Inside the “Mind of Mencia”

“I’m a huge fan of both stand-up and sketch comedy—well, comedy in general. In a life filled with stress, bills, work and constant images of war, poverty and a world in peril, sometimes it seems that all we have is our sense of humor. I’m a firm believer that laughter is the best medicine. It’s always worked for me. My lifelong appreciation for the extremely difficult art of comedy began around the age of seven, when my dad used to allow me to stay up late and watch the very first “Not Ready for Prime-Time Players” take the airways hostage on NBC’s Saturday Night Live. Since Belushi, Murray, Ackroyd and company first poked fun at presidents and celebrities alike in front of a live audience some 30 years ago, sketch comedy shows (including SNL) have become mainstays on both network and cable TV, providing a lighter perspective on our not-so-funny world.

A few years back, popular comedian Dave Chappelle combined his stand-up skills with sketches based on his act on Comedy Central’s Chappelle’s Show, which became an instant International hit. Shortly thereafter, the cable network for comedy groupies approached an edgy Hispanic comedian popular on the stand-up circuit, Carlos Mencia, about doing a show similar in format to Chappelle’s. The timing couldn’t have been better. The new show, Mind of Mencia debuted in the wake of Chappelle’s turbulent departure, paving the way for a new king of sketch comedy. Now in its third season, Mind of Mencia is one of Comedy Central’s top rated programs, falling just behind South Park.

I caught up with Carlos Mencia by phone before his stand-up tour, which makes a stop in St. Louis on Thurs., Oct. 25 at the Fox Theater. He was easy and delightful to talk to—evidence of why his show relates to so many people. We chatted about his family life growing up in East L.A. and his thoughts on comedy and his stellar career.”*

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