A Stand-up sit down

I want to start off by saying I loved you as Cream Corn in Black Dynamite. Probably one of the funniest movies I’ve ever seen.  Other than the animated series, are there any plans for a sequel?

Not that I know of. We are more focused on the continued success of the cartoon.

Any reason why the animated series took the year off?

It takes a long time to get stuff like that done. It’s harder being black and doing animation.

Really? Why do you think that is?

It just is the way it is right now. Everyone involved wants to make sure the quality of the show doesn’t slip and we all have busy schedules.

What do you enjoy more—acting or stand-up comedy?

I could never choose between the two.  You know if I do one, I’m gonna start wanting to do other more. Really I’m just lucky to be able to have the option to switch between the two.

You think you’ll ever be a comic who moves totally out of stand-up or is it going to be a main stay of your performance career?

I don’t know what my story is gonna be man. I hope not, and you know what, I’m just way too good of a stand-up performer. It’s more of a natural thing to me—it’s not like I need to work really hard to get myself to go onstage.

Do you have a favorite spot to perform? Or does anything about rolling through Toledo come to mind?

I think the coolest story I have is that me and Chris Rock came through on the Schlitz Malt Liquor tour and I’ll definitely never forget that.

What kind of crowds do you generally see in this area? Are we big on heckling or generally attentive?

Toledo is like most of the crowds I have and honestly most of them are really good, laughing people. I’d say all of my Ohio shows have a bunch of lug heads like myself working 9-5’s that just want to have a good ass laugh.

What was the worst heckle that’s ever happened to you?

I got busted in the eye with a beer can that cut my eye open.

No way! Do you remember saying something to provoke it?

He was heckling and I gave it to him. That was his last reaction.

Recently in the news, Dave Chapelle was  slammed for walking offstage because of hecklers. Do you feel comfortable as a performer walking off or is it your duty to stick it out?

I haven’t been beat by a heckler yet. He might be out there though. It’s like being a prize fighter—don’t get mad if i knock you out.

Do you work dirty material into your act or do you try to keep it clean?

I can do it all bro. My style is somewhere in the middle.

What do you think about the current state of comedy in that respect? It seems more and more comedians are having to apologize and being put under the scrutiny of politically correct censorship.

You know what, stand up is what it’s always been—a bunch of people trying to figure out how to dupe the audience into laughs. Some do better than others. George Carlin, he came in a winner and left a winner. Sam Kinison, Rodney Dangerfield, I could go on and on. They all did it.

Tell me about your writing process. How do you come up with new material?

I go onstage and try to freestyle, let what happens happen. And usually a lot happens. Then I go back and write that down.

So you go from stream of consciousness up front, then pull it back and workout the jokes later on?

Yeah, but you said it way better than me. You need to text me that man.

What’s your favorite joke you’ve ever written?

Gosh, I think probably the strongest joke I’ve ever written was Prince at McDonalds man. (You can listen to a brief set here but the specific jokes starts at 4:08)

What’s your favorite joke you haven’t written?

A trillion of 'em. But I remember one joke from this one white comedian a couple years ago, I don’t even remember his name. But he said, “I love black people, black dudes are my favorite man. Black people give yourselves a hand. I love to hang out with black people, it’s the best way to meet white women.”

Who’s your favorite comedian currently working?

Kevin Hart.

If you could cut a one line promo for your new Showtime special “Chocolate Sundaes”  what would it be?

Sexy

Make sure not to miss Tommy  Friday, September 27th – 29th at Toledo Funny Bone 6140 Levis Commons Blvd  Perrysburg, OH 43551 (419) 931-3474 or get tickets online at funnybonecentral.com or visit his website tommycat.net

I want to start off by saying I loved you as Cream Corn in Black Dynamite. Probably one of the funniest movies I’ve ever seen.  Other than the animated series, are there any plans for a sequel?

Not that I know of. We are more focused on the continued success of the cartoon.

Any reason why the animated series took the year off?

It takes a long time to get stuff like that done. It’s harder being black and doing animation.

Really? Why do you think that is?

It just is the way it is right now. Everyone involved wants to make sure the quality of the show doesn’t slip and we all have busy schedules.

What do you enjoy more—acting or stand-up comedy?

I could never choose between the two.  You know if I do one, I’m gonna start wanting to do other more. Really I’m just lucky to be able to have the option to switch between the two.

You think you’ll ever be a comic who moves totally out of stand-up or is it going to be a main stay of your performance career?

I don’t know what my story is gonna be man. I hope not, and you know what, I’m just way too good of a stand-up performer. It’s more of a natural thing to me—it’s not like I need to work really hard to get myself to go onstage.

Do you have a favorite spot to perform? Or does anything about rolling through Toledo come to mind?

I think the coolest story I have is that me and Chris Rock came through on the Schlitz Malt Liquor tour and I’ll definitely never forget that.

What kind of crowds do you generally see in this area? Are we big on heckling or generally attentive?

Toledo is like most of the crowds I have and honestly most of them are really good, laughing people. I’d say all of my Ohio shows have a bunch of lug heads like myself working 9-5’s that just want to have a good ass laugh.

What was the worst heckle that’s ever happened to you?

I got busted in the eye with a beer can that cut my eye open.

No way! Do you remember saying something to provoke it?

He was heckling and I gave it to him. That was his last reaction.

Recently in the news, Dave Chapelle was  slammed for walking offstage because of hecklers. Do you feel comfortable as a performer walking off or is it your duty to stick it out?

I haven’t been beat by a heckler yet. He might be out there though. It’s like being a prize fighter—don’t get mad if i knock you out.

Do you work dirty material into your act or do you try to keep it clean?

I can do it all bro. My style is somewhere in the middle.

What do you think about the current state of comedy in that respect? It seems more and more comedians are having to apologize and being put under the scrutiny of politically correct censorship.

You know what, stand up is what it’s always been—a bunch of people trying to figure out how to dupe the audience into laughs. Some do better than others. George Carlin, he came in a winner and left a winner. Sam Kinison, Rodney Dangerfield, I could go on and on. They all did it.

Tell me about your writing process. How do you come up with new material?

I go onstage and try to freestyle, let what happens happen. And usually a lot happens. Then I go back and write that down.

So you go from stream of consciousness up front, then pull it back and workout the jokes later on?

Yeah, but you said it way better than me. You need to text me that man.

What’s your favorite joke you’ve ever written?

Gosh, I think probably the strongest joke I’ve ever written was Prince at McDonalds man. (You can listen to a brief set here but the specific jokes starts at 4:08)

What’s your favorite joke you haven’t written?

A trillion of 'em. But I remember one joke from this one white comedian a couple years ago, I don’t even remember his name. But he said, “I love black people, black dudes are my favorite man. Black people give yourselves a hand. I love to hang out with black people, it’s the best way to meet white women.”

Who’s your favorite comedian currently working?

Kevin Hart.

If you could cut a one line promo for your new Showtime special “Chocolate Sundaes”  what would it be?

Sexy

Make sure not to miss Tommy  Friday, September 27th – 29th at Toledo Funny Bone 6140 Levis Commons Blvd  Perrysburg, OH 43551 (419) 931-3474 or get tickets online at funnybonecentral.com or visit his website tommycat.net