On the “City Lights” series “Speaking of Comedy,” Atlanta’s funniest locals share insights on the perks and perils of their profession. This edition features Mike Schatz, a comedian living in Little Five Points, Atlanta, who knew he wanted to work in the field of comedy from a very young age.
As a child, he watched the early days of Saturday Night Live with stars like John Belushi, Jane Curtin, Gilda Radner, and Bill Murray, and thought, “That is what I want to do!”
He also used to listen to comedy albums by notable comedians, such as Eddie Murphy, Steve Martin and Billy Crystal and memorized them all. Although before his time, Jack Benny stands out as a favorite for his outstanding humor and delivery. Schatz’s journey took him to the famed Second City in Chicago, then back to Atlanta, doing improv, voice-overs, and standup around town. He attributes career success in standup to sticking with it and being unshakably persistent.
