Carrot Top Loves Props
Carrot Top is trying to avoid “South Park.”
He’s trying to avoid being on it, that is.
“That’s a great show, although that’s definitely a rip show,” the ragmop comic said in a recent interview. “If you make that show, nine times out of 10 it’s gonna be bad. So maybe I don’t want to be in that one.”
His press kit is full of such knowing self-appraisal. An easygoing guy in interviews, Carrot Top is remarkably open and frank about his appeal as a “prop” comic, an act that he first showed off to a Spokane audience last September.
Carrot Top specializes in the use of such devices as fire hydrants with handles (“for disabled dogs”) or boots with kickstands (“for drunk cowboys”).
Ba-dah-BOOM.
He’s understanding about his many detractors.
Instead of striking back, Carrot Top exudes a show-biz-type tendency to make lemonade out of thrown lemons.
Which is a good strategy. A regular performer on such television venues as “The Tonight Show” with Jay Leno, “Late Night With Conan O’Brien” and even “Politically Incorrect” with Bill Maher, Carrot Top knows a good portion of his audience is laughing at him as well as with him.
Such attention, though, fuels his career, especially the stand-up routine that he’s set to bring Sunday to the Spokane Opera House.
To hear him talk, the entertainer born 30 years ago as Scott Thompson sometimes actually likes being the butt of jokes. In some cases at least, he even takes such pokes to his ego as an honor.
Consider the reference to the character named Celery Head on the television show “King of the Hill.” Or the reference in the Mike Myers movie “Austin Powers,” in which he is included in Dr. Evil’s plan for corrupting the world.
“Oh well,” he says, “I take it all in good humor.”
These days, his stand-up routine - which is immensely popular at colleges and universities - is likely a good refuge from the fallout surrounding his recent starring debut in films.
He’s set to be featured in the forthcoming “Dennis the Menace 2.” But the reviews of “Chairman of the Board,” the film that cast him as a zany inventor who takes over as CEO of a corporation, were lukewarm at best.
“Crammed with clever, imaginative comedy ideas, ‘Chairman of the Board’ unfortunately exhausts itself with the incessant hammering of mild gross-out gags and noisy, frantic activity,” wrote Boxoffice Online.
“If the film were half as imaginative as one of Carrot Top’s inventions, it could have ridden the comedian’s sweet-natured humor much farther than this derivative, uneven film ever does,” wrote Mr. Showbiz.
And so on.
But notice what the reviews have in common: They may hate the movie, but they like the star.
Which he no doubt appreciates.
After all, it echoes his own opinion.
“They go, ‘How can a guy named Carrot Top with props become a star?”’ he asks. “But what I do is funny. And I work very hard at it.”
On stage Carrot Top will perform at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at the Spokane Opera House. Tickets are $23.50, $19.50 and $15.50 for adults and $18.50, $14.50 and $10.50 for students, available at G&B Select-a-Seat outlets or call (800) 325-SEAT.