Jon Lajoie

Alright, here we go.
How much of Taco is improvised? Well, it depends. Most of what Taco is up to in any given episode is written down in the outlines that we receive before shooting. Jeff and Jackie Schaffer, the creators of the show, write a detailed outline of each episode, but once on set, we get to play around quite a bit. It is a very fun and creative set, given the fact that improv is not only encouraged, but necessary.

I'd have loved to play the T-1000 from Terminator 2. I'd also have loved to be one of the kids that Kevin Bacon molests in the movie "Sleepers".

My favorite episode to shoot? Hmmm... I would say the Mr. McGibblets episode, but that involved both being naked around a 50 person crew, and then running around in a sweat machine aka the Mr. McGibblets costume.
I REALLY enjoyed shooting the Vegas episode from season 2 because I got to be in Vegas for a week with the cast and crew. I'm surprised we made it out alive.

How do I come up with my ideas? I guess it depends. Something like "Michael Jackson Is Dead" is quite obvious. I came up with that when I murdered Michael Jackson... I mean when he passed away. It really depends. A lot of people think I'm stoned when I write my stuff, which is not the case. When I write stoned I usually end up with a bunch of nonsense scribbled down on a peanut butter-stained napkin.
"Show Me Your Genitals" was and idea I had for a while before I turned it into a song. The absurdity of being able to say something extremely offensive and sexist just because it's within the context of a song is something that I always laughed at. So I decided write my own.

And sometimes I just see a pair of glasses that look pretty rapey and I make a commercial about them.

Yes, I am in a fantasy football league with the cast and creators of the League. How did I do this year? Well, I think I set my lineup at least twice, which is an improvement over last year. It's very similar to the show. Everyone is super competitive except for me. I'm Canadian, hockey is my sport.

Go habs go!

What movies do I love? Anything starring Martin Lawrence and a fat suit.

Movies I love: Being John Malkovich, All Monty Python, Kids in the Hall: Brain Candy, Terminator 2, Cohen brothers movies, Billy Madison (from my teenage years), Anchor Man, Beverly Hills Cop 3, and anything with talking animals (because in real life animals don't have human voices, but in these movies they do! So funny.)

Just realized how this works. I'll start answering the questions in the right place. For the first few answers, scroll to top.

I love you too, stranger with no face.

Taco. He doesn't give a fuck.

I LOVE Austin. No plans yet, I'm taking some time off of touring to focus on some other things like the videos and hating Los Angeles.

I'm not a planner. When I come up with an idea, I usually tend to write it, shoot it, and put it out immediately. If I don't have ideas, I don't force it too much. I'll probably put out another album near the end of 2012, after the zombie apocalypse.

See above. I didn't know I was suppose to answer directly here...

Hmmm... I'm not sure. "Fuck Everything" was a fun one to write. I have a lot of fun writing the commercials like "Hands" and "Retaphin." I don't know... Usually the one I REALLY like are the ones that get a lot of hate, like "Best Song" or "Drinking Beer and Smoking Cigarettes".

I'm not. Seriously. I just know how to pretend.

That's not a question. But I'll accept it anyway.

That's not a question. But I'll accept it anyway.

I love getting high with strangers in their parent's basement. Thanks, I'll take you up on that. I went to theater school in Montreal (Dawson College) and was in a band for about 5 years. The band broke up, I was out of work, and bored, so I started shooting videos for fun. I learned how to edit and all the production stuff along the way. I had no idea it would lead to a career in comedy. I was never the funny kid growing up, so it's still weird for me.

The first comedy song I ever wrote was "High as Fuck". I had never even thought of musical comedy. The reason I wrote it was because I was shooting videos with a pretty shitty camera, and the sound quality was terrible (for an example, see "Breathing Commercial"). I figured out that with my editing software I could import external audio and sync it up with the footage, and then mute the footage, giving the videos a more professional sound quality. And well, what's the best way to do that? A music video. Having been in a band for 5 years, I knew how to record music, so I wrote "High as Fuck", then went to Saint-Bruno park in Montreal alone with my mp3 player and shot a bunch of footage. People responded well to that song, so I decided to keep going in that direction.

I'm working on one now. I'm waiting for Tom Waits to be back in town.

Steve's real name is Nino. He's been a friend of the family since I was a kid. I grew up going to church 3 times a week, and he was and still is a member of the congregation there. He lived at our place for a while, and has always been a honorary Lajoie. He now hangs with my brother Jason (Cliff Baconcock from "Not Giving a Fuck") at least 3 times a week. He's the way he is in the videos. He's a little slow, that's all. He's a good friend, and a hilarious dude.

