Growing up as a smaller kid in a tough neighborhood outside of New Orleans made being funny a necessity for stand-up comedian Theo Von.
“Humor is a free currency not everyone can have,” Von said in a recent phone interview. “Growing up poor, it was the one thing I could control. I couldn’t control money, but I could control if I was funny.”
Von will return to the Improv Comedy series at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino on Friday, Feb. 23 and Saturday, Feb. 24.
He said being funny began as a defensive mechanism and has now turned into an offensive mechanism.
In his 2016 Netflix special, “No Offense,” Von discussed many childhood experiences with hilarious candor, including having an elderly father, wrangling chimpanzees and being bullied.
“There was one guy who would fight everybody, and win,” Von said with a laugh. “He was strong and would choke you out with his neck. He’d grab you by the neck, with his neck, like a snake.”
After his run on MTV’s reality show “Road Rules: Maximum Velocity Tour” in 2000,” Von was trying to figure out what he wanted to do in life and journeyed to Los Angeles when he was 23 years old with no real plan in place.
Then, he found a comedy club down down the street from his friend’s house and would get on stage for open mic nights.
“Being funny came easy to me,” he said. “Even if I was depressed or having a bad day, I could get up there, perform and feel better.”
That led him to a gig on the reality competition “Last Comic Standing” in 2006.
He said he never relied on his early reality show experiences and believes a lot of hard work is key to being a successful stand-up comedian.
“At the end of the day you have to be funny and continue to believe you are funny,” Von said.
When he is not on stage, Von spends time on his podcast “This Past Weekend,” a funny recap of what happened to him over the the previous weekend. He is currently filming a pilot, “Man Up,” for Comedy Central, which Von described as a documentary-style show focusing on men bettering themselves.
Von said he enjoys working with creative people and the excitement that comes with making a television show.
As for new material, Von said jokes include musings on the dark side of life.
“You never know what good thing is looming around the corner,” he said. “And that’s what makes it fun because life isn’t always that way.”
Theo Von
When: 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 23 and 8 and 10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24.
Where: Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, 84245 Indio Springs Parkway. Indio
Tickets: $20, 21 and older
Information: 760-342-5000, fantasyspringsresort.com.
Growing up as a smaller kid in a tough neighborhood outside of New Orleans made being funny a necessity for stand-up comedian Theo Von Humor is a free currency not everyone can have Von said in a recent phone interview Growing up poor it was the one thing I could control I couldn’t control money but I could control if I was funny Von will return to the Improv Comedy series at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino on Friday, Feb. 23 and Saturday, Feb. 24 He said being funny began as a defensive mechanism and has now turned into an offensive mechanism In his 2016 Netflix special No Offense Von discussed many childhood experiences with hilarious candor including having an elderly father wrangling chimpanzees and being bullied There was one guy who would fight everybody and win Von said with a laugh He was strong and would choke you out with his neck He’d grab you by the neck with his neck like a snake After his run on MTV’s reality show Road Rules Maximum Velocity Tour in 2000 Von was trying to figure out what he wanted to do in life and journeyed to Los Angeles when he was 23 years old with no real plan in place Then he found a comedy club down down the street from his friend’s house and would get on stage for open mic nights Being funny came easy to me he said Even if I was depressed or having a bad day I could get up there perform and feel better That led him to a gig on the reality competition Last Comic Standing in 2006 He said he never relied on his early reality show experiences and believes a lot of hard work is key to being a successful stand-up comedian At the end of the day you have to be funny and continue to believe you are funny Von said When he is not on stage Von spends time on his podcast This Past Weekend a funny recap of what happened to him over the the previous weekend He is currently filming a pilot Man Up for Comedy Central which Von described as a documentary-style show focusing on men bettering themselves Von said he enjoys working with creative people and the excitement that comes with making a television show As for new material Von said jokes include musings on the dark side of life You never know what good thing is looming around the corner he said And that’s what makes it fun because life isn’t always that way Theo Von When 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 23 and 8 and 10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24 Where Fantasy Springs Resort Casino 84245 Indio Springs Parkway Indio Tickets $20 21 and older Information 760-342-5000 fantasyspringsresort.com