Many ways to
skin a Bobcat
The woman seemed nice enough as she approached Bobcat Goldthwait in the airport waiting area. Then she said "I don't mean to insult you, but you look like Bobcat Goldthwait."
Night of laughs
Bobcat Goldthwait with opening comic Paul Ogata Where: Pipeline Cafe, 805 Pohukaina St.When: 8 p.m. tonight
Tickets: $20 and $25
Call: 589-1999
Also: 8 p.m. tomorrow at the Castle Theatre in the Maui Arts & Cultural Center. Tickets $11, $22 and $27. Call (808) 242-7469
The veteran comic admits he was left speechless.
"I didn't have a thing to say back 'cause that was a lose-lose situation. I like to think that I'm kind of fast or witty, and I usually do a pretty good job of saying what I want at the time, but I didn't have anything to say. It was just a bad situation (so) I told her I wasn't me."
Goldthwait recalled that jarring encounter when he called recently from California to tell us about some of the things he's doing since his last show here.
"I call you as often as Spock gets laid," he said, referencing to an obscure bit of "Star Trek" trivia, which, if true, would mean that he last played a concert date here sometime in 1996.
However long it's been, Goldthwait will be doing two dates in Hawaii, starting tonight at the Pipeline Cafe, and tomorrow at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center.
"I try to act like I'm not a nerd, but I know that much about 'Star Trek,' so that blows any street cred I have," he added.
GOLDTHWAIT comes to Hawaii in the middle of a busy and productive year. He's had guest spots on "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" and "That '70s Show," and in big screen roles in "Blow" and "The Grind" (an upcoming movie not to be confused with the skater comedy playing in theaters now).
Well, he may be in "The Grind."
COURTESY OF DEBBIE KELLER PUBLICITY
Bobcat Goldthwait's turned himself into a multifaceted comic talent. He's written, directed and produced sketches for himself and other entertainers; done voice-over work on various animated shows; does standup; and will always be known for his role in the "Police Academy" movies.
"I haven't heard from any of those people, so I was saying last night that maybe I'm not in this movie. Usually by now you get a call to do some looping (voice dubover) or go to a premiere or something, so maybe I got cut out and nobody has the nerve to tell me ... not that I'm being paranoid, but I usually I end up in the trailer and I haven't seen myself."
If Goldthwait survived any last-minute cuts, he'll be seen in "a goofy role" as a bellman. It's no surprise to see a comic get cast in comic roles (remember his maniacal turns in "Police Academy" numbers 2, 3 and 4 in the late '80s?), but Goldthwait's role in "CSI" was a step out of the ordinary for him.
He played a comedian who literally killed other comedians rather than "killing" his audience.
"It was a nice big part, and I actually had a chance to do something a little different than what people see me doing. That was cool."
So, have there been times when he wished he actually could kill some of the other comics out there? (Not that he'd ever actually do it, of course.)
"A lot of people get mad at comics that they think are derivative or don't deserve to be famous, (but) I think I would kill guys who go on too long when I'm waiting to go on," Goldthwait said.
"I was pretty good on sticking to the time (when I was starting out). I think with my early act, if it was going well I'd have to get off anyway 'cause I probably didn't have any more material."
The Bobcat made his national television debut over 20 years ago, and in addition to his successful career as a standup comic, Goldthwait has racked up impressive credentials writing, directing and producing sketches for himself and other entertainers. He's also done voice-over work on animated shows ranging from "Beavis and Butthead" to the Disney series "Buzz Lightyear," hosted three of his own HBO specials, and written a pilot for Nickelodeon based on the life of his dog.
Television viewers can also look forward to the sketches he directed for Dave Chappelle's show on Comedy Central, and segments he directed and edited for "The Man Show" and "Strip Mall."
"I'm pretty lucky. I get to do standup, I get to act occasionally and I get to direct."
And, on top of everything else, Goldthwait will go down in cult film history as the guy who wrote, directed, and starred in "Shakes the Clown," a warped bit of comedy he did back in '92 about an alcoholic birthday clown who's accused of murder.
WITH SUCH A multifaceted career to draw on for ideas, Goldthwait says he approaches standup by addressing "what I'm interested in doing at the time.
"My standup has always kind of been this free-wheeling thing. It's always changing. I try to make people laugh, and I hope people like it, but I've never felt the pressure to act like they see me do in 'Police Academy' or something. I've always done what I'm interested in on stage and hopefully people get entertained at the same time."
Often as not, he says, the crowd provides part of his act.
"I don't know what it is about my act, but people feel that it's cool to just blurt out and ask questions, and then I have to tell my side of the story. It's just who I am. It's just weird. The other comics don't have to answer questions, but for some reason when I'm on stage it turns into a punk rock Oprah show, and I end up having bits about those things."
Can we expect any pointed political observations? "We'll make references to pop culture and stuff -- our politics have mutated into pop culture -- so I will talk about stuff but not (get) too heavy handed. We didn't really find any weapons of mass destruction (in Iraq) but we did find old weapons we'd sold the Iraqis in the '80s, (so) we should have just kept the receipts."
All in all, it's been a great life for a guy who grew up in Syracuse, N.Y., and sang with a band called the Dead Ducks before moving to Boston to try his luck as an aspiring comic.
Years later, Goldthwait still has a link to his early pre-comedy days. Danny Bonn, the guy Goldthwait describes as "the lead Dead Duck," also lives in the San Diego area.
"Occasionally, he and I will go out to see a band," Goldthwait said, adding that another of his friends from Syracuse is Tom Kenny, another comic who's made a name for himself as the voice of Spongebob Squarepants.
What are the odds of that? "It's pretty weird for two guys growing up in Syracuse, both of us eventually having careers in show business. I think that's pretty weird."
As for the woman in the airport, Goldthwait finally found a fitting response to her bizarre comment.
A new album of his will be in stores next month. And the title of the album?
"I Don't Mean to Insult You, But You Look Like Bobcat Goldthwait."
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