![\"lonilove__2__360\"](\"http:\/\/queerty-prodweb.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp\/docs\/2015\/10\/lonilove__2__360.jpg\")
<\/a>Queerty asked San Francisco barman-turned-comic Yuri Kagan, author of <\/em>Vodka & Limelight<\/a>, to chat<\/a> with Loni Love a few weeks after his conversation with another great female<\/a> comedian, Margaret Cho<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\nSome time ago, I had the pleasure of opening for Loni Love,<\/a> the comedian, actress and cohost of the talk show The Real<\/em>. <\/span>I must have done OK because<\/span> she asked me if I would like to come back the next day and open for her again. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n E<\/span>lated and flat out drunk after the show, I replied, “Shut the F up. <\/span>Really? <\/span>Like for real?” <\/span><\/span>So needless to say, when Queerty asked me to interview Love, concluding her Being Loni tour, it was another chance to talk to her. <\/span><\/p>\n Queerty: What is Being Loni<\/em>? <\/b><\/span><\/p>\n Loni Love<\/em>: It’s a one-hour special that follows different projects I’ve been doing. I hope people that people take away from it being inspired to go for their goals and aim for their dreams. <\/span>Also to give my “love bugs,” my fans, a little bit more of me.<\/span><\/p>\n The Real<\/em> is different because you never know what we are going to do for the day. <\/span>You are dealing with five girls<\/a>, five different lives. <\/span>We come together to try to entertain, inspire and try to give back to our audience. <\/span>So far it’s working. <\/span>The biggest diva would be Tamar. <\/span>That’s because she was born into diva-ism because her whole family is like that. <\/span>She’s just accustomed to it.<\/span><\/p>\n As a comic being on a live<\/a> show do you censor yourself? <\/span>Have you ever had to issue an apology?<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n So far I have as a comic not had to make an apology. <\/span>As you know comedy is changing. <\/span>You know, I think it’s just a sign of the times. <\/span>People are very sensitive. <\/span>I think you have to be a little more aware of things. <\/span>So it’s not necessarily just censoring one’s self. <\/span>Just being more aware of things that maybe in the past people could have gotten away with but on the air-waves they can’t necessarily do that.<\/span><\/p>\n Do you think that political-correctness has helped or hindered comedy?<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n Comedy is comedy. <\/span>I think that you know it depends on where the comedy is being said and done. <\/span>I mean, the audience. <\/span>There are certain things that if you were performing in front of children you not gonna say like at a bar. <\/span>You have got to understand if you are on television and you know there is a certain demo and a certain thing you wont say you just won’t say it. <\/span>Everyone is intimidated and everybody is being PC. There is a difference between you know, just being me or being funny. <\/span>It’s a difference. <\/span>So what is happening is that comedians have to dig deep within themselves, not just look at the surface of the joke and not do the routine joke. <\/span>Comics who do this will be successful.<\/span><\/p>\n Vanilla, chocolate or swirl?<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n Swirl<\/span><\/p>\n Who’s your celebrity crush and who would you like to re-do their style?<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n Idris Elba. <\/span>Re-do their style would be Flava Flav.<\/span><\/p>\n Are you single and do you use any dating apps?<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n Um, <\/span>I am a satisfied single. <\/span>If you watch the show, I explain that on “the Real.” <\/span>I don’t use dating apps. <\/span>The last maybe I was on ChristianMingle.com<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n Do you go out to gay<\/a> bars with your friends?<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n Oh, yeah the Abbey… <\/span>In L.A. you know you have so much fun at the Abbey. <\/span>But the only thing is they always buy me drinks so I have to leave at a certain time cause I be tore up.<\/span><\/p>\n Years ago you let me open for you. <\/span>At the time in your act you talked about Herman Cain who was comedy gold. <\/span>Who is your favorite GOP candidate right now and who would you like to makeover or see in drag?<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n I would love to make over Chris Christie<\/a>. <\/span>I think he would make a great woman<\/a> in drag. <\/span>I think he would kind of favor me in drag so that’s why I would love to do that!<\/span><\/p>\n You’re hosting a new game show produced by Ellen. <\/span>What is it about and when does it debut?<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n It’s based on her app called Heads-Up, which has been downloaded more than 60,000,000 times. <\/span>We play the game with celebrities and contestants and they win money and it’s just fun time. <\/span>It’s more like the game is the center-piece but we’re actually talking and having fun while doing the game. It will premier on HLN in January.<\/span><\/p>\n If you could give advice to plus-sized performers what would you say?<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n Basically be yourself and make sure you wear the right size clothes with flat shoes. <\/span>It’s easier if you’re doing standup.<\/span><\/p>\n Margaret Cho agreed to officiate the wedding of my boyfriend and myself. <\/span>Also do you have any words of advice for gay<\/a> newlyweds and divorces?