Interview with a Friend is an ongoing feature on TheGreatSuccess.com.

This week, dear readers, we spotlight my friend Mike.  He’s approaching birthday number 25 this week and he’s having a big bash at his parents house this weekend to celebrate.  Constant jokes about the year 2000 snacks will be flying.  Here we go . . .

TGS: Are you ready? Here it is:
MP: No, but hell let’s go for it

TGS: State your name, age, and t-shirt size for the record.
MP: Michael Vincent Pupillo, 25 (you just wanted me to say it), If you’re reppin American Apparel, I’ll take a medium thank you. For all of you futile Wal-Mart shoppers, that’s an extra small.

TGS: I thought it would be kind of funny if you listed out all the different hair colors / combinations you went through in high school. Go for it.
MP: Hmmmmmm, red, blue, green, purple, what I like to call salt ‘n pepper and negro (that’s Spanish). I think that about sums it up.

TGS: To follow on this color theme, I know most people wonder about your ethnicity. Now are you from one of those Central American countries or are you just a straight up Mexican?
MP: Nice, for the record, my pops is Sicilian and my moms is pretty much a whitey but most people guess me Greek or Hispanic.  Last year a student asked me if I was related to Yadier Molina.

TGS: Is it true that you were the inspiration behind Tom Hanks’ character as the ‘alcoholic relative come to visit’ on Family Ties?
MP: Actually you’ve got it switched up, that character’s been my inspiration.

TGS: Do you find it ironic that Michael J. Fox was, at the time, himself a raging alcoholic?
MP: Like rain on your wedding day.  Marty McFly can do no wrong, I’d booze it with him.

TGS: Seriously though, one of my favorite stories to tell people about hanging out with you in the early years was that I would wake up from a night of drinking and be like, “I don’t want to do that again. At least I haven’t been drunk as much as Mike. Hell, I’ll never catch up to him.” It always made me feel comfort. Remember them days?
MP: You’ve come a long way since the early days.  I think it’s safe to say we’ve made invaluable impressions on each other.  As for “catching up”,  your Columbia days have most likely put you at par perhaps even birdie. Heres a tip; I combat cirrhosis with a healthy dose of café each day, really it’s cuz I like the speedy feeling caffeine gives me.

TGS: Speaking of high school, let’s go back to spring of 2001. What did it feel like to stand up there on stage at prom as the newly elected prom king? What was going through your mind? What an honor.
MP: It felt euphoric, as if Jesus himself had lifted me up. It was then I knew my life had reached it’s pinnacle. I recall thinking damn, “I feel twice as inebriated underneath these white lights.”

TGS: They always announce people and then give a list of the shit they do, like clubs and sports. They had nothing for ya. “Michael Pupillo . . . . who is on the Lindbergh lacrosse team.” Not true. Shoulda been “Michael Pupillo, who let’s people drink at his house every weekend.”
MP: That to me was the beauty of it all.  I like to think I was a quality host too.  I was an avid hockey fan as well.  Who cares if all that cheering was alcohol induced? it came from the heart and that my friend is school spirit.

TGS: Thanks to you I’ve had purple hair, attempted the guitar, fallen in love with California, tried tons of food I would’ve never tried, and become about 10 times cooler (by association). Obviously the list could go on. I want to say thanks.
MP: You’re welcome. Because of you I attended college, buy quality denim, and know the words to an absurd number of pop tunes.  Friendships should be reciprocal. One love.

TGS: What’s your favorite memory of you and I (non-sexual)?
MP: Damn that’s a tough one. Probably waiting all week just to go to your house to make CD’s that took an hour and a half to burn, only to end up with BBMak and Soul Decision on them. That or star-gazing.

TGS: You’ve had some shitty jobs in your day, but you’ve always kept your head about you. What was the worst job you’ve had?
MP: Scrubbing the fat vats at Clown Dog. On a serious tip, McSqueeze was the absolute worst.

TGS: You ever gonna watch those real estate tapes your mom got you?
MP: I’m not even 26 what’s your rush for?

TGS: You probably should’ve just been a rapper. I’ve never seen someone tear it up like you. Maybe Busta Rhymes in Finding Forrester.
MP: When I come through when I blow the spot…
Ha ha. But for real, you know my first CD was Young MC? No lie. It’s In the blood I guess. What’s that line in True Romance?

TGS: You spent 3.5 years at McDonald’s. Now you’ve been a vegan for 5 years. About time to switch it up again eh?
MP: I do like to keep ‘em guessing as they say but I doubt I’ll ever break my veg. You’d have be enticing me with some pretty Big incentives if you know what I mean.

TGS: What did it feel like back in 2002-03 when you were losing all that weight and everyone in the press was like “Mikey’s on drugs!” “Mikey’s down to 125 lbs., Checks into Rehab” and “Mikey’s Shaving His Balls and Showing Everyone at the Club”?
MP: Seriously people have no idea what it’s like to work in this industry, the pressure can be overwhelming.  I’m just tryin to go to Whole Foods with my boy Timberlake ya know?  These days I say eff it, let ‘em speculate it’s more fun that way. I still shave my balls btw.

TGS: Were all those crotch shots really accidental?
MP: If you’d like a personal peep just ask directly.

TGS: I know you’re aware that the toolshed tagline on my blog is “Live Exceptionally”. Of everyone I know, you truly know how to pull that off on a budget. How have you been able to do so much with no money? Any advice for the kids out there?
MP: Ha, I’ll consider that a compliment and less a jab.
The day your bank account defines you is the day you quit living.
You can always make it happen, “it’s just a number in a computer” right?

TGS: Run me through your checklist of things to do before getting on an airplane.
MP: Charge the ipod, pop a pill or two, and get some drink tix from Nate.

TGS: What do you see for the Skinflint Montage in the future?
MP: A video(unrated), more parking lot action, perhaps a clothing line.

TGS: Last week, I interviewed Tom. Who do you like more, Chuck or Tom?
MP: Whomever I owe less money.

TGS: Well hey, thanks for playing along. Here’s to us my friend. Cheers.
MP: It’s been fun.  Cheers mate.