Carlos Mencia with Emerson College

Comedian
American Comedy Archives at Emerson College
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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About
About this interview

In his one-hour interview for the American Comedy Archives at Emerson College, Carlos Mencia talks about growing up in East Los Angeles, and how his early experiences shaped his comedy. He describes developing his racially based stand-up act, and finding healing in making people laugh at our differences. He recounts working with his writers on his show Mind of Mencia, and gives his reaction to political correctness in comedy. Mencia discusses how humor evolves over time, as well as his use of "blue" material in his act. He speaks at length about accusations of his having stolen jokes from other comedians, and sums up his career. Bill Dana and Jenni Matz conducted the interview on February 15, 2007 in Hollywood, CA.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"I did it my way. There are repercussions to the way I did it, but I said what I wanted to say. I stood up for myself when I thought it needed to be done."

People Talking About ...
Carlos Mencia
Highlights
Carlos Mencia on having been accused of stealing jokes from other comedians
08:03
Carlos Mencia on how comedy, and what people find funny, has evolved over time
04:21
Carlos Mencia on working with the writers on his Comedy Central show Mind of Mencia
01:08
Carlos Mencia on Jerry Seinfeld, and on Seinfeld
03:41
Carlos Mencia on how different groups react to his act, and Mind of Mencia
05:43
Carlos Mencia on summing up his career
05:33
Full Interview

Play Full Interview

Chapter 1
On struggling with his identity as a Honduran in East Los Angeles being raised among Mexicans; on doing Latino-based humor, and on listening to accents; on making a connection with his audience as a comedian, and the commonalities between different backgrounds
On the risks and rewards of doing edgy or racial humor; on his use of the term "beaner"; on aiming to inspire people, as well as make them laugh, though his comedy
On how comedy can heal divides, and solve problems in society; on working with the writers on his Comedy Central show Mind of Mencia; on his reaction to the notion of political correctness in comedy, and in life
On using "blue" material in his act, and how the choice of words can affect comedy; on how comedy, and what people find funny, has evolved over time; on Jerry Seinfeld, and on Seinfeld
On comedians tailoring their acts to their environments; on how different groups react to his act, and Mind of Mencia
On being responsible to his community in his comedy; on advice to aspiring comedians
On having been accused of stealing jokes from other comedians; on summing up his career
Shows

Mind of Mencia

View Show Page
Carlos Mencia on working with the writers on his Comedy Central show Mind of Mencia
01:08
Carlos Mencia on how different groups react to his act, and Mind of Mencia
05:44

Seinfeld

View Show Page
Carlos Mencia on Jerry Seinfeld and the fact that he doesn't use profanity, and on Seinfeld
03:41
Topics

Advice

View Topic
Carlos Mencia on advice to aspiring comedians
04:08

Historic Events and Social Change

View Topic
Carlos Mencia on doing Latino-based humor, and on listening to accents
04:07
Carlos Mencia on the controversy surrounding his use of the term "beaner"
01:44
Carlos Mencia on how different groups react to his act, and Mind of Mencia
05:43

Representation on Television

View Topic
Carlos Mencia on doing Latino-based humor, and on listening to accents
04:07
Carlos Mencia on the controversy surrounding his use of the term "beaner"
02:03
Carlos Mencia on how different groups react to his act, and Mind of Mencia
05:43

Television Industry

View Topic
Carlos Mencia on advice to aspiring comedians
04:08

Underrepresented Voices

View Topic
Carlos Mencia on doing Latino-based humor, and on listening to accents
04:07
Carlos Mencia on the controversy surrounding his use of the term "beaner"
02:03
Carlos Mencia on how different groups react to his act, and Mind of Mencia
05:43
Professions

Comedian

View Profession
Carlos Mencia on making a connection with his audience as a comedian, and the commonalities between people of different backgrounds
04:09
Carlos Mencia on the risks and rewards of doing edgy or racial humor
04:43
Carlos Mencia on aiming to inspire people, as well as make them laugh, though his comedy
03:00
Carlos Mencia on how comedy can heal divides, and solve problems in society
03:45
Carlos Mencia on his reaction to the notion of political correctness in comedy, and in life
10:13
Carlos Mencia on using "blue" material in his act, and how the choice of words can affect comedy
02:01
Carlos Mencia on comedians tailoring their acts to their environments
03:00
Carlos Mencia on being responsible to his community in his comedy
01:45
Carlos Mencia on having been accused of stealing jokes from other comedians
08:03
Carlos Mencia on advice to aspiring comedians
04:08

Performers

View Profession
Carlos Mencia on making a connection with his audience as a comedian, and the commonalities between people of different backgrounds
04:09
Carlos Mencia on the risks and rewards of doing edgy or racial humor
04:43
Carlos Mencia on aiming to inspire people, as well as make them laugh, though his comedy
03:00
Carlos Mencia on how comedy can heal divides, and solve problems in society
03:45
Carlos Mencia on his reaction to the notion of political correctness in comedy, and in life
10:13
Carlos Mencia on using "blue" material in his act, and how the choice of words can affect comedy
02:01
Carlos Mencia on comedians tailoring their acts to their environments
03:00
Carlos Mencia on being responsible to his community in his comedy
01:45
Carlos Mencia on having been accused of stealing jokes from other comedians
08:03
Carlos Mencia on advice to aspiring comedians
04:08
Genres

Comedy Series

View Genre
Carlos Mencia on working with the writers on his Comedy Central show Mind of Mencia
01:08
Carlos Mencia on Jerry Seinfeld, and on Seinfeld
03:41
People

Jerry Seinfeld

View Person Page
Carlos Mencia on Jerry Seinfeld and the fact that he doesn't use profanity, and on Seinfeld
03:41

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