Funnyman Tom Green thinks his 2010 Dodge Challenger is ‘a cool-looking car.’
Tom Green
- Profession: Actor and comedian
- Age: 41
- Hometown: Pembroke, Ont.
- The car: 2010 Dodge Challenger
Notable achievements
- Launched his career with the MTV television show The Tom Green Show; appeared in the TV series Workaholics and Seed; hosted his own late-night talk show on MTV called The New Tom Green Show
- In 2000, diagnosed and successfully treated for testicular cancer; in 2004, released his autobiography Hollywood Causes Cancer: The Tom Green Story
Currently
- Stand-up comedy tour continues with dates including Yuk Yuk’s in Ajax, Ont., April 19-20, and Auckland, New Zealand May 1-4
- Tom Green Live (Showtime comedy special) just released on DVD & digital download
- Just launched his newest project, the Tom Green Radio podcast, at tomgreen.com
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He made his mark on MTV's The Tom Green Show. With his outrageous antics and shock humour, Tom Green gained fame as one of the most unpredictable personalities on TV.
Later, he appeared in films such as Charlie's Angels, Road Trip, Stealing Harvard and Freddy Got Fingered. This year, he appears in the Trailer Park Boys movie Swearnet. He's also back on stage, performing stand-up comedy at venues around the world. His next Canadian stop is in Ajax, Ont., April 19-20.
When the gigs are close to his Los Angeles home, Green prefers to drive. His ride is a 2010 Dodge Challenger.
Why did you buy a Challenger?
I wanted to get a car that was fast and made me feel like The Dukes of Hazzard when I was driving around L.A.
I've had a lot of cars over the years and I wanted to have a North American car. I wanted to support the North American auto industry.
I like the car – it's a cool-looking car. It's the kind of car I wanted when I was a kid. I always wanted to have a muscle car. I was going to get a classic old muscle car and then I realized it would probably break down all of the time. So I decided I'd get the next best thing – I'd get a muscle car that is brand new. It's the first time I've had a car like that.
I love cars. I've had lots of different cars over the years. I've always enjoyed having cars. I live in Los Angeles – it's a city where cars are a requirement.
Did you cross-shop your Challenger against other muscle cars like a Mustang or Camaro?
I test-drove the Camaro and the Mustang. I preferred the Challenger because it reminds me of The Dukes of Hazzard. That was a big deal for me growing up with The Dukes of Hazzard. I loved that show as a kid.
But it's not your typical car for L.A.?
I like it because it doesn't feel like an L.A. car. In L.A., everybody drives around in these fancy cars. This has more of a rock 'n' roll feel to it.
It's black. I started smoking cigarettes since I got the car. I like smoking cigarettes when I'm driving now. I don't really like smoking cigarettes that much, but I like smoking cigarettes in my car.
It's a bit of statement in L.A. I like having that car because a lot of times people in Los Angeles get cars to try and impress people. I don't think the Dodge Challenger is that kind of car. It's not like driving a Mercedes or some fancy European car. It feels like a normal car.
What does a Challenger say about you?
It says I'm trying not to take life too seriously. It says I'm potentially going through a mid-life crisis. That's about it.
Do you know what's under the hood?
It's got a Hemi V-8 engine. It's really fast. I'm not a real gear guy. I don't work on cars, but I know it works well and it's fast and it sounds good.
I've had really small cars and big cars – this is a nice medium-sized car.
Has that power landed you any speeding tickets?
No, it hasn't. I don't speed much.
I have taken it out to the desert. I was driving out to Arizona recently to do one of my stand-up shows. I took it out to an abandoned desert road and did a little speeding.
Any time I'm performing less than a six-hour drive away, I'll always drive because I like to drive. If it's over a six-hour drive, I'll fly.
What do you listen to on the road?
I listen to '80s music that was popular when I was in high school. I like late '80s and early '90s hip hop music – the Beastie Boys, Public Enemy, Gang Starr – stuff like that. I've never been able to get over listening to the same music I listened to when I was in high school.
What was your first car?
My dad bought me my very first car when I was studying television broadcasting at Algonquin College in Ottawa.
I was going to college everyday and going to that public access station Rogers Cable every night to edit video. It was impossible to do on the bus, so my dad bought me a used Toyota Camry. That was an awesome car.
Then I got a Jeep Cherokee when I was living in Ottawa, which was cool. I've had some pretty cool cars over the years and I actually got tired of having cool cars. Not that my car isn't cool now – don't want to disrespect my car now.
What cool cars have you owned?
I had a Porsche 911 at one point. I had it for five years. I loved that car, but it was too small.
I had a Mercedes E55. They were both really fast – the Mercedes was actually faster than the Porsche. But I didn't really like having fancy cars, to be honest with you. It embarrassed me a little bit.
I'm very lucky. I've had a lot of fortunate things happen to me in my life. Things went really well with my show and I got excited and wanted to buy fancy cars, but after a few years of driving around in them I realized it wasn't my style.
If I could bring you the keys to any vehicle, what would it be?
I like cars, but I don't need a special car to define me.
I've always liked Ferraris. But if I could say any car, I'd say a Dodge Challenger. It's a simple American car that's fast and isn't saying anything other than rock' n' roll! I'm here to have a good time – let's party!
This interview has been edited and condensed.
Twitter: @PetrinaGentile
Petrina Gentile