Seriously funny comedian Rodriguez back in Yuma

Comedian Paul Rodriguez insists his recent foray into the world of politics isn't a joke. It's a big mistake. And he's not laughing - too much.

In addition to his career as a celebrated joke maker, Rodriguez says that these days he's also the "poster child" for a major water-use debate and somehow has been chosen to drop by the White House and speak with President Obama on some pretty serious social issues.

"My life has seriously become more Forrest Gump-ish," Rodriguez said, laughing, during a recent phone interview with The Sun. "They have me talking with the president about education? Do they realized I don't have a high school diploma? I'm in a situation I didn't run for! I just want to tell my jokes and go back home."

But Rodriguez's fans in Yuma County shouldn't worry. His upcoming appearance in these parts will be anything but serious.

"My job is to make you laugh," he said, laughing himself. "There is no message in my comedy."

Rodriguez is performing Friday at the Pipa Event Center at the Quechan Casino Resort. The hilarity begins at 8 p.m.

Show organizers at the casino say local fans have scrambled for tickets, which are still on sale.

"He's the original king of Latin comedy. We've had a really good response for this show," said Randy Maddocks, special events coordinator. "We've done everything from county to Latin to cage fighting (at The Q). For the first comedy show we've done, we're glad to have him here."

Tickets are $25 and $35. They can be purchased at The Q or Paradise Casino or by calling 1-877-CR-SHOWS.

Rodriguez has been doing shows in Yuma for a long time, even before there were such things as casinos in these parts.

"I've been performing there before there was a Paradise Casino. I've been at this for 35 years. You do the math.

"Yuma is a sacred place. A journey. A mecca. It's where Cesar Chavez is from! I knew him since I was 12 years old. He was like an uncle to me. He also did my show on Univision."

Rodriguez also remembers coming through Yuma even before he was a comedian. In another professional life, he served in the military and used to fly through Yuma.

"I thought I was funny back then, but the colonel didn't."

For Rodriguez, a native of Sinaloa, Mexico, it's been an amazing ride since his early days in show biz, seeing Mexican entertainers go from rare to the rage.

"When I first started out, we were a novelty. Basically all Americans knew about us were the stereotypes. There were parts of the country geographically where I just unable to work. Now I can't think of a state that doesn't have a Hispanic population."

Rodriguez got his big break doing comedy warm-ups for the Norman Lear show "Gloria." Lear later developed a weekly series for Rodriguez called "a.k.a. Pablo." He later did two more series: "Trial and Error" and "Gland Slam."

For several years, he hosted "El Show de Paul Rodriguez" for the Spanish-language network Univision. The show reached an international audience, being broadcast in the United States and 17 countries in Central and South America.

For Showtime, he appeared on the series "Resurrection Boulevard" and starred in six comedy specials for HBO, including "Loco Slam," "Live in San Quentin" and "Idiots and Armadillos."

He made his feature film debut in the comedy "D.C. Cab" and went on to co-star in films like "Miracles," "The Whoopee Boys," "Quicksilver," "Born in East L.A" and "Made in America." He played the role of fight physician Freddie Pacheco in "Ali" and appeared in "Tortilla Soup" with Hector Elizondo and "The Shipment" with Matthew Modine.

Recent movies have been "Bloodwork " with Clint Eastwood and "A Cinderella Story" with Hilary Duff. 

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Darin Fenger can be reached at
dfenger@yumasun.com or 539-6860.