When I started doing stand-up comedy in 2004, Chuck Roy was as big as it got in my world. He was the man, the myth, the legend and all us open micers and young comedians were in awe of his skill and prowess. No one tamed a room like him. He was a maestro up there, totally in charge, a monster. And then once he had whipped the unruly crowd into submission, he would proceed to level them with bit after bit until they were eating out of the palm of his hand. It was fierce. Chuck was the first comic to show us how to level a room. And he was also one of the first comics to say, “Hey, you’re mildly decent and it’s clear you’re hungry, come do this show with me.” And then Chuck would keep inviting you to other shows. Chuck was one of the first “big dogs” in the scene to open the door to me and some of my friends and for that I will be forever grateful.
Scenes change, decent open micers evolve and get egos and start putting on their own little precious alt-shows and then those grow into a bigger deal and those people go on to do late night spots and plan festivals and start a podcast called My Dining Room Table, and the thing I like about Chuck is he’s always understood that. Chuck never had any bitterness or talked shit or harbored any ill-will, catty behavior that can taint so many a scene, he merely watched the baby birds fly out of the nest and supported them wherever they flew. In a way, Chuck provided the template for how to healthily approach a burgeoning scene: support each other’s shows, don’t hate, put in the work and always write new material, and watch the scene grow. And more importantly, watch it benefit us all. Chuck Roy is a lynchpin in the Denver comedy scene, and it was very cool to sit down and talk with him at My Dining Room Table.
And the best party about it all? Chuck is still in the trenches. I’m able to watch him work all the time, as a colleague. It’s one of the great things about stand-up comedy, becoming peers with someone whose comedic ability you so admire. When I sign up at Comedy Works now, my home club, I always am excited when Chuck is MCing the show. Because then I know it’s going to be a fun night, telling jokes, drinking Fat Tires, talking shop in the green room, doing stand-up-comedy. Sometimes you forget how lucky you are to be doing that. Chuck always reminds you of that. Because he’s been through it all.
It’s been a strange ride for Denver’s favorite bear, but Chuck always keeps it interesting. It will be fun to watch where it goes next.
In terms of music videos, homeboy’s old-school, Headbanger’s Ball shit. Here’s his video, “Bang Your Head” by Quiet Riot.
Check out the episode on iTunes here.
Enjoy.