Alonzo Bodden is a comic’s comic. His stage persona is relaxed and mature, his material is well-written and sharp, and most importantly, his jokes are funny. I first saw Bodden on the second season of NBC’s Last Comic Standing, where he was runner-up to John Heffron. He came back again in Season 3 and won both redemption and the title, and he was a judge in Season 5. I remember him distinctly because he always had new material, whereas the other finalists, even the eventual winner, seemed to recycle jokes week-to-week. Bodden still works as a stand-up today, traveling and performing regularly. Watching him work, he really doesn’t do much besides talk into the mic. But it doesn’t matter, the guy’s a pure stand-up.
Bodden’s set is funny in all the right ways: it’s brave, funny, and sharp. He starts a bit slow but really hits his stride about five minutes in. His racial stuff is particularly memorable, making some funny points about the nature of stereotypes. His bit about his incarceration is also pretty strong (“The thing about jail is, if you haven’t been, don’t go”). He goes right at controversial topics, reminding the audience rather convincingly that “it’s ok to laugh.” The set isn’t perfect—Bodden certainly doesn’t go for laughs with on-stage antics, and I always find airplane security jokes a bit clichéd —, but if you want to see a true stand-up doing solid, textbook, craftsman-like comedy, Alonzo Bodden might be right up your alley.
Check him out at Alonzo Live.
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