Myers’ acceptance speech spirals into mini-performance

Michael Ray
Published: Thursday, February 13, 2003

Mike Myers accepted the 23rd Jack Benny Award on Wednesday at Royce Hall for his outstanding comedic achievements, including a successful run on “Saturday Night Live” and the hit films in the “Austin Powers” series.

After a video montage of some of the most memorable Myers characters such as Philip the “hyper-hypo,” Myers was greeted by a standing ovation as he took the stage. After a short but gracious thank you, Myers attempted to slyly slip the large glass award into his breast pocket. Then a string of hilarious incidents began, eventually leading to a question-and-answer session with “Austin Powers” director Jay Roach. Myers played to the enthusiastic crowd in a series of improvised jokes about his nerves.

“It’s in no way uncomfortable to sit like this,” Myers said. “This is the way Jay and I always have our meetings … in front of a live audience.”

When women in the crowd went wild over Myers taking off his coat, he responded to the obligatory “Take it off!” with “I’m not drunk enough!”

There were a few serious and revealing moments in between students asking Mike if they could be his best friend or his valentine. He spoke of the effects his father’s death in 1991 had on him and the birth of Austin Powers in his mind at that time.

When asked if he would put Jay Roach out of business by taking the director’s chair in the future, Myers responded, “If there’s one thing I do, it will be to put Jay Roach out of business – I’ve never liked the man, the man’s an ass. I’m sorry Jay, I meant to tell you before.”

Most of the audience questions dealt with the creation of the Austin Powers characters, such as the inspiration for Doctor Evil.

“I wanted to explore what it would be like to be an evil single parent,” Myers said. “How do you run a family and take over the world at the same time?”

In all, the “Austin Powers” films have grossed over … one billion dollars. When asked how he always seems to outdo himself, Myers humbly responded, “I really love comedy. I’m not bored with comedy. A lot of people feel they need to outgrow it, which I think is … wrong.”