Workaholic Epps hits Mile High City

Comedian/actor Mike Epps could have been a basketball player. Don't believe it? Just ask him.

"I played a little bit," said Epps, who will perform at Comedy Works this weekend. "If I would have had the right people behind me at a young age doing good, I would have been good because I have the heart. I have a big heart, and I feel the game is about heart . . . I don't know if I could have played in the NBA, but I could have at least went to college and played."

Epps, who was featured in the movies Friday, All About the Benjamins and The Honeymooners, recently reached an agreement with cable network Home Box Office to produce and star in a pilot series -- Unsuccessful Thug -- based on his days as a petty criminal growing up in Indianapolis.
He also is scheduled to portray Richard Pryor in an upcoming film based on the late comedian's life. Pryor hand-picked Epps to play the role. The two spent time together until Pryor's passing last December.

"It was a learning experience -- I learned what to do and what not to do," Epps said. "Just being around him wore off on me, man. I learned so many things in spirit. He was still quick, still smart all the way up until his last day.

"I think he picked me because I was probably the closest one who could do him, in spirit. When it's time, I'll practice how to do him, go on stage and do some of his nuances and things."

The HBO series, Epps said, never was a sure thing. He was prepared if the network would have turned him down.

"You know what? It was like this -- I've always got four or five pistols cocked and loaded, just in case one don't fire," Epps said. "That was one of my main pieces of artillery. If it didn't go through, of course it would have hurt. But I just would have came at them with something else.

"I'm the type of person that, whatever I do, I do because I love it. The rewards that come with it, I appreciate, abundantly from God."

Epps is looking forward to playing Comedy Works -- even though there was a hint of concern in his voice after being told the temperatures have been in the 20s with snow the past few days. "It's gonna be cold this weekend, too?" Epps asked, having spent time the past few days in Hawaii.

"It's been a while. I haven't performed in Denver in a long time -- I can't wait to get to Mile High," Epps said. "I had a gig out there one time. Something happened, and I couldn't make it. They canceled, but now I'm coming back. And I'm a little better than I was before when they wanted me to come. I think they're really going to enjoy the show."

He talks in a low-key tone, but on stage Epps turns on the funny for his audiences.

"That's the only time it matters, man," Epps said. "Other than that, I've got to be daddy, got to play husband, got to play son -- you know what I mean? I've got to live this regular life out here. I can't be in Hollywood every minute, every second of the day. But I've been doing it now on a schedule. I'm pretty tuned in, programmed. I'm not going to say it's easy, but I've programmed things in a way to where I can deal with it."

Asked how many children he has, Epps said, "I've got so many kids I just ride through the 'hood and wave -- joke for the day."

Epps performs Friday (8 and 10 p.m.) and Saturday (6:30, 8:30 and 10:30 p.m.).

"I’m just a worker, man,” Epps said. "I can honestly say, right now, I work like (Michael) Jordan. When the show is over, I’m writing jokes. Before the show starts, I'm writing jokes. I’m on the telephone hustling, trying to put together movie deals on my vacation. I work hard, man.”

Comedy and sports are at the top of my list to watch and enjoy, to temporarily escape the problems in life and the daily grind. They are an outstanding stress reliever and I love them both.

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