Mexican-American actor/comedian Paul Rodriguez has the sort of face that most of us recognize but have trouble remembering from where. He’s done television (a short-lived role as a struggling Hispanic stand-up comic in his own sitcom, aka Pablo, host of the late ‘80’s Newlywed Game and The Late Show on Fox, a recurring role in Showtime’s Hispanic family drama, Resurrection Blvd.); he’s appeared in (or lent his voice to) more than 25 movies, from 2001’s cross-country comedy, Rat Race, to Disney’s 2008 throwaway, Beverly Hills Chihuahua; and all throughout, he’s nurtured a rather lucrative career in stand-up, performing on every Comic Relief since its inception, appearing in six HBO comedy specials, and bringing his live act to audiences across the country. Expect Rodriguez to talk about the weather, politics, his Mexican heritage, and his family, among plenty of other subjects. On trying to talk to his father about sex: “My father took about ten seconds to tell me about sex. ‘All I gotta tell you is that, uh, you got a loaded gun in your pants now. Be careful where you pull the trigger, eh? Go play, cabron.’” Mon., Dec. 29, 8 p.m., Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ballroom, 5223 N. Orient Road, Tampa, $50, 813-627-7625.
This article appears in Dec 24-30, 2008.