I'm Alive!

Well folks the results from my check-up are in, with the exception of my high Cholesterol, blood circulation and heart murmur I'm in tip top shape!

I'm just glad it Friday, I'm burnt out from the week and need a little R&R. The New York Comedy Club called to book me for spots this weekend, but with my schedule lately and all the work I have on the T.V. show, one must know when to take time for oneself.

So I get a call yesterday from a comic friend of mine that is closely attached to a certain theatre group in NYC that I used to work for. Out of professional courtesy I shall not mention said theatre group here even though they aren't very professional. So for all intensive purposes I shall refer to them as, "The Assholes". Anyway this particular person I happen to respect, it's the rest of them I don't care for. He asked me why I haven't called or shown my face in a month. I wanted to say, "Because after working for "The Assholes", for so many years being treated like an outcast, having lies spread about me, not be appreciated, respected, or payed I decided to take my business elsewhere. I did not say the above, again out of respect for my friend who often was put in the middle.

Why am I posting this? Becasue I want to let all those beginning Actors, Comedians, Singers, and general Entertainers know that even if you don't posses the experience that does not mean you should be treated like dirt. I poured blood sweat and tears into that group and while I gained much as an artist it was without their help. This business is full of people that talk the talk but don't walk the walk. Directors that cherish their powers more than they love the craft. Producers who make you believe they are working for your best interests when really your working for theirs. Be realistic when going to auditions and don't be taken by the, "Your going to be a star", mentality. Its just a business based on making money and you are the product. Honestly look at where you are in your career and take the projects for what they are, a credit, a learning experience, a stepping stone toward a better gig. Many of you already know these facts but it's always good to reiterate. These people have no control over your career - only you do.

So NOW after trashing me for no reason what so ever besides extreme jealousy, they want me for a future show. THEY CAN KISS MY BROWN ASS!!! Hows that for control.

On that note - HAPPY FRIDAY!

Until we meet again.

A Spoonful of Sugar

Greetings from cyber space, Today I have a doctors appointment to get a full physical. If left to my own devices cruel and unusual things can happen. I got bored and decided to check the popular website, WebMD. By the end of my session I was convinced I had several diseases, everything from Lymphoma to Diabetes. So the only way to be at peace is to go to the doctors office and demand I receive every test known to modern medicine.

I tell ya, getting an appointment is quite a task. Now I know why Doctors go to school for so long, so they can never work. Every office I called had a different rule or excuse:

"Sorry the doctor only works Tuesdays and Thursdays"

"You need a referral in order to see this doctor"

"We don't take United Health Care for physicals"

"He only works every other full moon during the leap year"

I mean, come on! The receptionists act as if you just stumbled upon their secret society and only the elite are allowed proper health care. It's also strange how the service improves the further North you travel. In my town, where us minorities live, you may walk in for a check-up and walk out with an amputated limb. Not to mention you have to wait in a 4ft by 4 ft room with 80 other patients with highly contagious diseases. On the positive side most of these offices have many services - Doctor/Insurance/Cell Phone Outlet so you can get a tax refund on your new cell phone in the middle of surgery.

So today I will opt to drive a bit north and pray that they don't discover some new rare disease that only I have.

Until next time - IF their is a next time

Over the Hump Wed.

Hello all or Myself, Today is Wednesday, jeez only the middle of the week. On my way to New York yesterday I was almost killed by a Welsh Farms truck # 182. Ya know those trucks with a big cows ass on the rear door. I was driving my little ford behind him when suddenly he stops in the middle of the road. My only warning were his white reverse lights before he gunned it, full speed, right toward me. All I see is this huge cow ass about to sit on me. Without a second thought I switched into reverse and began to back up into a car that was behind me! Playing a reverse Cat & Mouse game while blaring my horn I went as far as I could before ramming into the poor guy behind me. Luckliy and not a moment sooner the truck came to a screechng halt just inches from my front bumper. What was this guy smoking? As if that weren't odd enough, he then jerks forward and decides to come to a complete stop, blocking the road. I sat their with a line of cars hoking the horn to no avail. Finally we all decided to reverse out of the road. Thank you God for protecting this fragile soul.

Well Last nights LLEGAMOS TV Show's live taping at the Improv was awsome. It was a packed house and the audience had a lot of energy. I couldn't beleive how exited they were. We invited a comic by the name of Angry Bob to do a sketch with us and it went over very well, he is quite the character. George our host seemed out of it before the show, which made me worried, but as soon as those cameras turned on he became a different person.

