An conversation with Jonny McGovern, the Gay Pimp
by Drew Wilson
I've been a big fan of Jonny McGovern's for years. His 'Gay Pimpin' with Jonny McGovern' podcast ranks up there for me with 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' and 'America's Next Top Model' in terms of sheer entertainment value.
I was lucky enough to get the chance to speak with him recently about his move to California, his many new projects, and the rebirth of the 'Gay Pimpin' with Jonny McGovern: Hollywood' podcast.
by Drew Wilson
I was lucky enough to get the chance to speak with him recently about his move to California, his many new projects, and the rebirth of the 'Gay Pimpin' with Jonny McGovern: Hollywood' podcast.
Drew Wilson: So Johnny, you recently relocated to California after many years in New York. How’s that working out for ya?
Jonny McGovern: I’m really loving it. I’m having a great time. I love New York - I was there for almost 11 years - but I was ready to shake it up and focus more on my comedy and getting on TV more and pushing through to the next level so that’s what I did. I’m loving it. I'm loving the sunshine. I even learned to drive.
What’s it like to learn to drive as a grown man having never done it before?
Retarded. Babyish. But I did it and now I’m driving around and loving it.
Right now there are a bunch of things I’ve got cooking. I’m really loving doing stand-up and I’m focusing on traveling as much as I can and getting my act as sharp as possible. And I’m also on tour with some of the kids from 'Big Gay Sketch Show' on the Big Gay Tour. We did Hollywood and Provincetown and San Francisco for the Out Loud Comedy Festival with Sandra Bernhardt. And me and Julie Goldman are doing our own Queering Off Tour.
I’m extremely happy with how the new podcast is coming together and the reaction I’ve been getting from people has just been overwhelmingly positive.
Obviously when you do a show like we did for four years and people fall in love with the cast and the format it’s definitely scary – it certainly was for me – to be like, well, here’s something new.
The reason the podcast worked the first time is because it was about my life and the people that were in my life and how we related to each other. That is what made the magic. It wasn’t about the latest news or the hottest celebrities. It was about us and you could feel that. And the thing I want to do with this one is that this is my life now and these are the people I’m interacting with now. It might not be the exactly the same but it’s the same kind of feeling as the last podcast.
Obviously when you do a show like we did for four years and people fall in love with the cast and the format it’s definitely scary – it certainly was for me – to be like, well, here’s something new.
The reason the podcast worked the first time is because it was about my life and the people that were in my life and how we related to each other. That is what made the magic. It wasn’t about the latest news or the hottest celebrities. It was about us and you could feel that. And the thing I want to do with this one is that this is my life now and these are the people I’m interacting with now. It might not be the exactly the same but it’s the same kind of feeling as the last podcast.
Different people – different dynamic.
Exactly. And with each podcast we get better and better. They’re now out every two weeks.
What would you say are some of your favorite moments from the old podcast?Hmm, there definitely are some highlights. I mean, the time we played the practical joke on Koko Aviance where we called her and pretended we were a taxi driver who had Erickatoure Aviance’s phone and he tried to hit on her. Her reaction to that was classic. She refused to let us air her reaction for months. The original 'How to Fuck a Straight Guy' show was full of lots of great moments. I think that was when the show really took shape and became like “we’re letting is all hang out, honey!” And some character moments are strong, I always loved when I played Britney Spears and Linda James played Chubs, her court appointed monitor. I could listen to those over and over again. And then some magical moments for me were when I got to talk to Martha Wash - my ultimate star - and even Bernadette Cooper and Junior Vasquez. All the hardcore Junior fans were like 'girl, I cannot believe it.' It was full of so many magical moments. And all of them have been compiled for your convenience as the 'Best of Gay Pimpin’ Volumes 1 and 2' and are available on iTunes.
I did not know that!
I love the podcast and it’s like looking back on a journal of the past four years of my life. And I love meeting podcast fans because they already know everything about me and my friends and my life.
Thanks for your time, Jonny, it was great getting to talk with you.
Thank you, my little gay baby.
Thanks for your time, Jonny, it was great getting to talk with you.
Thank you, my little gay baby.
