They don’t call Milwaukee the “Hollywood of Southeastern Wisconsin” for nothing [citation needed]. We’ve got our fair share of Brew City born, bred, or based celebrities, and The Squeaky Curd is sitting down with them at local watering holes to talk Wisconsin accents, racing sausages, both Uecker and Euchre, and Milwaukee.
All photos by Joe Powell for The Squeaky Curd.
Milwaukee and Wisconsin are known for beer, brats, cheese, and funny accents, and comedian Charlie Berens is making a national name for himself by taking all that Badgerland goodness and distilling it down into comedy both familiar and fresh. While splitting time between his professional base in LA and his Midwest touring schedule based out of Milwaukee, we got a chance to sit down with Charlie at Bay View‘s Wisconsin beer-focused hangout, Blackbird Bar.
The Squeaky Curd: As a Milwaukeean, where do I probably know you from?
Charlie Berens: If you’ve seen this thing on da Internet called da Manitowoc Minute you might know who I am.
TSC: In your opinion, what would you like me to know you for?
CB: Know me as someone who started with a stereotype and turned it into something else, something more positive.
TSC: What’s your connection to Milwaukee?
CB: I grew up in the Milwaukee area, in the suburbs. I went to high school in Milwaukee, worked in the city at Classical Strings and volunteered at Big Brothers Big Sisters. Though I was previously living in LA full-time, now I have a place in Milwaukee, too, and split time between the cities.
TSC: What makes Milwaukee a desirable place for you to live and work?
CB: It’s diverse. Yeah, it’s got it’s own problems, sure, but it’s got plenty of diversity in places and people and things to do, too. I was just up in Brewers Hill at this cool spot called Mi Casa Su Cafe. Plus, summers in Milwaukee match anything Southern California has. Winters, though, match any in Ontario.
As a comedian it’s typically difficult to do comedy outside of LA or New York, but the Internet is kind of changing things. It’s a unique model: you don’t have to go to California to sweep someone’s floor to live, though I did do that. These videos have opened up a pathway for me to make a comedy living here in Wisconsin.
TSC: What’s something about doing a traveling comedy show that you never expected?
CB: That the seats are selling. It’s exciting enough to have a show booked, but then to have people show up. Truthfully, I have a ton of fun doing these meet-and-greets after each show. I’ve met some truly inspiring folks who’ve used my comedy to help them get through some tough times.
TSC: What’s your favorite thing to do in Milwaukee?
CB: I know it sounds a bit weird but I really like going to museums by myself. I also enjoy biking along the lake. There’s so many fantastic bike trails around here.
TSC: What are you drinking right now?
CB: This is the Ale Asylum (Oktillion Oktoberfest, on tap). That really is a great brewery.
TSC: If you could have a drink with one other local celebrity, who would it be?
CB: Does Oprah count? I’d pick Oprah, or Bob Uecker. It’s also my lifelong dream to be a Racing Sausage at a Brewer’s game. The real question is always: frank-i-furter or Italian?
TSC: If you could say one thing to someone just moving to Milwaukee today, what would it be?
CB: Come in the summer. Seriously, you wanna be wowed? There’s just so much to do. The winter? That takes some grit. I’d tell ya to go ice fishing but that’s not for everyone. But I guess come in the summer, but stay for a week in the winter too.
TSC: We’re both Badger alums, and you recently did a commencement speech at the School of Journalism. Do you find many Badgers or Wisconsin transplants in your travels?
CB: Actually a Badger alum hired me for my first gig in LA. They (people on the coasts) all know us, and not just Wisconsin: Michigan, Minnesota, the whole Midwest. They like working with us because they know we’ve got a good work ethic.
TSC: Why do you think the Manitowoc Minute has resonated so strongly with folks?
CB: At the end of the day people want to be heard, to be recognized. I came along at a time where folks in Manitowoc were ready to be known for something besides a Netflix documentary, and they saw my video, and were like, “okay I guess we’ll take him!”
TSC: So Manitowoc is pretty okay with the whole thing?
CB: I’ve got a key to the city. I’m friends with the mayor. I’ve got two shows there this weekend.
It’s also because I’m from here, my family is here. I’m not making fun of folks. I guess I’m using some of my journalism degree there, but it’s like I’m holding a funhouse mirror up to all of us. It can be an exaggeration for comedy’s sake.
To be clear, though, everything I’m saying I’ve heard someone say somewhere in Wisconsin. We don’t all talk like this, but some of us definitely do.
TSC: You’ve also got two shows coming up next Saturday, November 3, at the Pabst Theater in Milwaukee. What can we expect?
CB: Well the late show’s gonna get weirder so be prepared for that. Also, I invited both the gubernatorial candidates to the show. Neither has RSVP’d yet, which I’m pretty upset about. I’ve got some serious questions to ask of them. But the reality is in a country so politically divided we (Wisconsin) are a place to focus on the common ground. I think that’s why so many Wisconsinites can relate to my show.
But I will say that Euchre is better than Sheepshead, because it is.
We’d like to thank comedian Charlie Berens for the great company and engaging stories. Make sure to catch his latest touring standup show at venues around the Midwest this fall.