Not High, but With Tales to Tell: Jim Breuer on 'Saturday Night Live'

Breuer reveals what happened on "Saturday Night Live" in the '90s in a new book.

ByABC News
October 4, 2010, 5:17 AM

Oct. 4, 2010 — -- Let's get this out of the way: Jim Breuer's not high. By his own admission, the comedian with the heavy-lidded eyes has "looked wrecked" since the age of 6 (and, at times, "Saturday Night Live's" famous Goat Boy and Joe Pesci impersonator has been under the influence as well -- but that part of life is behind him now).

His stories are not the fantastical, rambling tales of a stoner. They're revealing portraits of what happened behind the scenes at "SNL" during his 1994-1998 tenure there, before he went on to star in "Half Baked" with Dave Chappelle and, more recently, develop a family-friendly style of comedy better suited to a married father of three, which he is now.

Below, check out Breuer's "SNL" revelations, culled from his new memoir "I'm Not High: But I've Got a Lot of Crazy Stories About Life as a Goat Boy, a Dad, and a Spiritual Warrior" and his sit down with ABCNews.com:

"He'd told my agent he thought I might have been 'on something' at the audition. When I went to Lorne's office, [before being cast on the show] he just sat there eating from a big bowl of popcorn. It was the strangest and most awkward business meeting I'd ever attended. He didn't say much at all as I rambled on uncomfortably about my accomplishments. Eventually he came out with 'I should tell you that some people want you here, and some don't.' Not exactly a vote of confidence for me."

"Goat Boy was one of two characters I would do at bars, trying to pick up girls and get free drinks. I would pretend I had Tourette's, but instead of cursing, I'd use the goat noise. Like, 'Hey man, can I get couple beers and [baaah] we're going to do some [baaah] shots.' The more I would commit, the harder people would laugh, and then someone would just go, 'Drinks are on us tonight.'"

"During the rehearsal all week, and into the dress rehearsal Saturday night, Chris was riding Norm about not doing the proper Rod Sterling voice ... Just as everyone in the sketch was trying to concentrate, Norm finally spoke up, unleashing a brutal tirade. 'Hey, ah, Chris, Pamela knows you're gay!' he yelled. 'We all know you're gay. So why don't you just come out of the closet and then you wouldn't be such an angry little gay guy. Christ, you're always in everyone's business! Stop hitting on chicks!' As soon as he finished, we all immediately heard, 'Action!'"