I-95 Exclusive: Jamie Kennedy’s Journey from Scream to Stand-Up in CT

Jamie Kennedy recently came through Connecticut for a two-night stop at the New York Comedy Club in Stamford. The actor/comedian checked in with the I-95 Morning Show to promote the gigs and we had an amazing chat about his career, personal life and wild fans.

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These are some of our favorite moments from that discussion.

Lou: Your character Randy Meeks in Scream is the perfect horror movie character in my opinion. Up to that point, we'd not seen that I can remember, a horror-film fan in a horror movie. It was cast perfectly, nobody could've played that role except for you. That was a breakout role. What was that experience like for you? 

Jamie: "It was just a wild thing, I had lines which is very rare for a young actor. I did a couple of little commercials, had a line here and a line there. I had dialogue, I had a character, I had an arch, I had a purpose in a film, it was quite incredible. To be part of this little horror movie and you're like oh this is a nice little horror movie, you're like this is a good beginning spot and you grow from here. Did I know it was going to be the biggest thing in my career? No. Did I know it was going to be still 28 years later the still most talked about thing? No. Incredible." 

Lou: If your Randy Meeks character was still alive and part of the Scream franchise today, what would he be doing? What would Randy be up to?

Jamie: "Kind of doing what I'm doing, I was thinking that the other day, it's so funny. I think he'd be a little bit of a conspiracy theorist which I definitely am. I think he'd probably have a podcast which I do. He might be teaching film somewhere at a college or he might be making B movies somewhere, horror movies. That is what I kind of think he would do, I don't think he'd be a normal guy who is married and settled down with kids, great question." 

Lou: What is the most untrue thing that has ever been said about you in the press or in public? 

Jamie: "Good question dude, I think that I'm on drugs all the time or that I'm drunk. I'm just, you know I'm tired, I work all the time, I'm always running around doing sixteen things. So, I think people think I'm like on drugs or something. The other thing is, is like I'm like this right-winger. I'm surely not on the left, I've definitely annoyed, those people have lost all respect. I wasn't even political three years ago but no, I'm just a common sense person who questions things and if you do that now, you are considered some sort of super-conservative I guess. So, yeah a few things."  

Lou: What is the weirdest gift or gesture a fan has ever given to you, or done for you? 

Jamie: "Hahaha, that is interesting, um there is a lot I'd say. How can I say this? There's more like actions, one time there was a couple that came to my show and, this woman came to my show and she was so classy, she was beautiful and she looked like Barbie. Her husband looked like Ken, they were a perfect looking couple. The woman laughed at every joke and she sent me a Facebook message and she said like one or two really complimentary things and then the third message was so intense and it changed really quickly. It had to do with something like me hanging out with her in a hotel room while her husband might be present. I was like wait a minute, how did we go from that to like this? She's like, yeah I've got no time to waste. I was like OK, why don't you send your husband down to get you a coffee and we'll have a moment? She's like no he has to be  there. I was like OK, then I said I got another show, I'll talk to you later. But like that changed very quickly, hey I love your show, hey your so funny, he do you wanna...?"

Lou: Yeah, my husband is a cuck, let's go! What!?

Jamie: "Hahaha, and this is before that term, I never knew that term. I had no idea, I mean it was a nice offer I have to tell you. You know it was wild and she was so hot and I was like I don't know what if the husband comes up to me with a ------, you know? He surprises me with ---, you know what I'm saying? I just don't need that." 

Lou: That's a lot too weigh, yeah. 

Jamie: "Yeah, right? Haha, a lot to weigh! Yeah, it's 2 am, you're somewhere outside Pensacola, you know what I mean?"

Lou: Tough times...

Jamie: "Haha, How long before you guys are fired for this interview!?"

You can listen to our entire interview with Jamie below in two-parts.

Part 1 - Jamie talks about being a guest on Jesse Lee Peterson's show and the experience of playing Randy in Scream to break his career in Hollywood. 

Part 2 - Jamie talks about how the movie business has completely changed and this is the first time in his professional life he does not feel like he has to live in Los Angeles to be a working actor. 

Check out the Ethan, Lou & Large Dave Podcast on Apple and Spotify

"Scream" hit theaters in December 1996, and as a high school junior, my friends and I jumped at the chance to get tickets. The film featured all the hottest stars of the time and brought a fresh, original twist to the horror/slasher genre. I’ll never forget watching it at the Cameo Theater on Main Street in Brewster, NY. Back then, Wednesday nights were a steal with two-for-one tickets—what a score! After that first viewing, I was hooked and never missed the sequels, especially the earlier ones, 2 and 3.

If you had told my 17-year-old self that I’d one day be cutting it up with Randy and Deputy Dewey, I would’ve thought you were nuts. Oh, and I’ve had the chance to talk to David Arquette a few times too!