SL_Spotlight_4_19_Spotlight 4 / 9 / 19 3 : 22 PM Page 1 spotlight You’re also famous for being a gearhead , particularly motorcycles . How did you get into bikes ? When I was a kid , I fell in love with the feeling you get when you’re moving . It’s my meditation . I feel free , and I love the power . Jay Leno is a friend of mine , and he’s a big bike guy — I’ve been on Jay Leno’s Garage , which is a lot of fun . The great Quick thing about motorcycle people is that you never have to explain why you have more than one . I have a BMW , which is German ; an Indian motorcycle , which is made in the U.S . ; a Triumph , from Britain ; and a Honda , which is Japanese . I’m representing all countries . I used to have a Ducati , too . Witted How fast did you go on the Ducati ? Standup comic Alonzo Bodden talks NPR , motorcycles as We’re not going to admit anything . The stunters — the young guys doing wheelies — they keep BYBILLDONAHUE meditation , and the perils of air travel . making the mistake of doing what they’re doing and posting the videos on YouTube , and the “ IF I’VE OFFENDED YOU , I’VE DONE MY JOB . ” police just track them down by their license So says Alonzo Bodden , a standup comedian probably best known for being a plates . panelist on the NPR news quiz Wait Wait … Don’t Tell Me ! , heard locally on 90.9 WHYY - FM . Although he says offending people isn’t too difficult these days , his goal After your appearances in Philly , any upcoming is to make people laugh . projects people should know about ? “ Comedy is getting really difficult ; you’re supposed to create a reality that is I’m going to be hosting a live version of Family funnier than the one we live in , but that has become close to impossible , ” says Feud that’s touring around the country in May and Bodden , who will be taking the stage at Helium Comedy Club in Philadelphia from June . I don’t know what to expect , but I know it’s April 18 to 20 . “ Probably the greatest compliment I’ve received was when Playboy going to be fun . I’ll keep doing a lot of club dates , and I’ll probably be at Just for Laughs [ comedy magazine did a thing on George Carlin , and they listed me as one of the spawn of festival ] in Montreal , where I was discovered 20 Carlin . George would never apologize for a joke , and I am not going to either . ” years ago . I love Canada . If global warming works During an hour - long interview , Bodden shared his thoughts about everything n out , maybe I’ll consider moving there . from his love of motorcycles to Rodney Dangerfield’s bathrobe . Is working on Wait Wait … Don’t Tell Me ! as much fun as it sounds ? Absolutely . What I love about it is the originality . I never know what the questions are , and I always have a good time . Q.A The fans of Wait Wait are very interesting people ; it’s like they grew up being nerds and now they’ve all come together . They take a while to accept you , but once they do , they’re great fans . … I think my favorite moment was when I met a woman after the show , and she told me , “ You sound fat on the erg radio . ” Rosenb It seems you’re always on the road somewhere . Do you still like traveling ? dd I always say that I get paid to travel ; I tell jokes for free . Airports and airlines beat you up . … To y That’s the tough part . With every job there’s something you like and something you don’t b h like . The thing I’ve learned is that you spend money to be as comfortable as possible . I’m not rap saying I take private jets or fly first class every day , but when you’re flying every tog week , you’re not looking at basic economy . To the people who are reading this , Pho you know that you’re not allowed to bring water onto the plane , so stop holding the line — and maybe don’t wear those knee - high lace - up boots . What did you do before standup ? I was an airplane mechanic . If this comedy thing doesn’t come out , I still have my toolbox . I did that for 10 years , and when I was training new mechanics , I found that I had more fun making them laugh than I did training them . So I decided I wanted to try comedy . McDonnell Douglas cooperated with my dream by laying me off . I started by doing open mikes in places where standup comedy never should be done : the backs of bookstores , rec rooms , trailer parks , and bowling alleys . … I was working as a doorman at the Laugh Factory [ in L.A . ] , and it was my education in comedy ; my professors were some of the greatest comics there are . I was seeing Dom Irrera , Damon Wayans , George Lopez , and then you would have the legends come in ; Rodney Dangerfield would come in in his bathrobe . I learned by watching them . SUBURBANLIFEMAGAZINE.COM APRIL 2019 88 |