#006 Alonzo Bodden: Comedian, Actor, Last Comic Standing Season 3 Winner

Alonzo Bodden is a comedian and actor, and the winner of Season 3 of Last Comic Standing. He is a regular on NPR’s “Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me” and “Comedy Congress,” as well as being a panelist on the Game Show Network’s “Mind of a Man.” In 2011, he starred in the comedy special “Who’s Paying Attention” on Showtime, released a DVD, and hosts a podcast of the same name.That same year, he was a panelist on the syndicated show “Inside the Vault,” and voiced the character of Thunderon in the Power Rangers movie. Bodden has also hosted Speed Channel’s “101 Cars You Must Drive,” and “America’s Worst Driver” on the Travel Channel.   Alonzo has appeared on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” “Late Night with Conan O’Brien,” “The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn,” and “The Keenen Ivory Wayans” show, "Comedy Central Presents," and "It's Showtime at the Apollo". His film credits include “Scary Movie 4,” “The Girl Next Door,” and “Bringing Down the House” starring Steve Martin and Queen Latifah.   Alonzo has traveled around the world entertaining USO troops from Iraq to Greenland.   In this episode, we cover a lot of ground including:   • How a career training airplane mechanics led to comedy • What Last Comic Standing meant to his career, and the behind-the scene “reality" of reality shows • The influence of Chris Rock, Dave Chappelle, Lewis Black, Kathleen Madigan, Bill Cosby, Damon Wayans, George Wallace, George Carlin, Steven Wright, Robin Williams and more • Why he focuses on topical humor, and where he gets his material from • The difference between joke-stealing and parallel thought • How stand-up comedy leads to film and television roles, and the competition between comedians for network sitcoms • How long it takes to hone material to get it ready for a stand-up TV special • What he thinks about the current election cycle and other current events in terms of comedy • And SO much more!