New 'Daily Show' correspondent on Kalamazoo, Jon Stewart and why he owes his life to Tim Allen (original) (raw)

Jordan Klepper

Jordan Klepper, a Kalamazoo native and Kalamazoo College graduate, is the new correspondent on "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" on Comedy Central.

(Justin Chabot)

KALAMAZOO, MI --

joked he owes his life to Tim Allen.

During a phone interview on March 25 from the offices of

the newest correspondent on the hit Comedy Central show talked about his audition, his chemistry with Jon Stewart and how his hometown of Kalamazoo helped him earn the big break. But before he discovered a fondness for improv comedy, courtesy of Kalamazoo College professor Ed Menta, he had to be born.

Cue Tim Allen, the actor and comedian. While attending Central Michigan University, Allen was roommates with Mark Klepper. Allen introduced his cousin, Betse, to Klepper. They eventually married and little more than 35 years ago, Jordan Klepper was born.

“That's part of the reason Mark and Betse got together, because of Tim Allen. I owe him my life, I guess you could say," Klepper said.

Klepper said Allen, who briefly attended Western Michigan University in the 1970s, has "always been a kind ear" when it comes to questions about comedy and the entertainment world.

But it's Klepper's hard work, more than 14 years of experience and comedic instincts that led to his success.

Klepper is a Kalamazoo native who graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School and the Kalamazoo Math and Science Center in 1997. He graduated from Kalamazoo College 2001.

At K-College, Klepper joined Monkapult, the student improv comedy group. He said K-College professor Ed Menta encouraged his interest in improv and organized trips to Chicago, home of Second City and iO, formerly the Improv Olympics.

After graduation, Klepper moved to Chicago and started working and teaching at both comedy organizations. He toured nationally with Second City. He also hosted "Friday Night Tailgate" on the Big Ten Network, where he did segments on college football.

“It was a nice move for someone like me who was into the idea of sketch comedy and improv," he said of Chicago.

At Second City, he struck up a friendship with Laura Grey.

“Immediately, I had a talent crush on her. She was incredible and so funny," Klepper said of Grey.

They eventually started dating and about three-and-a-half years ago moved to New York to "follow the comedy dream out there."

"We both understand each others sense of humor," he said.

As the comedy duo Klepper & Gray with New York's Upright Citizens Brigade, they made a webseries called "Engaged," about a couple planning their wedding. Klepper said they drew examples from their own planning (they married in September in Benton Harbor).

Their new short film, "Peepers," where a "couple fears they are being watched and find it impossible to eat soup," was recently selected to SXSW, the Austin, Texas-based music and art festival. "Peepers" is also in the Tribeca Film Festival, to be held April 16-27 in New York.

In addition to UCB, Klepper continued writing and acting until he received a "pretty awesome call and a pretty awesome job."

“I got the call to go in for a test audition to read with Jon (Stewart) on a Thursday and got the call that day that they wanted me to start that next Monday," he said.

Klepper called the Feb. 27 opportunity a "high stakes audition and a very intense thing to walk into." Almost immediately, he felt like he was amongst friends, he said. He said he hit it off well with Stewart and the staff. The fast turnaround didn't give him the chance to "think himself out of it."

"Fourteen years of improve makes moments like that a little less scary," Klepper said of the audition.

Clearly, Klepper impressed. The show called later to say he'd make his debut on March 3. Klepper called "The Daily Show" a dream job he never considered a possibility.

In very short order, it became reality. Klepper is one of five correspondents -- along with Samantha Bee, Jason Jones, Aasif Mandvi and Jessica Williams -- on "The Daily Show." As the "New Senior Caucasian Correspondent," he debuted by jokingly stumbling through a piece on Crimea.

“It was kind of a blur. It was a wonderful experience. I think waiting backstage and kind of seeing the show as it started and watching Jon from the side was pretty incredible and surreal. Walking out, I kind of had to keep my wits about me and focus on what was going on," he said.

Klepper added Stewart was "super supportive" and "I walked off feeling pretty darn happy."

Klepper said he's learned the show places a lot of trust in its correspondents. He's looking forward to do more "field pieces," where he goes on location for a segment. He recently visited Columbus, Ohio, he said.

He also relishes in bantering with Stewart.

"He still threatens me that I could be fired at any moment," Klepper joked.

But Klepper said he's not concerned by Stewart's intimidation tactics.

"I’m physically feet taller than he is and in the end I think he knows that," he said.

Klepper said a "real wonderful element" of his new role has been connecting with friends and teachers he hadn't heard from in years.

For all the positivity, it's worth noting he's not even the most famous Monkapult alumnus.

Steven Yeun, who graduated from K-College in 2005, plays Glenn on the hit AMC show, "The Walking Dead." Klepper graduated during Yeun's freshman year, although Klepper's sister, Caycee, was the co-leader of Monkapult with Yeun.

Yeun also spent time in Chicago before moving to Los Angeles in 2010, where he won the audition for "The Walking Dead." Klepper said they became friends in Chicago.

"Then he got WAY more famous than me and it's been a game of catchup ever since," he said.

John Liberty covers entertainment for the Kalamazoo Gazette. Call him at 269-370-7372, email him at jlibert1@mlive.com or follow him on Twitter.

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