The world’s fifth highest-earning comedian talks about going from serving Robert De Niro drinks to co-starring with him on screen
It’s an early Thursday morning in
Los Angeles and Sebastian Maniscalco sounds weary, but for good reason. Not only is he enjoying time with a new baby (his son, Caruso Jack, was born Father’s Day weekend), he’s also juggling a blockbuster list of sold-out standup dates nationwide. As evidence of his current stature, he’s also tackling the coveted gig as master of ceremonies for the upcoming
MTV Video
music awards (VMAs). It’s a curious choice for the 46-year-old comedian known for family humor who readily admits he’s not totally familiar with today’s pop music landscape.
“This is one of those things I took I because it’s a challenge for me,” says Maniscalco, with a grog in his voice. “I grew up on MTV watching
Madonna, Prince and Michael Jackson. For me to be hosting is kind of surreal. Also, my father keeps on asking me what he should wear. He’s like: ‘I’m gonna wear a suit.’ I said: ‘Dad, this isn’t a wedding. It’s a music show. Get some sequins or something.’”