Here's a name I keep hearing all around the pop-culture world.  "Zach Galifianakis".  As a mainstream kinda guy, I keep thinking, "well, certainly this guy will pop up somewhere I'd see him ...on American Idol, in an episode of The Office, or in a commercial airing on Disney Channel." Or, maybe, I thought, I'd see his 3-year-old stand-up act on Comedy Central some random Friday night and be like, "oh ...wow ...he is funny ...now I'm a fan, too."

But sitting passively on the pop-culture sideline has proven fruitless.  Is he the hot new thing?  Is he a comedian's comedian?  Is he a Mad TV alum, because I know I haven't seen him on South Park.  And I don't recognize him from old episodes of Mr. Show or Reno 911.  So, what's his deal?  How can someone rise to such popularity and universal appeal if he somehow has escaped my personal pop-culture drag net? I mean, I know who Larry the Cable Guy is, and who Ron White is, even if I haven't ever watched more than two or three minutes of their work.  I know all about the Frisky Dingo and Aqua Teen Hunger Force, though I've never watched either.

And so I did what any curious sort of person would do.  I Googled like crazy and went to IMDB to figure out this mystery.  The reason I bring this up is because Galifianakis is currently starring in the #1 movie in the country, The Hangover.  And it would seem the movie is lacking in "star power" (save for all the cameos and walk-ons), but it doesn't seem to matter.  No transforming robo-vehicles, no Megan Fox or Jaime Fox, and very few special effects.  That hardly seems worthy of summer blockbuster status.

Turns out, Galifianakis is a stand-up comedian who moved to New York from North Carolina when he finished college and started doing comedy.  Eventually he started touring coffee shops and college campuses, and his brand of humor got noticed by all sorts of folks - from Conan O'Brien, to Sarah Silverman, to Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim of the Tim & Eric Awesome Show.  And pretty much, when you land yourself somewhere on Adult Swim, you instantly earn favor among the late night TV-watching, comedy snob* crowd.

*Comedy snobs are defined as people who hate Robin Williams, Saturday Night Live, and comedians who can sell-out 20,000 seat venues and instead prefer comedy derived from the unawareness that comedy is taking place.

So, here he is.  A long list of cameos and guest appearances since around 2000, and suddenly he's walked into the mainstream.  Fame and notoriety has been thrust upon him and he has three movies in post-production and seems to be working on a sequel to The Hangover.  This also means that I'm going to see The Hangover only when it comes out on DVD, that I'm going to become a huuuuuge Galifianakis fan, but only about 3 or 4 years too late.  And his longtime fans will hate guys like me doing my Galifianakis impersonation, repeating his signature lines (incorrectly), and treating him like a star - because they'll all still want him as their own, secret genius.

Say goodbye to niche appeal and underground acceptance, Mr. Galifianakis.  Welcome to stardom and the mainstream.  Yes, I will buy your not-so-funny 3rd comedy CD, and I will howl will laughter at your least funny work 3 or 4 years from now.

You are Zach Galifianakis.  And I know you.  And I'm a 36-year-old father of 3.  Hey ...at least you'll finally be making some money.  Welcome to the mainstream.

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