"I Bring It Onstage": An Interview With Last Comic Standing's Alonzo Bodden

Alonzo Bodden came in second place on the second installment of Last Comic Standing. He was picked by just about everyone in the industry to win with his guerilla style of take-no-prisoners comedy. RealityNewsOnline's Mike DeGeorge had the chance to speak with his pick to win on the Saturday before the premiere of LCS3. Because of scheduling delays, Alonzo had to call on his cell phone from the actual comedy club where he would be performing that night, so special thanks to Alonzo for going the extra mile to make this interview possible.

RealityNewsOnline: How did you get into standup?

Alonzo Bodden: Well, you know the backstory on me, how I used to work in aircraft? I started out as an airplane mechanic, then I shifted to teaching airplane mechanics, and I was just having more fun making them laugh! I had friends who were in the entertainment business, none of them comics, but in the business, and they said give it a try. So I took a standup class, I hit the stage my first time and have never looked back, I loved it, you know, from day one.

RNO: LCS1's Dave Mordal didn't have much luck with his comedy class. Was yours much better?

Alonzo: I had a good teacher. I can't remember his exact name, I think it was Dave Ostravich. He was good at taking a story and writing jokes from it. The one thing he didn't teach was what to do when the crowd laughs. Our first show was about 300 people, all friends and family, and when they laughed I just stood there wondering what to do until they stopped and I could tell the next joke.

RNO: How long ago was all this?

Alonzo: That was eleven years ago, 1993. I did my first show in January '93.

RNO: What are you most proud of in your career?

Alonzo: Ooh, ah, I don't know. The biggest thing in my career is obviously Last Comic Standing. Most proud of is a little tougher question. {pause} I've got to think about that for a minute. When I talk and people laugh.

RNO: You have a connection with the audience, that's for sure. How did you get involved with LCS? What made you decide to try out?

Alonzo: You know what it was, seeing what happened to the guys who did it last year. Like Ralphie May and Rich Vos, I mean the way their careers just took off afterward.

RNO: Are you seeing that with your career?

Alonzo: OH, absolutely. Absolutely. I'm touring with Jay {London} and Gary {Gulman}, as you may or may not know.

RNO: Yeah, that's a show I want to see. We're fans of Jay's too.

Alonzo: We sold out fifteen of sixteen shows and we're just starting, so yeah, it worked. Even though I'm #2, and people compare me to Clay Aiken, which I could live without.

RNO: You could live without that, could you? (laughs)

Alonzo: (laughing) Yeah.

RNO: Well, he had a number one record, so there could be worse…

Alonzo: Oh, absolutely.

RNO: Going back to the tour, you said you sold out 15 of 16 - the 16th wasn't in Alabama, was it?

Alonzo: Nah. No, I can't wait to get down to south Alabama, I think they're waiting for me down there.

RNO: You actually do that material down there?

Alonzo: I have a show at the University of Alabama in Huntsville in about two weeks {September 8}, so we'll see how that one goes.

RNO: Yeah, we'll be sure to watch for you, make sure you come out OK.

Alonzo: Yeah, you know, and that's an example. Most people know it's a joke, there's just a couple of people who got upset about it, but what are you gonna do?