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Tim Meadows has worked in almost every conceivable facet of comedy entertainment. He’s done stand-up; improv (“Second City”); sketch comedy (“Saturday Night Live”); and feature films (Mean Girls). Now, Meadows stars as Paul DuFrayne on TBS’ “The Bill Engvall Show.”

“I think it’s a good family sitcom, it’s the kind of show you could watch with kids, grandparents — there’s something in there for everybody,” he says. “I like the fact that it’s sort of a throwback to ‘The Cosby Show,’ [or] ‘Roseanne’ — maybe not as controversial, but it represents the same sort of working-class family.”

As a veteran of many comedy disciplines, Meadows is comfortable with both the rehearsed comedy of television and film and the off-the-cuff spontaneity of improv. “I can’t say that one is better,” he says. “When you’re in an audience watching improvisation, it’s a magical feeling because you know that it’s all being created on the spot. You all experience it for the first time. With scripted material, the actors have done it over and over and rehearsed it. But I think a well-written joke is just as good as an improvised joke.”

Meadows’ longevity in the industry is no accident; he is committed to honing his craft and continuing to grow. “The key is to continue working, no matter what,” says Meadows.

“Always stay true to yourself. Be honest about your material, [don’t] do things that are fake just because you think people will laugh at it,” he says. “I love to see comedy when it’s smart — I hate dumb comedy.” todd williams

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