Patton Oswalt on His Brand-New Stand-Up Show and His Scarface Moment in Miami

Whether you're 8 or 88, you've likely encountered at least one of Patton Oswalt's creative projects. The prolific comedian and actor's résumé is stacked with diverse film and TV credits, and he's not slowing down for this week's holiday. His latest stand-up set, the Effervescent Tour, is coming to the Adrienne Arsht Center on New Year's Eve, just a few hours before the clock strikes midnight.

Ahead of the show, Oswalt spoke to New Times about his winding career trajectory, the brand-new NYE set, and his memorable experience shooting an action scene on Miami's streets.

When asked about his early days, Oswalt admits he never expected his career to take off the way it did. He first became interested in comedy during the summer between his freshman and sophomore years at the College of William & Mary — "that summer where you first kind of realize, I better figure out what I'm doing with my life," he says.

"I started doing a lot of different jobs that summer, in '88, just trying everything. I was studying to be a paralegal. I was writing a column for a local paper. I was working as a DJ. Then I went and did an open mic one night in Washington, D.C. After that, I just thought, I want to be in this world. I want to be in this hang. I like these hours. I like these people. They're speaking the language I speak."

He made his television debut on Seinfeld in the season-six episode, "The Couch." He then landed a writing gig on Mad TV and, ultimately, his own HBO show in 1996.

Since then, he's been involved in pop-cultural institutions ranging from Marvel projects to SpongeBob SquarePants, Modern Family, and more. On the big screen, he's perhaps best known for his role as the beloved Remy from the 2007 Pixar film Ratatouille. When asked about the secret to fostering a career that has appealed to audiences of all ages, Oswalt says it comes down to his simple desire to try everything.

"I think it's curiosity. I'm genuinely curious and enthusiastic to do new stuff. A lot of my comedy is less about, Oh my god, this thing is so dumb, or, This thing is so frustrating. It's more [about], I'm so fascinated with this thing. Why does this happen?

"And that, along with enthusiasm for trying new things, is how I live my life constantly. It's almost like a non-curation, where I'm not trying to be careful and precious about the projects I choose — just try everything. And for some reason, I think that resonates because I think a lot of people — especially now with the internet — you can go down any rabbit hole you want. Nowadays, I like working with someone who wants to try a new weird internet thing or a podcast — whatever, I'll try it."

That same curiosity brought him to Miami for another project long before this week's New Year's Eve performance. The comedian has fond memories of filming the hit TV series Burn Notice here despite the city's punishing heat and humidity.

"We shot it during the summer when the city was empty and a million degrees, one million percent humidity. So we're all in our extra white T-shirts under our button-up shirts that would soak up our sweat so we wouldn't sweat through our clothes. Get three takes, change that T-shirt out because now it's soaked, put on a new one. Keep filming."

Even more indelible than the heat was Oswalt's very own Scarface moment in Miami.

"I had to run down a closed-off street at high noon in July, holding a machine gun, pretending to fire it behind me while I'm running. This is a major downtown street and I'm the only thing on it, and I'm holding a machine gun — it was just surreal. I remember thinking to myself, I don't think a lot of people have had this Miami experience."

As the New Year's Eve celebrations get underway in the city, a comedy show might seem like an unconventional option for the notoriously raucous holiday. Unlike many New Year's Eve shows that keep audiences locked in until the ball drops, Oswalt has a different plan in mind.

"Our show is at 7:30 p.m., which is fantastic. It's over at 9:30 p.m. Then, you can go somewhere with your friends and ring in the new year," Oswalt says. "You're not going to be sitting in some loud-ass hall with everyone screaming and yelling, and I've been to a few shows for New Year's where that can be the case. This won't be that."

Audiences can expect an evening of brand-new material from the comedian. Whether you're a longtime fan or discovering Oswalt's work for the first time, the nearly sold-out show will be a memorable way to ring in 2025.

"It is an amazing hour that I am really, really excited to deliver," he says. "And when a comedian has got new stuff that they are really fired up about, that's always an amazing show. I can actually objectively guarantee an amazing show for everyone looking to come out."

Patton Oswalt. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, December 31, at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, 1300 Biscayne Blvd., Miami; 305-949-6722; arshtcenter.org. Tickets cost $45 to $75.