Tacoma Weekly Newspaper

One wouldn’t think a shy boy from Seattle would grow up and do comedic stand up. However, that is precisely the case for Northwest comedian Vince Valenzuela (pronounced Val-n-zway-la), who has appeared on Comedy Central, A&E and HBO. He will be performing once again at Tacoma’s Comedy Underground July 20-22.

After venturing off for a few years, Valenzuela said he wants to put stand up on the front burner again and is excited to be back at the Comedy Underground.

“I like the club and look forward to being back there,” Valenzuela said. He has spent the last few years doing various other aspects of the entertainment business including making a DVD and appearing in television commercials for Jack in the Box and Qwest. Meeting Jack of Jack in the Box he listed as a highlight of his career. 

Valenzuela said the different facets of entertainment have been challenging each in their own way, but he’s eager to engage an audience once again.

Though, he noted, holding people’s attention is hard to do in today’s world, especially with iPods and cell phones. Valenzuela is not a big fan of the former in comedy clubs.

“It’s a trend that keeps getting worse,” he said, adding that he hates interrupting a conversation someone is having in the front row with their babysitter.

In addition to making fun of social trends, Valenzuela also incorporates ethnicity into his show. He explained that he puts his own spin on his Latino heritage, especially with the Latino explosion that is occurring right now.

Another topic of discussion is Seattle being the suicide capital of the United States as well as the religion of NASCAR and the pressure on women, he said, to be “thin, beautiful and perfect all the time.” 

Valenzuela isn’t afraid to get political as well. During his set, he talks about Osama bin Laden. “I try and define Osama bin Laden,” he said.

He may even throw some personal experiences into the mix about his family and past relationships.

Where does Valenzuela get his inspiration from -  anywhere and everywhere. “It could be something that I see in the news or a social trend I see,” he said. It typically “starts with me being irritated, something that just bothers me in some way or doesn’t make sense or just looks ridiculous.”

Valenzuela noted his show is always evolving as he adds and deletes things. “It keeps things interesting not only for me” but the audience as well, he commented. “I’m not the kind of guy that does the same show every time out.”

He isn’t afraid to step on someone’s toes either. “People are a little (too) sensitive today,” he remarked. “People forget – it’s just impossible to be politically correct.

“You’re always going to have someone who is not going to like something,” he added. “You can’t please everybody.”

Valenzuela was intrigued by comedy at a young age. He said he liked to listen to it and watch comedians like Bill Cosby and Bob Newhart, but he never really thought about doing it. Though, one day he tried it and really liked it. The rest is history.

Being a comedian was a big transition for Valenzuela, because in his own words, he was “painfully shy” growing up.

“It was really a big deal for me to get up and talk to people in public,” he said.

Though he noted, he actually finds stand up easier than talking to people one-on-one. 

“I think my transition to being comfortable on stage was probably a little more than somebody who wasn’t shy growing up or the class clown,” said Valenzuela, who described himself as the “class clown assassin.”

He was the boy in the back of the room, who would wait for the right moment and zing the class clown when he least expected it.

Valenzuela is presently living in West Seattle but plans to split his time between here and Los Angeles.

His DVD, “Vin Shui,” is slated to come out in September, and he said he has a few more things in the works including a screen play and a TV show.  

Though Valenzuela said he loves performing, he also has other interests. “My mind just doesn’t work in a stand up kind of way, sometimes it’s very visual,” he noted.

His Comedy Underground shows, which run 90 minutes, begin at 9 p.m. July 20-22 with an additional show at 11 p.m. July 21 and 22. Tickets range from $6-$12 and can be purchased online at www.ticketweb.com. Valenzuela’s two CD’s, “Deraindamaged” and “Verbal Vigilante,” will be available after the show.

For more information on Vince Valenzuela visit www.vincevalenzuela.com.