john oliver

11 Things: John Oliver

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

On the eve of his maiden performances in San Francisco, 11 Things asked John Oliver to tell us 11 things we didn't already know about John Oliver. Here's what he said:

1. He has never been to San Francisco before - although that will only be true for a few more hours, so enjoy this fact before it becomes a barefaced lie.

2. He broke his nose while fighting the Confederate Army in a "Daily Show" field piece about the Civil War. And yet, shamefully, no medal is forthcoming from the Pentagon. Honor your heroes, America!

3. He will be playing a character called Dick Pants in the new Mike Myers movie.

4. As a British citizen he is - at worst - 67,000,000th in line to the throne.

5. He carries an autograph from Liverpool football player Ian Rush in his wallet - and has done so since he was 11 years old.

6. He once received a letter of complaint from Buckingham Palace.

7. He made his first ever purchase on eBay a month ago - an old poster of Lenny Bruce.

8. He won the "Daily Show" fantasy football tournament this year - to the disgust and embarrassment of the rest of the office.

9. He and John Hodgman were knocked out of a charity Scrabble tournament in the first round last weekend. Even though he was about to use all seven letters on the word "trellis."

10. He shares on office at work with Rob Riggle - which is like sharing an office with Captain America.

11. He'll be performing at 8 and 10:15 p.m. Fri. (with Roy Zimmerman) and 8 and 10:15 p.m. Sat. (with Johnny Steele) at Cobb's Comedy Club, 815 Columbus Ave., S.F. $23.50. 18+. (415) 928-4230. www.cobbscomedyclub.com.

- Tim Sullivan, tsullivan@sfchronicle.com

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/01/23/NSGSUJMOU.DTL

This article appeared on page G - 3 of the San Francisco Chronicle