Carlos Mencia told his audience something he would only be able to do once as he taped an episode of his new program, “Mind of Mencia.”
“Because tonight is the premiere of my show on Comedy Central,” the 37-year-old comic said, “you can all stay after the taping and watch the broadcast along with the entire crew.”
It was a last-minute gesture on Mencia’s behalf. Producers looked stunned, but fans cheered, hollered and screamed their approval.
The next morning when the show’s ratings arrived, “Mind of Mencia” was the third-highest-rated program on Comedy Central, which is seen in more than 85 million homes nationwide.
The show, which in ratings came right behind “South Park” and “Reno 911,” is a culmination of Mencia’s 18 years of stand-up comedy. He has not only performed at his share of clubs and appeared on a number of television specials, he’s also found an audience that appreciates his “frustrated man” humor.
Mencia’s comedy is not for the faint-of-heart because no topic is off-limits. He delivers rapid-fire quips and in-your- face perspectives and punch lines on everything from race to sex.
“Blacks love his jokes, Hispanics love his jokes and last week there were Jewish jokes, too,” said Robert Morton, Mencia’s executive producer, who previously worked for David Letterman. “This kind of comedy is in the hands of someone smart. This is not a kid who has done 10 minutes of stand-up and got his own show.”
Comedy Central, Morton said, ordered 10 episodes of “Mind of Mencia.” The show incorporates stand-up, opinion, skits and people-on-the- street segments.
There have been comparisons to Dave Chappelle, the Comedy Central million-dollar star comic who recently walked away from his popular show because the pressure was too much.
Chappelle’s show was considered one of the most successful programs in the history of the network and DVD sales have been phenomenal. But it was also the show that would have aired before “Mind of Mencia,” a dream pairing that most comics would do anything for.
“Chappelle’s Show” never aired this season. Instead Mencia’s lead-in is “South Park,” the hit program featuring four animated foul- mouthed grade schoolers, created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone.
“It’s not a big deal,” Mencia said of the Chappelle show not being a lead-in for him. “In this business, one day things look pretty good and then things look really (bad) the next day.”
In other words, Mencia is just focusing on creating the best show, which undoubtedly will resonate strongly among Hispanics and with any luck appeal to a much wider demographics.
“For me having a show like this is good timing,” Mencia said. “I’ve been doing pure stand-up for a long time. Logistically there’s only so much you can do and only so far you can go. I needed this in a really big way.”
During a recent taping in Los Angeles, producers were trying to get through a dress rehearsal that left the audience waiting an extra hour. When they were finally escorted in, audience members were thrilled to have Mencia hang out with them instead of wait in his dressing room.
And for making his audience wait, he made sure each member of the audience left with a DVD of his stand-up comedy.
“I’ve always believed in doing a good job,” Mencia said. “But all you can do is your best.”
Mencia, who is half Honduran and half German, is often mistaken for Mexican, a theme that frequently makes its way into his act.
He was encouraged to try stand-up by his friends, who laughed at his unique way of expressing his frustrations with the world.
“I’ve learned what everyone else learns,” Mencia said. “There’s something beautiful about people. And sick. And disgusting. I say what people think and I’m that release for them.”
On immigrants: “We catch illegal immigrants and send them to their country of origin. Why don’t we do funny things like send them to other countries?”
On checking women out: “If there were no men in the world, there would be no boob jobs. I’m giving you a return on your investment.”
The American way: “Let me give you an example of what America is all about. America spent $30 million inventing a pen that could write in space. Russians used a pencil.”
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AP-NY-07-18-05 0615EDT
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