You don’t know Tim Meadows, but Grand Rapids is about to

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn’t recognize Tim Meadows when he pops up on a TV or movie screen.

His camera presence is unmistakable. Even if you can’t recall his name, you know him as “that one guy in that one thing.” In his nearly 40-year career, Meadows has appeared in nearly 200 movies and TV shows, including a 10-year run on “Saturday Night Live” from 1991 to 2000. At the time he left the show, he was the longest-tenured cast member in the show’s history.

Whether he’s an overworked principal in the original “Mean Girls” or the father of the bride who has too much going on business-wise in the latest season of “I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson,” Meadows is not only memorable but often shines brightest in each scene he’s in.

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Despite his familiarity in pop culture, Meadows said that we have yet to meet the real him. But Grand Rapidians will have a chance Friday night as he takes the stage for a stand-up set at Wealthy Theatre.

“The main thing I’m really telling the audience when I get up there is that they don’t know me,” he said. “They know me just from being these characters. And so I like to introduce myself to them and that’s basically how the show goes.”

The show will feature jokes and stories from Meadows’ life both on and off-screen. He said he will cover a wide variety of topics from politics to being a single dad.

It’s a new direction the Highland Park native and Wayne State University graduate is taking on top of appearing in films and TV shows. He said even his family was caught off-guard when he performed on stage.

“My family was so surprised and as I continued to become more successful, the more surprised they became,” Meadows said. “Even to the point now where my sister and my family came and saw me perform a couple months ago and my sister goes, ‘You’re unbelievable. I can’t believe how funny you are. You’re so good and you’re so professional.’ And I said, ‘Yeah, I’ve been doing this for a long time.”

Meadows also said nothing will be off-limits during his set, but he did want to issue a heads-up to audience members.

“Do I have a warning for people? I might spit at you. Spit may come out of my mouth if you’re in the first few rows,” he said.

Meadows is set to perform at Wealthy Theatre starting at 8 p.m. Friday. Doors open at 7 p.m. You can get your tickets to the show by clicking here.

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