Tom Green’s bum is no longer on your lips.  Instead, it’s located in the back of his pants, parked behind the desk of his latest chat-show incarnation Tom Green’s House Tonight.  The demeanour of said bum has changed considerably in the 14 years since Tom’s first appearance on Canadian cable, and could now best be described as ‘demure.’  Moose of the world take heed: Tom Green is no longer looking to fuck you.

Shot in his living room and blasted live across the internets nightly (and on The Comedy Network in Canada), TGHT features a Tom Green you may not recognize.  When reminded of his erratic early days, he points out that, “if you’re on every night, that would actually be a little bit annoying.  When I was in my 20s and bringing a dead raccoon on The Mike Bullard Show, I don’t think I ever intended on doing that constantly.”  Gone are the days of impromptu leg shavings mid-interview.  “It’s not an appropriate way to handle an interview with a comedian to get into a funny contest.  You want to encourage your guests to be really funny.”

For those keeping score, that’s moose: safe, racoons: safe, guests: do something funny.  Fortunately, his staff of a dozen does an amazing job of bringing very funny people up to Tom’s house.  Recent appearances of Kenny and Spenny, The Trailer Park Boys, Jimmy Kimmel, Andy Dick, Bob Saget and others have provided more than their share of memorable moments, and make good sense of Tom’s new approach.

Citing Jack Parr, Letterman, Johnny and Jay as inspirations, Tom has embraced the new format and is excited at the potential reach of the “goofy little show in (his) living room.”  The irony of Tom Green in a limitless environment coming off mild-mannered is not lost on him.  However, he insists he’s in it for the long-haul, trying to create, “a nice, comfortable environment.  It is a bit of a curveball for people that have paid attention to my career.  I’m just trying to do what’s right for the show.”