<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n I don’t have any advice for any of the gays<\/a> just like I don’t have advice for the straights. <\/span>I always say better you than me. <\/span><\/p>\n You grew up in the projects of Detroit. <\/span>What advice would you have for someone growing up under the same circumstances?<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n Try to be an in legal activity — not illegal. <\/span>Try to get into different groups sessions and do different things to take you to see another side of the current living environment\/situation you are in. <\/span>That helped me. <\/span>I did Girl Scouts. <\/span>Even though we were poor the Girl Scouts helped me to see a different side of life.<\/span><\/p>\n You were an engineer, do you miss it?<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n I miss being able to take naps in my office.<\/span><\/p>\n You seem to work all of the time. <\/span>You never stop. <\/span>Do you take vacations ever?<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n I take what’s called a mini-vacation. <\/span>I’ll take 1 or 2 days because of the nature of the business I can’t be away long. <\/span>I’m learning to take a day or a couple<\/a> of hours to myself. I am learning to enjoy myself while I am still at work, which is something I didn’t do in the past. <\/span>I am still having a good time but still working.<\/span><\/p>\n What do you think about comedy being a “boy<\/a>’s club”? <\/span>Do you have advice for women<\/a> trying to break?<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n The only reason comedy is such a boy<\/a>’s club is because in order to be a successful comic you usually have to travel the road. <\/span>The road is hard for most females<\/a> who have relationships and want families and want to get married. <\/span>It’s really hard for them. <\/span>My advice to women<\/a>: I always say a lot of women<\/a> who are successful are lesbians<\/a>. <\/span>You know your top comedians, like Wanda Sykes, they are lesbians<\/a> and that’s because they were allowed to have a certain lifestyle that allows them to be on the road. <\/span>I tell women<\/a> trying to get into comedy you have to decide what you like about comedy. You have to plan more than males<\/a> do. <\/span>If you want children you have to plan how you gonna have the children and still be able to do the road. <\/span>It’s all about balance.<\/span><\/p>\n Do you think the same is true for gay<\/a> performers?<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n Yes. <\/span>If you are dealing with a relationship and on the road I think it’s even harder for gay<\/a> performers. <\/span>It’s even harder to maintain a relationship. <\/span>There are certain areas that aren’t accepting of gays<\/a>. <\/span>Dealing with that, trying to have a relationship or not being able to afford to bring the other person with you to maintain a relationship, my heart goes out to gay<\/a> performers cause it’s a lot.<\/span><\/p>\n Have you ever swam in the lady<\/a> pond?<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n No, I have always been with men<\/a>. <\/span>I think people feel that because I don’t talk about my love life much that I must be a lesbian<\/a> but you know, people can think what they want to think.<\/span><\/p>\n Do you think it’s harder for women<\/a> of color to come out?<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n No. <\/span>I don’t think so. <\/span>I have a lot of friends who are lesbians<\/a>. <\/span>They tell it’s not about color anymore. <\/span>It’s more about certain parts of society accepting everybody. <\/span>My lesbian<\/a> girl<\/a> friends don’t say it’s harder because of color. <\/span>It’s just hard in general.<\/span><\/p>\n What’s your guilty pleasure? <\/span>You know, when you’re in the sweats?<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n I really like to swim late at night. <\/span>Yeah. <\/span>I just took it up six-months ago. <\/span>I don’t know why I never done it before. <\/span>Maybe because I was wearing weaves. I stopped wearing them. <\/span>I feel different. <\/span>There is something about the water. <\/span>You don’t have electronics, computer or TV. <\/span>It just gives me a whole different feeling. <\/span>Now where ever I go on the road, I swim.<\/span><\/p>\n Is there a moment or has it not happened where you feel “I’ve made it”?<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n I never feel like that. <\/span>I am just enjoying the journey. <\/span>I mean just doing a movie with Jennifer Aniston and Jason Sudeikis. <\/span>You can say I’ve made it. <\/span>I just look at it like I’m just really working and having fun doing it. <\/span>I thought I made it when I graduated.<\/span><\/p>\n What’s your biggest fear and do you get nervous?<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n Before I go on stage I don’t get nervous. <\/span>I am over that. <\/span>I tell new performers to get over that, emcee as much as you can if you are starting out. <\/span>That will help you get over stage fright. <\/span>My biggest fear really is that maybe I just want to be around for my family. <\/span>That’s why I try to work and prepare. <\/span>I don’t want something to happen and not be able to be there for them. <\/span>I live<\/a> on the west coast, they are on the east coast. I <\/span>always make sure I am able to get there. <\/span>My mom is 75-years old. <\/span>I want to be able to get there.<\/span><\/p>\n What advice do you have for 18-year old you?<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n Don’t take that credit card.<\/span><\/p>\n![\"LoniLove_General-f2dfa584\"](\"http:\/\/queerty-prodweb.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp\/docs\/2015\/10\/LoniLove_General-f2dfa584.jpeg\")
<\/a>What makes The Real<\/em> different? Of you, Jeannie Mai, Tamera Mowry, Tamar Braxton andAdrienne Bailon, who is the biggest diva?<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n