Comic Alonzo Bodden will headline 4 exhibits at St. Paul’s Giggle Camp Comedy Membership on March 25 and 26.
Bodden was the season-three winner of NBC’s “Final Comedian Standing” after ending runner-up in 2004. The Queens, New York native informed the MSR, “I name that my introduction to America. I’d say successful ‘Final Comedian Standing’ was massive as a result of America voted on me. That was a terrific second for me.”
Nevertheless, Bodden’s profession within the comedy enterprise developed after highschool. He first turned an airplane mechanic and as soon as labored for 2 of the nation’s largest airplane producers.
Then he turned an teacher and shortly discovered that his educating method was a success together with his airplane mechanics college students. “I simply had extra enjoyable making them chuckle,” Bodden recalled.
When he obtained laid off, “I took this comedy writing class and had a five-minute set,” he continued, “and I by no means regarded again. I simply completely cherished it. It was coaching airplane mechanics that led to a comedy profession.”
Bodden’s profession took off to new heights, no pun meant. He as soon as appeared on “Simply For Laughs,” the world’s largest worldwide comedy pageant held every July in Montreal, Canada. “I used to be invited to do [a show] on new faces in comedy and simply had a terrific set,” he recalled.
“There [were] managers, brokers, producers, comedy membership bookers—they had been all there. In order that was positively my first massive break.”
Bodden has traveled the world over to carry out his stand-up. He additionally made cable appearances on “It’s Showtime on the Apollo” and “Comedy Central Presents” and labored the comedy membership circuit from coast to coast.
Bodden additionally appeared on such late-night exhibits as “The Tonight Present” and did visitor pictures on such tv exhibits as “Dr. Ken” and “Contemporary Off the Boat.” He has two comedy specials—“Traditionally Incorrect” (Showtime) and “Heavy Light-weight” on Amazon Prime Video.
He’s credited with recording 5 comedy CDs and appeared in six films, together with “Scary Film 4” (2006) and “Why We Experience” (2013). “I nonetheless don’t know if I’m profitable,” he claimed. “I simply do it as a result of I like it.”
No subject is off limits for Bodden as he makes use of his comedy bully pulpit for social commentary. Comedians are this century’s courtroom jesters, he pressured. “The jester [in medieval times] was the one man who might converse reality to energy. He might make enjoyable of the king. It needs to be humorous… I nonetheless suppose that’s the comedian’s job.”
That is why he commonly goes after U.S. presidents. Former President Barack Obama, America’s first Black president, wasn’t spared within the least in Bodden’s routines. However present President Joe Biden is somebody he hasn’t but obtained a deal with on, he admitted.
“The most important materials with Joe Biden is that we don’t hear from Joe Biden,” Bodden stated. “It’s refreshing to not hear from a president each 5 minutes as a result of he’s truly working.
“The humorous factor was when Barack Obama was president,” he famous, “he was so standard. I used to inform individuals on a regular basis as a lot as California loves him, that’s how a lot Alabama hates him.
“Sadly, that was the backlash” that led to former president Donald Trump’s election in 2016: “I used to be disenchanted with Trump successful, however that confirmed who America is,” Bodden famous.
Over the previous yr, Bodden has been on MSNBC’s “Ayman Mohyeldin Stories” and “The Week with Joshua Johnson” offering commentary on a spread of matters from politics and popular culture to sports activities and leisure. “Laughter makes the information palatable,” he acknowledged. “That’s how they’ll deal with it coming from a comic.”
The comic is also an everyday on NPR’s weekly information quiz present “Wait, Wait…Don’t Inform Me.”
“I at all times joke that I’m not a Black man on NPR. I’m the one Black man on NPR,” Bodden joked. “The factor I like about it [is] that it pertains to my materials and it’s at all times topical. It’s at all times speaking about what’s happening within the information proper now. I like doing NPR.”
He additionally has a podcast, “Who’s Paying Consideration.” “It’s obtained a gentle listenership,” Bodden stated. “However it’s not a breakout podcast like, as an example, ‘Two Dope Queens.’ Their podcast caught fireplace, made them stars, and their podcasts turned an HBO particular. If I knew how to try this, I’d be doing it.”
On coming to the Twin Cities, Bodden stated he appears to be like ahead to it, hoping that the Minnesota repute for chilly climate is not going to be confirmed throughout his go to. He’s searching for individuals to return out and chuckle. “Laughter nonetheless crosses many strains and demographics,” he identified. “I’ll be there doing [it] within the Twin Cities.”
After his St. Paul look this weekend, Bodden heads to scheduled gigs in Phoenix, New Jersey and the Mohegan Solar on line casino in Connecticut in April.
Bodden’s subsequent world to beat is what he known as a “dream gig.” “I’d like to host some type of information comedy present. That’s one thing I’d like to do, so we’re nonetheless engaged on that. Which will come sooner or later.
“I’m happy within the sense that I make a residing telling jokes,” he stated. “So, on the finish of the day, you’ll be able to’t complain an excessive amount of about that.”
Charles Hallman is a contributing reporter and award-winning sports activities columnist on the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.