My parents are surprisingly cool about the videos. They are pretty religious, and don't really get my sense of humor, but they are supportive none the less. Just to give you an example, I wasn't allowed to watch He-Man when I was a kid, because there were too many "evil" things like skulls and spells. They're cool about it, but my mom can't wait for me to be in a Disney movie. My dad recently came to one of my live shows for the first time, and he didn't disown me, which is way more than I expected.

I actually just chatted with Bo Burnham at the Improv in Hollywood last night. I think he's great. I'm a fan of Tim Minchin as well. Although my favorite musical comedians are Maroon 5. Those guys are hilarious.

Nick Kroll (who plays Ruxin) is a super nice guy. I'm not sure what's going to happen in season 4, I haven't spoken to the creators about it yet. I'm sure there will be some Shiva blasting and Raffi-bombs for everyone.

I don't. You got me drunk and had your way with me.

I actually hate being stoned in public. I get super paranoid. So yes, I wrote that song, or thought of it at least, when I got high walking my dog, and then decided to walk to the corner store to pick up some snacks.

I get high in my apartment, and make sure I don't have to leave.

However you want to pronounce it. Some people say "La-Joy", some people say "Lah-jwah". I prefer "Ke-anu Ree-ves"

My genitals are for my eyes, and my sister's eyes only.

Sorry dude. Hoes before bros. I like pizza. But I prefer stealing other people's pizza and ruining their meals.

What part of Texas are you from?

Well, that's a tough one. I've kind of exhausted the topic. I've milked that cow dry, so to speak. But who knows, maybe?

Holy shit. He does. I think he just made a "Jon Lajoie" mask like Liam Neason in "Darkman" (wow, that's an obscure reference)

It's not that there are no opportunities, it's just that I like doing my own thing. I'm not sure I'd be the best addition to the cast of "How I Met Your Mother".

I am a serious rapper, mothafucka. Honestly, I try to make songs that sound like serious songs, so I don't take offense. I have family in Palermo my Italian friend!

Not really. I'm never trying to be deliberately offensive. I just write what I think is funny. And sometimes that involves kids with cancer, suicide, death, pedophilia, and other taboos. I think most people get that I'm not trying to be offensive just to be offensive.

That always makes me laugh. An entire theater singing along to 2 Girls 1 Cup... It never gets old. The reference does though.

I'm not sure. They're both very different things. I love music and I love comedy. Here's a question for you guys. Reply honestly. I hate when actors (or comedians) release "real" music, so I get it. How would you react if I released a "real" album? Serious music. Just curious. I don't have any plans to do so, don't worry.

7... Million.

They're all pretty goddamn funny. Not sure. I'm the worst when it comes to laughing during takes. I've ruined soooo many shots. Paul Scheer cracks me up. Steve (Kevin) gets me with his pitiful looks towards Taco. I love being in scenes with Nick (Ruxin), just that dynamic makes me laugh. I'd have to say that Jason (Raffi) is the hardest to keep a straight face around.

When they stop asking, it means I'm out of a job. No, I don't mind. And yes, it helps me get laid.

Not really. If I think it's funny, that's all that matters. If I'm not proud of something I made, then I'm pretty hard on myself. But in the end, I'm just playing around and having fun. I find it hilarious how pissed off people can get at a silly video I made in one afternoon for kicks. I know that I can never please everyone, and I don't try to. For example, I knew my latest video "Drinking Beer and Smoking Cigarettes" would get a lot of hate. But it makes me giggle because it's so stupid, and if it makes one other person giggle, that's all I need.

Tremors. Mushy.

Thanks! When I wrote that "Chainsaw" part, it was one of those "I'm not sure if anyone is going to get this" moments. I'm glad I kept it in there. I didn't shoot anything in high school, because back in the day video cameras were crazy expensive. I'm old, by the way.

A thrift shop on the south shore of Montreal called "Village de Valeurs" Cost me a total of 6 bucks, with the cell phone.

Kids in the Hall, Monty Python, early Adam Sandler, The Goon Show (old British radio show), Ricky Gervais, SNL, Mitch Hedberg, George Carlin, Eddie Murphy, Bill Hicks...

That's in Bootlegs and B-sides. Search that on Youtube.

No idea. I'm trying to write a few things for TV and film. I'd like to write and direct. I'm not the best planner. I'll figure it out.

It sounds cliche, but just do it. That's the only way you'll get good at it. And the technology is so affordable that there is no excuse not to. Write and shoot as much as you can.

Alright friends, thanks a lot for this opportunity. I'm signing off. I'll be back sometime soon, so keep posting your questions and I'll try to answer as many as possible. Thanks for all of your kind words and support. I really appreciate it. Have a good night, eskimo brothers.