My new sketch, "Salsa" went great! Wardrobe got me this ridiculous costume with this huge mustache. They got me this big puffy muti-colored dress shirt with ruffless that made me feel like a parrot. I also had two very fine ladies as my Salsa girls come on stage with me. It was a lot of fun. The good thing about writing your own material is that when you play the part, no research is required. I can reach the core of the character in an instant because it came from me.

We also had a very talented comedian on the show by the name of Peeches Rodriguez. I actually met her about a year ago when she DJed for a stand up show we did. I recognized her and said, "Aren't you the DJ?" She replied, "You didn't know I'm a comedian as well." And she was a very talented comic indeed. After the show she came up to me, "I heard you do a Freddie Prinze impression, where can I catch that?" I nodded and told her where I would be performing next month. She grabs me by the hand and pulls me away from the crowd in front of the club. She then tells me how much Freddie Prinze has inspired her career and really expressed her feeling toward him with great emotion. I of course share her emotion for Freddie.

Its amazing to me how many people Freddie Prinze has touched. His success was so short and yet he managed to accomplish so much. I constantly meet people who share their expereince of Freddie and how he inspired them. I can only hope to spread my humor and try to change the world as he did.

Until next time - Keep smiling.

Weekends a Busy

This blog is really for my future self to read, I hardly think anyone cares to read this blog out of the millions of them out there. Anyhoot, in case I reach one soul.

This weekend was pretty standard. I was slated to shoot a few skits at the Bronx Zoo but hence the producers cancelled due to what they called, "A complication with the zoo". I wasn't too disappointed since it was raining cats and dogs or should I said Lions and Bears.

Every Sunday is the comedy show at the Boston Comedy Club in the Villiage. I love the Villiage people. It's one of the few bohemian places left in the city. I consider myself to be a conservative hippy and enjoy their company.

The show started at 9:45pm - kinda late. I went up first, after the host of course, and while the audience seemed a bit subdued by the end of my set I felt I had bought their energy up at least a notch or two. It was a smaller crowd, about 25 people. I find you can work the crowd more and my material less with a crowd like that, you have to get more personal in order to win them over.

Jim Norton of Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn fame stopped by and did a set. I think its interesting that once your on T.V. you can come in and pretty much crash any room you want. While I understand the need for semi-celebs to give the room credibility I can not understand bumping another comedian simply on the fact that he isn't on T.V. In any case, as he was leaving, I shook his hand in recognition as I do all of the other comics and off he went back to T.V. land.

Today, Monday, I'm beyond tired but I have to pay the bills so here I am at my day job. Ahh Corporate America, surrounded by yuppies. At least I killed some time writing this blog on company time ;) Until next time - I bid you Adue.

Meeting with a Star

Greetings, Yesterday afternoon I had a very exciting day, I met the great Paul Rodriguez. A very talented comedian who is one of the Latin Kings of comedy. I remember first seeing him in a hilarious movie called, "Born in East L.A." starring Cheech Marin, when I was about 11 years old.

Our show called, "LLEGAMOS" (we've arrived) got in interview with him and I, being a cast member of the show, tagged along.

We entered the Laugh Factory in Time Square, which I have never been in. What a big place. I hope to play there one day soon. We were seated in the main area, where their was a big stage with a neon backdrop that said, "Laugh Factory" illuminated. The crew busied themselves with setting up lights and camera while I sat on stage under the hot lights pretending to be famous. Then right on time, in walks Paul. He looked at ease and in shape and gave us 20 min more than we asked.

He spoke of many things, among them the late great Freddie Prince Sr. and the comedy of Cantinflas, the Mexican Chaplin. I never knew that Paul served in the U.S. Airforce and also that his son has won Gold in the X-games for skateboarding. All in all it was a very interesting conversation which will be airing in a few weeks on LTV (Latin Television) so check your listings.

My boss and host of the show was very please because Paul anointed him a "Sir" of comedy. Now we won't hear the end of that one for at least 3 to 4 weeks.

Well, thank God its Friday, I got a paycheck from my day job and can eat again, lol. Their are many facts I haven't revealed yet because I'm not sure if I want to remain anonymous. Perhaps this blog will be more intriguing that way.

With that said - Until next time - God Speed.

Links: - http://www.paulrodriguez.com/

9/16/04 Hello Myself

This is my first blog. I decided to document my experiences with the world, or the 3 folks that may read this because like everyone else, it is my unique perspective. I am a Comedian in New York City. That's basically the extent to my uniqueness.