Carlos Mencia is slimmer, happier and funnier. Fans will get a chance to see the new Mencia when the comedian performs at the Comedy Zone on Saturday. He has a new comedy special airing Dec. 4, Comedy Central will air Mencia’s latest comedy special “New Territory.” The special will showcase all new material with his fresh perspective, but we can see it sooner. In a telephone interview with My92.7, Mencia talked about his hiatus from comedy and his new outlook on life.
What have you been working on?
I just filmed a one-hour comedy special. I’ve been writing a couple of scripts for some networks.
Where have you been?
I took some time off. After doing comedy for 22 years I stepped back to see what’s next. I just don’t want to do the same performer. I’ve always been coming with the same thing with the same perspective. So, I traveled, took therapy, meditated to find myself. It sounds transcendental. I needed to do that to see who it is I want to become.
How did you change?
My stage presence is so much less aggressive and so much more optimistic. More engaging. I don’t want to be like those rappers making millions and be all mad. I didn’t want to be that angry comedian. I felt like I was being disingenuous to my audience and to myself.
How has your comedy changed from exposing racism in America and making sure Latinos are acknowledged?
That was 20 something years ago. It’s not the same environment anymore. It’s not like when I grew up. I’m not broke anymore, I’m not living in the hood, I’m not being shot at anymore.
How did you lose 70 pounds?
There’s no trick to it. It’s diet and exercise. I eat a lot more green stuff. I don’t cut out anything completely. I’m not getting double cheesburgers at 3 o’clock in the morning. I lost the weight in a year. I wanted to learn how to eat I wanted to learn how to workout.
What’s life like 70 pounds lighter?
It’s like there’s two islands in the world. The island of skinny people and the island of fat people. I was on the island of fat people. As soon as I lost that weight the skinny people were like “welcome.” The fat people were like, “What happened.” It’s a very different perspective.
What can we expect from your comedy special?
Expect to be surprised. Expect to see a different man. Part of the reason I’m doing this little tour. Comedy is not like music. Once somebody hears me tell a joke onec or twice they don’t want to hear it again. This is my way of saying to my fans thank you for all of the support. Give them a preview of the show and see the material live before it’s buried.
How has your traveling influenced your comedy?
In Central America I saw really happy poor people. It just really began to put things in perspective for me. Part of me came back with new appreciation for this country. We have welfare and we have government cheese. I felt that as Americans we take it for granted. I felt that we get so stuck on trying to make it better we forget about how great it is. America needs me to remind us of how great this country is to not to understand the difference between sucks and broken and trying to make it better.
