Carrot Top has been in show business for more than 15 years. The irony, he says, is that people recognize him more from his 800-CALLATT TV ads than anything else.
"People come to me and say, 'I see you on TV all the time,' " Carrot Top said by phone from his home in Orlando, Fla. "I've become more recognizable because of those commercials. Some people don't realize that I've had a career pre-commercials."
Carrot Top, born Scott Thompson, began his stand-up career because his friends thought he was funny. "I wanted to be the class clown. But I never got there. I used to sit by the class clown, though."
Still, he never really thought of becoming a comedian until 1989. "I don't really have anyone in my family who inspired me to do what I'm doing. My dad was a funny man, and I learned some things from him. My brother became a fighter pilot and I wanted to go into engineering. But I ended up going to a nightclub and did an open-mike night. People liked what I did, and the next thing I knew, I was going back every month."
Throughout his career, he has always used props to give visual puns to his flamboyantly outrageous shows. He said the props just came naturally. "Steve Martin used props, like that arrow through his head," said Carrot Top. "I liked that. I want to give the audience something more than just one-liners. So I started using props." Oversized hands, cartoonish charts and hats are some of his favorite things to use.
"I love using props," he said. "But there are times when some of them won't work. I've experienced plenty of times when something I think is funny doesn't do very well. And there are times when something I don't think is funny makes the audience laugh so hard.
"You never know what will hit or not. "So I don't get worried about trying new things. I mean, the first time I used a prop was new. And now I use props all the time."
Carrot Top continually thinks of things to liven up his act. "I always have something in the back of my mind. I don't want things to get stale for the audience. And I don't want things to get stale with me. If I get bored, can you imagine what the audience would do?"
In addition to his live shows and TV commercials, he has an official biography on the market, "Carrot Top," by Ryan McGinness, as well as a DVD, "Carrot Top Rocks Las Vegas," a filming of his live show in the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. He has also been lampooned on "King of the Hill" and "Austin Powers."
However, there is one aspect of Carrot Top that not a lot of people know about — his charity work. The comedian works closely with the Muscular Dystrophy Association, the Ronald McDonald House and the Mustard Seed Furniture and Clothing Bank in Florida. "I don't have anyone in my family who is sick. No one in my family has a disease, but these organizations are very important to me."
He hooked up with MDA while doing a show, he said. "They were in the same town I was performing in, and they approached me to do a public-service announcement. I said I'd do it, and it was a great experience for me.
"I've always believed that it's important to give something back to the world and community. It was stunning at how much help that little PSA did.
"I love working with the kids. They are so smart and funny. It makes you feel good when you get involved. It's downright addictive, and it keeps you humble. My eyes were opened. I mean we all have bad days, but in reality, none of our bad days compares to what these kids are going through."
While his plate is full, Carrot Top said he still has plans for his future. "I'd like to do more film. As I get older, I'd like to think I was maturing. My stand-up is always evolving. And I would like to branch out more."
If you go
What: Carrot Top
Where: E Center
When: Saturday, 8 p.m.
How much: $25
Phone: 467-8499 or
800-888-8499
Web: www.smithstix.com
E-mail: scott@desnews.com