Ian Edwards has appeared on Late Night with Conan O’Brien, written for SNL, and is one of HBO’s Bad Boys of Comedy. You’ve also seen him punk Raven Simone, George Lopez, and Thora Birch on MTV’s Punk’d. He truly commits to every role and nails his delivery, whether it is on stage performing stand-up or playing a parking lot attendant on Punk’d. Ian spoke with us about how he writes new material, his favorite comedians, and something very exciting he is currently working on. Read on to find out what that is.

SO: Hi Ian! Tell our readers a couple sentences about yourself.  How long have you been doing comedy, and at what point did you decide it was something you could do full-time? What was it like taking that risk?

Ian Edwards: I’ve been doing stand for over 15 years. I was in my twenties. I hadn’t even started when I decided to do it full time. I had no doubts even though I wasn’t funny when I started. I’ve never seen it as a risk. Me working in a hospital is a risk, if you’re a patient.

SO: What’s your writing process like? What do you think sets you apart from other comedians? How often do you write, and how do you test out new material?

Ian: I have several different writing processes. I can write in front of a mirror. Sometimes I go over my set on the way home. I add or subtract what ever I need, to make it tighter or stronger. Sometimes I’ll sit at the computer, and look at my words, and things come to me. I get in tune with what’s on screen and a light bulb comes on so I can see the punch line.

SO: What has been your biggest challenge in your career so far?

Ian: One of my biggest challenges was bringing my off stage-self on stage. Another was getting funny period. I was funny but I didn’t know why. I had to get to know myself without the aid of a therapist. Now my challenges are making myself write, and having growing the balls to fail trying new material. There are so many comics; one of the biggest challenges is not getting over looked.

SO: You’ve appeared on Def Comedy Jam, Conan, and written for SNL among other things. What has been the most rewarding so far, and what do you hope to achieve in the future?

Ian: They’re all rewarding because they validate you as a stand up, and writer. All credits get me closer to my goal of being a show runner, a national headliner, and an actor on a sitcom. With more money and women than I know what to do with.

SO: Who are some of your favorite comedians? Who really makes you laugh?

Ian: The Late Great Patrice O’Neal made me laugh and think. JB Smoove is definitely one of my all time favs. He’s done stuff I’ve never seen any comic do. Kevin Hart, Chris Rock, Bryan Callen, Corey Holcomb, the list goes on.  Not every one though, I’m a comedy snob. I only laugh till I snort at the pure shit.

SO: Tell us about working on Punk’d. Was it difficult doing something more acting related than standup? Do you practice before doing the prank? Any moments where you felt like you were going to laugh and ruin the prank?

Ian: Doing a show like Punk’d is about commitment. Once the prank started I was in. There was nothing you could do to convince me I wasn’t who I thought I was. Which reminds me. Confidence and commitment are huge components of stand up. JB Smoove and Bryan Callen are examples of comics born with both. Whenever I see them I slap myself for underestimating the use of both. They’re like my Jamba juice commitment/confidence boost.

SO: When is the last time you had a performance or just a joke you were unhappy with, and how do you deal with it?

Ian: I have jokes and shows I’m unhappy with all the time. I know it’s hard to tell because I’m so amazing. I take advantage of bad shows by going over them in my head. I treat them like a crashed airplane. I take the parts back to a warehouse and put it together so I can figure out why it went down, and prevent it from happening again.

SO: What are you currently working on that you can tell us about?

Ian: None of your bidness…. Nah! I just finished writing on the new, “In Living Color”. I can’t wait to see how it comes out. We got a funny cast, good writers, and Keenen Ivory Wayans running the show. I’d love for it to be back on the air for a long time.

SO: So would we. Thanks Ian!

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SO Note: Follow Ian @IanEdwardsComic, and check out his website here.