Before there was “Jackass,” there was Tom Green. Before there were zany videos on YouTube, there was Tom Green. Heck, before there was YouTube, there was Tom Green.

The comedian started making guerilla videos in his parents’ basement, tormenting his parents and many unsuspecting common folk in his hometown of Ottawa, Canada. He never broke character or seemed to know that he was breaking any unspoken rules of propriety.

In 1999, he got his big break and MTV picked up his little show. “The Tom Green Show” didn’t stay small for very long. He not only became nationally famous, Green became world famous all his parents’ expense. Admittedly, the experience was a little “overwhelming” for a young man, and “it was as overnight as overnight success can be.”

Green has done a lot: been a rapper, had a hit show, been on every talk show imaginable, directed a movie, married a movie star (Drew Barrymore), been fired by Donald Trump (“Celebrity Apprentice”) and has even been on the cover of Rolling Stone.

Temporarily sidelined by testicular cancer, Green is now more grounded, more appreciative, and more driven than ever.

His new show, “Tom Green Live,” is on AXS-TV. He also has launched a new beer called, appropriately enough, Tom Green Beer.

Fresh off his first Showtime special, “Tom Green Live,” Green will be hunkering down at the Pittsburgh Improv for five manic, mile-a-minute shows that are sure to entertain old and new fans alike.

Green’s comedy is a full-frontal attack on what is wrong with society today with some clever nostalgic compare-and-contrast comedy thrown in for good measure. Despite his age the 42-year-old Green retains his youthful edge and energy and still knows how to make a room full of young people convulse with laughter.

Question: What do you like most about pure stand-up?

Answer: I like the spontaneity. Stand-up allows me to challenge myself. I get to air my grievances with the world. It is surprisingly cathartic. I got to travel around the globe to celebrate life. My act is very physical, and I like changing as a comedian … shows are rarely the same. It’s like a boxing match.

Q: Who makes you laugh?

A: Andrew Dice Clay makes me laugh. That’s who I have on my show — people who make me laugh. Howie Mandel … Eric Andre, who has a great show on Adult Swim.

Q: Tell us about your show, “Tom Green Live!” on AXS?

A: It’s a one-hour show, single guest. We have the guest for a full hour, so you really get to know them. There’s a lot of talk shows, but none are doing (the one-guest format). Tom Snyder, I was a big fan of that show. We’re trying follow that format.

Q: You also have a new beer; are you the next Sam Adams?

A: It’s called Tom Green Beer! It’s produced here in my hometown, Ottawa by Beau’s. It’s www.beaus.ca. It will be available in America next year. It’s only in Ottawa right now. It won the Ottawa craft beer award.

Q: Have your parents recovered?

A: Yes, my parents are doing great. I don’t do pranks on them anymore. They just visited me in Los Angeles last week. We can laugh about all that now.

Q: Finally, what is the most important lesson that you learned from your bout with cancer?

A: It’s just that we’re not invincible. We’re human beings. Enjoy this time. Enjoy your life. Focus on what’s important to you. Savor it. When you get cancer at 28 years old, you realize the end could come at any moment.

Matt Wohlfarth is a contributing writer for Trib Total Media.

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