Intelligencer

Colin Quinn’s Peer Group

"Spielberg, Myers,” says misunderstood genius.

By Joe Hagan
Published Apr 24, 2006

(Photo: Rick Mackler/Globe Photos)

What ever happened to Colin Quinn? He’s trying to figure it out himself. The trouble started, the ex-SNLer has been telling audiences at stand-up shows, back in 1996, when he turned down the part of Dr. Evil’s son in Austin Powers. “I really am a creep,” said the 46-year-old, recalling that Mike Myers had offered him the job without an audition. So why turn it down? “Because I was trying to write my own project! In my mind, I’m equal to everybody. Mike Myers, Steven Spielberg—I’m their equal, I’m their peer. That’s been a problem in the showbiz community, getting other people to understand this.” He ran into Myers near Washington Square Park last month. “I said, ‘Mike, the only regret I have in life . . . !’ I started screaming in the street and he knew exactly what I was talking about.” Even worse: Some people don’t know that Comedy Central canceled his talk show in 2004. “I like it a lot better when people don’t realize it,” says Quinn. He’s been pitching a high-concept sketch-comedy show to HBO, featuring actors playing foreign countries. “But nobody seems to understand it,” he says. “I may be a genius out of his time.”