Kiss My Bumper! Catching Up With Local Legend Howard G

Many of you probably remember comedian, Howard G (Gaskins) from his Senate Auto Insurance commercials from the 90s.

We had the chance to catch up with the DMV legend who coined the term “Kiss my bumper!” this week…check it out:

The MoCoShow: Are you from the DMV area?

Howard G: I am, I’m from Baltimore, MD.

The MoCoShow: How long have you been doing comedy?

Howard G: I have been doing comedy for a little over 26 years now.

The MoCoShow: How did the Senate commercials come about? Did you expect them to get as big as they did?

Howard G: I was driving in from doing some clubs in New Jersey and New York. My agent at the time (Sharon Steele Casting) paged me (you know this was a long time ago because I had a beeper back then). Well she put 911 in the pager, so I pulled over on the New Jersey turnpike and called her. She told me that they are having auditions for this new car insurance company and they are looking for an African-American actor in his 20s. She said for me to hurry up and go to a Holiday Inn hotel in Glen Burnie. I got there and saw quite a few other radio/tv personalities auditioning. BET host Donnie Simpson, FOX 5’s Tony Perkins, TV and radio host comedian Joe Clear, and many more. I created and made up the slogan “Kiss My BUMPER” while auditioning. They told me on the spot right after I auditioned “you are the one we have been looking for!!” Here we are 22 years and 30 television commercials later.”

The MoCoShow: When did the first commercial air?

Howard G: The 1st commercial aired in January 1994.

The MoCoShow: What have you been doing since?

Howard G: Well I have been, and still am, a professional comedian and playwright. I have done other local and national commercials, performed on HBO’s Def Comedy Jam and the Wire, 3 seasons of BET Comic View, went to Kuwait and Afghanistan to perform for U.S. troops. I’ve also opened up for Patti Labelle, Martin Lawrence, Dave Chappelle, and The Temptations just to name a few.

The MoCoShow: How does it feel being a celebrity in our area?

Howard G: I don’t consider myself a celebrity. When I walk in the streets of D.C., Virginia and Maryland, especially when my commercials were on TV 5 or 6 times a day, people would just tell out to me “Hey Kiss My Bumper!!” I would just smile and say hello back.

Howard G: I THANK GOD FOR ALL THOSE BLESSINGS, BUT NOW I AM TRYING TO GIVE BACK TO THE PEOPLE WHO SUPPORTED ME FOR ALL THOSE YEARS. ESPECIALLY WITH MY STAND UP COMEDY AND MY TOURING GOSPEL MUSICAL COMEDY STAGE PLAY CALLED “NEVER COULD HAVE MADE IT $$!

Watch Howard G do his thing at one of his many live events coming soon (pictured below) or check out his website www.comediang.com