Zach Noe Towers (he/they), who’s originally from the Midwest, is a queer LA-based comedian, actor and writer who appeared on Netflix’s Dear White People and who is behind the E! series Nightly Pop and Dating #NoFilter. His new sex-based SiriusXM show, After Hours with Zach Noe Towers, can be heard on Netflix Is a Joke radio or anytime on the SiriusXM app.
Note: This conversation was edited for clarity and length.
Windy City Times: I see that you’re a Midwestern boy who went to Indiana University. So you’ve been to Chicago often.
Zach Noe Towers: I’ve been to Chicago since I was a little kid because I was born in St. Louis. I would come here on family vacations. In college, I knew a bunch of people who were from Chicago so we would definitely come here on spring break or long weekends.
WCT: And how much trouble did you get into? Be honest.
ZNT: You know, that’s none of your business. [Both laugh.]
WCT: That means a lot of trouble.
ZNT: The right amount… The amount of trouble that you almost lose friends over but you get over it on the car ride back to school…
WCT: So someone went bar-hopping before he was supposed to. I get it.
ZNT: Whooooo! You know what? I remember hanging out with people, and I remember making out with a 30-year-old when I was, like, 20. My friend said, “You are embarrassing yourself making out with these old people.” Now I’m 40 and I’m, like, “Fuck!” When you’re 20, a 30-year-old looks scholarly.
WCT: It’s important for someone to have a little maturity.
ZNT: Yes! Have a car or a job. Be able to pick up a check—hello!
WCT: And not just physically be able to pick up a check, but financially.
ZNT: [Laughs] Yes, yes!
WCT: So this means you’re not dating twinks? I saw your YouTube show on that subject.
ZNT: You know, I hold space for them. But when I think of twinks, I don’t think of financial stability, renting a car. So while I’m open to having fun with a twink, I don’t see them as relationship material. Maybe I’m just being racist toward twinks. Having been one, I have no interest in dating a younger version of myself—let’s put it that way.
WCT: And now you’re an otter?
ZNT: I am! Wow—you recently did your research. [Both laugh.]
WCT: Tell me about this sex-positive show.
ZNT: I’m just sex-positive, in general. Growing up, sex wasn’t talked about, much less gay sex. So I feel that I can always talk about it; I find sex endlessly fascinating and quite silly, at times, so it permeates my comedy whether it’s on stage, on the page or on my YouTube sketches.
WCT: So have you been to [the Chicago spot] Willie’s Dick ‘n Chicken? It’s a sex-positive restaurant in Northalsted.
ZNT: That’s such a bold move on the restaurant’s part! Say “dick cheese” and try to stay hungry. [Interviewer laughs.]
WCT: Going back to the YouTube show, is there any topic you want to cover?
ZNT: The short answer is yes. I think I want to know more about monogamy versus polyamory, with gay couples specifically. It seems that so much of the gay scene is about open relationships and multiple partners—but there is still this group of gays who want a heteronormative life. I’m fascinated by how that can change a long-term relationship.
WCT: It seems that, with some open relationships, one person in the couple wants it and the other goes along with it.
ZNT: For sure. And that’s why it’s important to maybe have that on the table from the first date: Are you open to open relationships? You have to be strong at some point and know yourself enough to be honest from the jump.
I’m also fascinated by how much we lie—both to ourselves and the people around us. What does it serve you to lie to yourself? And talk about the Midwest! We’re, like, “sure” and “thanks”—but behind closed doors we’re, like, “Fuck that bitch.”
WCT: Did you have any misconceptions about sex that the show changed?
ZNT: No. I’m more than a novice about sex because I like talking about it, in general. I’ve had a sex podcast for a few years called Good Morning, Sodomites, and it’s me and another person talking about our sexual journey from start to finish. So that has kept me in the know about all types of sex. There are so many throughlines that everyone can relate to.
WCT: Do you think that Americans are pretty conservative about sex?
ZNT: We are so prudish that it blows my mind. What’s crazy is that I don’t think we were always this way. There were some pretty racy shows in the ‘80s and ‘90s but now we’ve done a total 180. If you post a butt crack on Instagram, you might get flagged; or if you say “penis” on Threads, you get a message asking if you’re sure you want to post that. I really feel bad for America, in that sense.
WCT: It’s interesting. I was telling someone that Americans are all about violence but are conservative about sex, and it’s almost the other way around in Europe.
ZNT: I am so glad you said this. I have been saying for a while that we talk about mass shootings at the dinner table—but God forbid if you bring up sexual partners with your partner. How are we so casually talking about people being murdered en masse but we can’t talk about a sexual mishap or something silly that happened in the bedroom?
WCT: So your family is pretty conservative about sex?
ZNT: My parents are definitely not asking me any questions but my mom, especially, doesn’t really blush if you want to talk with her about something and I really appreciate that.
WCT: So you could take her to Willie’s?
ZNT: Oh, yeah. I could take her to a gay strip club or a gay cruise. She’s fun and the least judgmental person you’ll ever meet. As long as everyone’s heart is in the right place, she’s down for a good ol’ gay time.
WCT: Who would be a dream guest for your YouTube show, and why?
ZNT: Oh, my gosh—a dream guest… Right now, probably because of the promos, is any of the cast of Wicked—Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande or Jonathan Bailey. Ariana Grande has turned out to be one of the funniest pro-LGBTQ performers I’ve ever seen, and I’d think she would be down to clown.
WCT: So what can people expect at your Zanies show?
ZNT: It’s going to be the definition of an hour of silly-goose laughter. I talk about sex, dating and family, and I do it in a pretty light-hearted manner. Don’t expect any hot takes on politics. I also tend to talk about my sobriety so whether you’re a partier or former partier, you’ll find something funny. My 10th year of sobriety is Nov. 27.
WCT: I’ve never been drunk—but that means I was sober when I made all those decisions.
ZNT: Yes you were, bitch! [Both laugh.] But now I have nothing to blame my choices on.
WCT: Asking you something I’ve asked several people, what does queer representation mean to you?
ZNT: Queer representation is everything, right now. I’ve never felt that my existence has been more political than it does today. I am trying to experience as much queer joy as I can to lift up as many queer people as I can. I also want to continue finding safe spaces for queer people to simply exist. I think it’s literally the most important thing right now.
WCT: Is there anything you wanted to add?
ZNT: I’m on a continued journey of loving my authentic self, and comedy has helped so much. I hope that people will give my show a chance to help them love themselves a little more, too.
Zach Noe Towers will perform at Zanies Chicago, 1548 N. Wells St., on Saturday, Nov. 29, at 9:15 p.m. Guests must be at least 21 years old. More info is here.