What is a comedian? The dictionary states that it is a entertainer whose act is designed to make an audience laugh. Well that perfectly describes this rising comedian named, Kenji Thomas (@Comedy3K).
Kenji Thomas fell out of the clouds and landed in Altadena, California. This is where Thomas gained the majority of his comedic jokes that he shares with his audiences throughout many comedy clubs. With the release of his first stand-up dvd titled, "How Come I Can't Say That?" filmed at the legendary IceHouse Comedy Club in Pasadena, California. (Sidebar: The joke about the DMV is one of my favorites) Thomas's train on the road to success is heading full speed with no intentions of stopping. The traits of Pryor, Carlin, and Murphy are well detected in Thomas's stand-up performance. Learn about Kenji Thomas roots and how he turned his passion into a reality, in the interview below!
Kenji Thomas fell out of the clouds and landed in Altadena, California. This is where Thomas gained the majority of his comedic jokes that he shares with his audiences throughout many comedy clubs. With the release of his first stand-up dvd titled, "How Come I Can't Say That?" filmed at the legendary IceHouse Comedy Club in Pasadena, California. (Sidebar: The joke about the DMV is one of my favorites) Thomas's train on the road to success is heading full speed with no intentions of stopping. The traits of Pryor, Carlin, and Murphy are well detected in Thomas's stand-up performance. Learn about Kenji Thomas roots and how he turned his passion into a reality, in the interview below!
"Reminiscent of Eddie Murphy and Bill Cosby"-Anthony D'Alessandro of LA Weekly Buy DVD Here
What was your childhood like in Los Angeles?
I was raised by a single mother who worked long hours to provide me with the things I needed. My mother always taught me about the differences between the things we WANT and the things we NEED. So even though I didn't have the fancy clothes and sneakers kids cherish at a young age, I always had clean clothes and food on my table. My biological father was a drug addict for most of my life as a child and wasn't really in the picture.....but that's a another episode of Dr. Phil.
What made you want to be a comedian?
I was a Bartender in Pasadena, CA. I quickly found that i loved interacting with the different people who would come to the bar for a drink. Well, one of my regular customers suggested that i try doing stand up comedy. I wasn't too convinced that this was something I could do even once, let alone as a career, so I repeatedly turned him down. One day, he came in with an envelope containing $200 cash, he told me there was an open mic that night in Hollywood, and if I went and got on stage the money was mine......needless to say I went, and as soon as I hit that stage, grabbed the microphone and felt the lights on my face, I WAS HOOKED! I haven't looked back since.
Who are your comedic influences?
My "Holy Trinity" of comedy consist of Richard Pryor, George Carlin and Eddie Murphy....in that order!
Where do you get your comedy material from?
I've found that in this crazy world we all live in, I don't need to write "material", if you just stop and look around you, you'll realize life is funny all on its own. As a comedian I just try to take this organic material and convey it to my audience in ways that maybe they hadn't thought of before. Like my Grandma used to say, "There is nothing new under the sun!"
How do you test your jokes to know if they're funny?
I believe in trial by fire. If you want to know if something's funny, get on stage and say it in front of an audience of complete strangers.....you will quickly find out if its funny or not!
When and where was your first time on stage?
July 7, 2005 at the Icehouse Comedy Club In Pasadena, CA on the Dave McNary Variety Show....I still have the ticket stub!
When was the first time you was "booed" on stage?
Haven't been booed yet, but thanks, this question probably jinxed me ;)....(knock on wood)
How do you deal with a "heckler" in the crowd?
Be funny so they won't heckle in the first place!
How do you feel about today's comedians?
With the exception of a couple of the "big wigs" like Kevin Hart, Gabriel Iglesias ... etc, stand up has become a stepping stone into other thingS like acting and music. Comedians who do it for the love of comedy are quickly becoming a dying breed. The result is generic and watered down comedy styling's that leave you feeling that you've heard it all before. Don't believe me, try to name 10 living comics off the top of your head in 20 seconds....pretty hard huh?
What elements do you believe are essential to a great comedic performance?
Stage presence, eye contact and believability! If you say it like you think its funny, chances are the audience will follow along for the ride, as soon as you lose confidence in your own material you're dead in the water!
When you first started out, what was a weakness in your comedy performance that you had to
improve on?
When I first started I wouldn't look at the crowd, I would literally do my entire set while looking at the ground, complete lack of confidence. My "mic work" sucked when I first started too, half my punch lines would get lost because I would either hold the mic too far from my face or "cup" the top of the mic like a rapper doing his first concert.
Do you have any plans of doing movies and if so, who would like to work with?
I plan do almost whatever is put in my path, I want to try it all! Movies is definitely one of the projects I hope to get a chance to do... I think a film with me and Kevin Hart would be off the chain!
If you could have your own television show, what would it be called?
Necessary Roughness
What is the objective of your production company, The Comedy Bros.?
Total World Domination
What advice would you give other aspiring comedians?
Don't ever let anyone off stage tell you what to do on stage. Let the crowd be your editor, they will let you know if your on the right track. Comedy is all about being natural on stage, you can't be natural if your acting how someone else suggested you act....basically DO YOU!!
Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?
Filthy Rich and living in a Castle in Amsterdam with a disgusting beer belly and endless amounts of reefer for me and my five wives to enjoy whenever we so desire....stay tuned, it might not take 10 years ;)
Contact:
Website: Kenjithomas.com
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