “Sweet & Salty.” So “Hey Y’all” is based on my character Brenda (a character she created for her Instagram audience), who I used to say, “hey y’all.” And so the beginning of this tour I would speak out on the mic as Brenda to introduce me, Fortune.
What are your plans after the tour?
For me it’s all about focusing on that next hour. I’m gonna be going back to some comedy clubs and just trying to create whatever this next act is. Because you know, I have to think about what I want to talk about and figure out what my stories will be focused on. So I’ve been in that writing phase again. Its like having homework, you know? Where you’re just like “aahh I got to write,” but then once you do it, it’s so cool because then you’re developing this act. And I’ll get to take it out on the road for the next tour, which will start sometime early 2023.
How has your performance change throughout your career?
I think I really found my voice a lot more in the process up to filming “Sweet & Salty.” I think I really tapped into the storytelling aspect of my comedy and I can see in this new hour that continuation of the storytelling. It’s like I’m gonna take you on this journey and tell you this longer thing that happened in my life. And I’m really enjoying that, I feel like it’s kind of becoming synonymous with my comedy, people know that they are going to be hearing stories when they come to see me.
Is there anything you would like to say to the people of Orlando?
I just hope they can come out to the show, we were supposed to do this show back in April but we had to move it because of filming. So I’m chomping at the bit to get to Orlando for a while now, such a cool city. I used to go there growing up, our family would take vacations there and so to get to go back and do comedy is really cool and I heard this theater is really beautiful. So I’m really excited to perform there for the first time. I would like people to come out and have a good time, tell some fun stories and the hope is that they leave a lot better than when they got there.
Fortune Feimster’s “Hey Y’all” tour comes to the Dr. Phillips Center in Orlando Sept. 10. Tickets start at $34.50 and are available at DrPhillipsCenter.org.
