“How did this Westside of Chicago kid’s dreams come true?”
Comedian Milton “Lil Rel” Howrey is becoming a household name. Recently, his journey as a stand up comedian has led him to a role on truTv’s Friends of the People and a Comedy Central special entitled RELevant which received Kevin Hart’s stamp of approval last year. He is currently in his second season of the NBC’s The Carmichael Show where he stars in a role created specifically for him alongside Jerrod Carmichael, David Alan Grier, and Loretta Devine.
His ability to stay true to himself has helped him navigate through his successful career, as he is a firm believer that “If you are yourself, your audience will find you.” He credits Chicago, “A place where you can’t receive a compliment without getting roasted” as key in keeping him grounded. Lil Rel humbly took a break from hollywood to do a performance in his hometown and discuss RELevant moments on his journey.
How did you first know that you wanted to get into comedy?
I knew I wanted to do comedy after a play in high school, and I started looking in the Chicago Sun Times for open mics. The first time I went on stage I was 19. I wasn’t even old enough to get in the club at the time but I somehow got in. I don’t even remember how I did I just remember being so happy that I finally did it because the place seemed so big to me. In hindsight it was actually a small space, but it was really big to me at the time.
How has a being around such a phenomenal cast helped your craft?
I learn so much from everyone. They are so talented in their own way. I love being around Loretta Devine. She is a voice of reason for me at times as. She is so humble and such a hard worker that sometimes she doesn’t even realize how much of a legend she is and how many actresses she has inspired. I’m so proud to have her as my TV mama. David Allen Grier is so funny that sometimes it’s hard to focus on set. Amber is extremely talented and Jerrod is so focused. Jerrod is a workaholic and I try to get him to loosen up sometimes and remind him he’s been on the Forbes list and he needs to enjoy it.
You and Tiffany Haddish have such great chemistry on The Carmichael Show. Did you know each other beforehand?
She was actually my first real L.A. friend. We met at Who Got Jokes and she walked up to me and said, “I’m going to be your friend.” I remember crashing at her South Central crib after auditions and saying “One day we’re gonna get it.” Now she’s out there killing the game. I’m so proud of her, she is so good in Keanu. It’s amazing conversations I have had with people, way before we had anything. We were all broke sharing a pan of chicken wings and now we’re out here having brunch in Beverly Hills together.
What kept you going during those times that made you stick to the grind to get where you are today?
I know my role with my friends is the motivator. I counteract the BS and negativity. I’m that friend that you can’t be down around because I’m always going to remind you that you’re dope, we’re dope. I say that because that’s the only thing I know. I try not to surround myself with those people that keep bringing negativity that I always have to push because after so long that gets draining and weird. That’s why I love hanging around Jerrod, he is so chill and his brain is always working.
On Amanda Seales’ web series Get Your Life, you helped counsel her on her move from New York to L.A. and the crazy situations she finds herself in. Is there anything about living in L.A. now that makes you wish you were in Chicago?
No not really. I’ve learned to love other places. I love that I can drop the top in L.A. in February because I can’t do that in Chicago. Me and Amanda are real good friends and she was one of the first people I met in New York and her situation is slightly different than mine. I moved to New York before moving to L.A. and I fell in love with that city as well. I love Chicago but I love how others cities aren’t as segregated as Chicago. New York was amazing to me because there were so many different groups of people I’ve never seen before hanging out with each other. I remember the first day I was in New York, I saw a gay Puerto Rican dude, a thugged out black dude, this corny looking white dude and they were all friends! I had never seen anything like that before and that’s what really made me fall in love with New York.
I’m a grown man and I make my environment. A lot of people get caught up in crazy stuff because that’s what they choose to do. Me, I love hanging around dope people and everything I do is real chill.
During some of your stand ups you always represent for those of us that wear eyeglasses and joked about having a line. Is that actually going to happen?
It’s definitely going to happen. I was happy to see when Rickey Smiley got his. I’ve been in the talks with people and want to make sure it’s done the right way, but everyone should definitely be on the look out.
As a family man what is the biggest struggle you run into when trying to find a healthy work life balance?
Just not being around my kids, especially now that they’re at the age when they bring it up a lot more. They often ask “Why do you always have to work?” They don’t realize it’s because I’m trying to make sure they eat.
What are some things you wish you could tell yourself back in the day. If you could speak to little Lil Rel, what would you tell him?
I have been thinking about that lately, and I realized I was focused as a kid, and the image of me now is exactly the image I used to see as a kid. Everything down to the way I dress and the glasses I wear is what I envisioned as “cool” to look like. So I find my younger self speaking to me now often instead of the other way around. Little Lil Rel has been telling me “Thank you for not quitting on me.”
Be on the look out for Lil Rel’s new MTV series Acting Out and the movie Get Out. Both will air in the fall.
