'Tis the season for eggnog, mistletoe and raunchy jokes about Santa Claus and Frosty the Snowman. Chuck Roy is a Denver comedy staple, regularly hosting shows at Comedy Works, and is back this holiday season with his "Dirty Christmas Show," one of the most fun, hilarious (and dirty, filthy dirty) comedy shows of the year selling out the last two years.
Roy recently chatted with The Huffington Post about Denver's booming comedy scene, his annual dirty Christmas show and told a couple of his favorite dirty holiday jokes while he was at it (you've been warned).
Who are you?
I’m Chuck Roy.
How long have you been a stand-up comic in Denver?
Since September 15, 1999. When I checked into the hotel the clerk gave me tickets to the Rockies game. I told him I had a show at 8 p.m. He said, “I think you can do both.” I caught a buzz off half of a Coors Light and thought, “I’m moving to Denver.”
What drew you to stand-up comedy as a career? And what was the moment that you knew you wanted to pursue this as a career?
I flunked out of college and my sister-in-law suggested I become a comedian. I called Nick’s Comedy Stop in Boston and the manager, Rita, gave me a spot on the open mic. I did the spot and kept at it. A few months later I was offered a management position at a Market Basket grocery store in Londonderry, NH. I had one night to make a decision and if I took the job it meant giving up comedy.
You frequently host at Comedy Works and perform around Denver -- how do you keep it fresh from night to night?
Josh Blue writes all of my material.
Can you do the same jokes at downtown Comedy Works as you do at Comedy Works South at the Landmark or do you have to make adjustments?
I am writing Wall Street Journal dick jokes for the Dirty Christmas Show at the Landmark. That’s a true difference. I read the Journal and follow politics on MSNBC’s Morning Joe. If I crack a joke about economics or political policy it's more likely to go over in Greenwood Village. However, the most sophisticated audience members go downtown. Bringing them fresh new jokes is how I thrive.
Can you tell us one of the worst times you bombed on stage?
A corporate holiday party where the owner gave a speech detailing the passing of his child then introduced me -- 45 minutes, clean, non-offensive. I tried my best.
Who are your top 5 favorite comics (or the comics that have most influenced your own work) and why?
- Jimmy Dunn – plays here in January opening for Bob Marley. Bob gave me my first road gig. Jimmy taught me how to write jokes for five years. It was like college but smarter.
- Don Gavin – Boston’s God.
- Louie Anderson – put me in his Showtime special in 2010. I watched his tape in college and bought his second one. I met him through Comedy Works South and that’s one of the most influential moments in my career.
- Kathleen Madigan – she’s the Law.
- Josh Blue – he’s on my couch right now. He met me at Market Street Station for a walkabout. Since the day we met we’ve been friends.
- Hippieman is my comedy ninja.
The Denver comedy scene is just blowing up -- what is it about the local scene that is producing so much great talent?
Comedy Works is downtown. That’s rare for comedy clubs and gigs. Red Rocks. When I saw it I wanted to play it regularly. I was the house warm-up for the Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn, a great regular comedy gig and I introduced a lot of bands -- almost every band I could dream of –- the Dead, Phil Lesh & Friends, Wille Nelson, Dave Grohl, Snoop Dog, Green Day, but when I saw Red Rocks and the view of the Rockies it clicked.
Secretly, I read a shit ton of books on Kit Carson when I was in the third grade and I’ve always wanted to live in the Rockies. Comedy Works put me up in a place with a balcony and sweeping view of the city. The mountains were so vast, like an ocean. I fell in love.
What is the "Naughty (Dirty) Christmas Show" -- how did it start, how long has it been going on and what can our readers expect from it?
The owner, Wende Curtis, asked me to put together a Dirty Christmas Show. During the holidays we try to do squeaky clean, holiday friendly shows. I get paid a handsome check to do a corporate holiday party and sometimes they gotta be totally clean. To relieve holiday stress Wende came up with the idea for a naughty show. I made it a dirty show. And damn is it dirty. For instance, last year I did a series of jokes about what you give a homeless twink at Christmas. This year I’m working on "Santa’s got a big dick" jokes, "Mrs. Claus’ pussy is so tight" jokes and jokes about how Frosty the Snowman is a lesbian.
If "Tickle Me Elmo" jokes will offend you or your friends this holiday season the Comedy Works will be happy to help you find a more appropriate comedy show.
What other Denver comics will be performing at the show?
Ben Roy, Troy Walker, Phil Palisoul, Hippieman, Stephanie McHugh, Eugene Kenny, Andrew Orvedahl, Greg Baumhauer, Louis Johnson, Troy Baxley, Deacon Gray, Chris Charpentier and a few others. Josh is out of town.
I’ve got a few ideas on how to stage all of those acts in a 90 minute comedy show. If it’s as sold out as it was last year then the show is just gonna run long. My goal is to keep the show real tight so there’s room on the end for Ben Roy to light it up.
Tell us a couple of your favorite dirty Christmas jokes:
Q. How does a Homeless Twink find out he has AIDS?
A. You tell him when you cum.
Q. What’s the best thing you can give a Homeless Twink for Christmas?
A. A rag to wipe your cum off his face.
What's next for Chuck Roy?
I’m the emcee for Josh Blue Dec 21st and 22nd at Comedy Works.
Any tips for comedians just starting out in stand-up?
Write.
Chuck Roy's Dirty Christmas Show is on Sunday, Dec. 2, 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Comedy Works downtown; Tickets are $12. Visit Comedy Works' website for more show information and tickets.
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