With flu season in full swing, U.Va. students are looking for just about anything to cure their nausea, extinguish their burning fevers and get the vomit flavor out of their mouths. To those poor individuals suffering from this ailment, never fear. There is a remedy available that won't leave you drowsy, constipated or ailing from weird side effects.
What is this miracle drug you ask? Laughter -- after all, it is the best medicine.
University Programs Council delivers an extra-strength dose of this comical treatment tonight with comedian extraordinaire Pablo Francisco. More fun than Pepto-Bismol, Francisco is a hilarious performer who won't disappoint. His many jokes about sex, impersonations of Arnold Schwarzenegger and the movie-voice man, as well as his recounts of his own life will leave audiences laughing for several days.
Francisco is not your average over-the-counter comedian. His impressive résumé includes several performances on Comedy Central, providing the voices for Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Cuban terrorist and Sylvester Stallone for Fox's Family Guy, and appearing as a cast member on Mad TV. Francisco also has released three comedy records as well as a new DVD entitled Bits and Pieces.
So it's your choice: Be miserable and alone watching sappy movies while eating lumpy chicken noodle soup or have an awesome time laughing and smiling. Though these statements have not been reviewed by the FDA, no one can deny that Francisco will leave you feeling much better.
Pablo Francisco performs tonight at 8 p.m. in the MLK Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $15.
tableau: What made you wake up one morning and say I want to be a stand-up comedian?
Pablo Francisco: I was working at Domino's pizza and my boss said, "We're gonna have to fire you." So he was like, "Do you wanna deliver this pizza to a comedy club since it's your last night?" So I delivered pizza to a comedy club. Since I was in no rush to get back to Dominos, I decided I might kick back and watch these comics. So I come in with the Dominos suit and the comedians started making fun of me. I thought it was great! I wanted to go back to the club, but since I was too young, I would take my brother's ID to get in. I had also recorded a lot of comedy routines on my VCR at home. From that point on, I figured I could pay the bills doing this, and that's how it all started.
If you weren't a comedian, what would you be doing right now?
I would be making movies or directing them.
When you're coming up with new material, where do you find inspiration?
I figure out what really confuses me. I say, "Why is that happening? Why are girls wanting to get on TV to marry millionaires who they have never met?" You find the absolute stupidest things out there, then you throw your ideas to your friends, see if they like them and take it from there.
I look for dumb things that you see on television, crazy things you experience in relationships. Like applying for a job at Hooters: I mean, what do they ask you when you apply? "Can you please fill out this D cup?"
Do you prefer to do live stand-up shows or TV?
I love doing stand-up because the people are right there; you make good money. You get to travel a lot, too, and I love to travel. You want to make sure you'll be your own boss. If you get into TV, you'll end up working for some sitcom called Latinos in the Backyard where a director will be telling you to say something stupid about tacos. That is what's great about stand-up: You're your own writer, actor and director. You get to be the boss.
When you were younger, which comedians did you look up to?
Steve Martin and Richard Pryor.
What's the coolest thing you've ever done as a celebrity?
I can get into clubs and bars -- I don't know. I don't think I'm that big of a celebrity.
I would say to walk into any comedy club in the country and not have to pay the bill; that's probably the coolest thing.
Who's your favorite person to impersonate?
Definitely the Movie Previews Guy and the Tortilla Boy. I love doing that every night, and it really gets the crowd going. I try to add new things to it every time I perform it to keep it fresh.
When you're not on the road, what are you doing?
I'm usually having this microwave right next to me going. No -- I usually go around looking at new comics, new talent and try to help them out. I also do a lot of voiceover work for radio stations. I'm at a radio station almost every day. I write stuff, too.
What does Pablo Francisco's future look like?
It looks like the same. I'll be doing stand-up and doing TV for the rest of my life.
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