Real life is comic's best joke source

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

Gabriel Iglesias routinely appears onstage in boldly colorful aloha shirts. He says he digs them because they fit, they're cheerful, and when you wear one, "there's no doubt you're ready to party." Gabriel Iglesias 7:30 p.m. today and Saturday (doors open at 6 p.m.) Pipeline CafÚ, 805 Pohukaina St. $25 advance, at Ticketmaster outlets; $30 door (877) 750-4400, ticketmaster.com

"For the ladies who are reading, tell them that after they get a shot of tequila, I look like Julio; after six, I look like Enrique," said Iglesias, who performs tonight and tomorrow night at the Pipeline CafÚ.

Kidding aside, Iglesias is an emerging standup who is known for his wildly colorful aloha shirts when he's on stage, who just happens to like the burst of patterns — and the sizes.

"I'm hooked on aloha shirts because, one, they fit, and two, they symbolize a happy time," he said in a phone link from Miami, where he was performing. "I'm Latino, but when you wear the Hawaiian shirt, there's no doubt you're ready to party."

And he's ready to party hearty.

"This will be my first time (with billing)," he said. "I was in Hawai'i a few months back with a comedian friend, and he invited me to do a short bit then."

He said the toughest challenge for folks of his ilk — the wannabe star, struggling to compete for audiences and gigs — is to remain fresh.

"Life is funny, and that's how I keep my act fresh," he said. "I like talking about real life — like hanging out with my mom, or sharing some truths about myself."

His 10th high school reunion provided incredible fodder.

"I accidentally got drunk," Iglesias explained. "I mean, I made an ass of myself. It was one of those events you never show up drunk, and I didn't, but I went early, and the reunion started late, and there was not much to do at the hotel but drink.

"Everybody at the bar wanted to buy this funny guy a drink, so just to please everybody, I drank. I might have had 15 shots of tequila from various people at the bar, so I was pretty much smashed.

"So the class president comes up, with a mike, asking if anyone has been on TV, and the folks on my table all point to me. I don't wanna do anything, 'cause I'm drunk, remember, and she approaches me with the mike, and I'm trying to get away from her. So she says, 'Oh, you're too big to talk ... '

"Folks start laughing, and I see three girls who turned me down for dates in the 11th grade, and I say, 'OK, thanks, I've been on TV.' And I tell the girls they all got fat and one of 'em tells me I'm fat, too, but I tell her that I was fat in high school, and kept my figure — but why couldn't you?"

Such reality-based material has kept Iglesias on a roll. Besides, he said, he's a great people-watcher, so he can flesh out a lot from simple observation.

As for what's funny, he said there's a lot of material out there.

"To me, funny is funny, no matter where you live," said Iglesias. But foul is foul, and he leaves the spice out of his shtick if he's doing stints before high school groups, though occasionally succumbing to four-letter words, depending on the time and place. "It's nice to cut loose, but you can't do dirty all the time," he said.

His Web site indicates that his nickname is Picachu (as in Pikachu to Pokemon fans).

So, why?

"Let's put it like this: Sometimes, little kids can be mean; they talk to you like little alcoholics and call you names. They are not tactful and they're big on nicknames. And when you're a fluffy guy like me and you wear a yellow sweater at Disneyland, some kids will brand you. 'Mom, it's Pikachu,' one yelled. And it was over — the name stuck."

He said his life is rosy and sunshine bright (think of the happy-face icon) right now.

"I get up, I perform, I sleep in. I like what I do, and that's my life and I live it every day. If a TV series or a film should emerge, that would be a bonus. If they kill me tomorrow, I'd have accomplished what I wanted to do in life."

Reach Wayne Harada at 525-8067, wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com, or fax 525-8055.