Comedian B.T. describes himself as "your everyday kind of man." Born and raised in Muskogee, Oklahoma, this "Okie from Muskogee" has an interesting take on his home state.
"Our license plates say, 'Oklahoma is OK,'" B.T. says. "We're not great, we're just okay. We're a state with low self-esteem."
B.T. is also an actor, and has appeared in shows like the Sci-Fi channel's Black Scorpion and the HBO original movie Suckers. But his real love is stand up comedy, and on Friday, July 2, he'll be bringing his act to Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino in Chandler.
We recently caught up with B.T. to discuss comedy as an art form, how he handles hecklers, and Arizona's "dry heat."
What's the funniest joke you've ever told?
You know, I'm not really a jokey-joke kind of guy. I'm not the "Two guys walk into a bar..." type at all. When a comic goes onstage, you should be so unique that your jokes can't be retold by the guys at Jiffy Lube.
Really, it's all in who the comedian is, who the writer is, and the form it takes. It's an art -- when you see great comedy, like Chris Rock or Dave Chappelle, they can take something that's not usually funny and make it funny. Chris Rock did a bit on insurance, and it was hilarious. That's when comedy is an art form -- when the comedian can take a boring idea and make it work.
How did you get into comedy?
I always loved watching comedy, especially Johnny Carson on Friday nights. Saturday nights, the Don Kirshner's Rock Concert show would be on, and when they had comedians, it was great. So when I was in junior college, I was sitting around thinking about what I could do that I was naturally good at. I decided on comedy, and I've been broke ever since.
How do you handle hecklers?
I carry an armed group of assassins with me. They have silencers, and I just point the hecklers out and they take care of it. Once you put a bullet through somebody's head, they're not going to heckle you a second time (laughs).
You wrote in your blog that you love summer and heat. Have you been to Phoenix in the summer before?
Yes, I have. How you do it, I have no idea. "Wow" is an understatement.
But it's a dry heat.
Your dry heat is hot. I bet hell has a "dry heat," too. When you get cremated, it's probably a dry heat, too. But it will still burn your flesh off.
You'll be performing at a casino here. Any plans to play slots or gamble?
I'm not really a gambler. Just getting to Phoenix will be a gamble (laughs).
B.T. is scheduled to perform at 8 p.m. Friday, July 2, in the Ovations LIVE! Entertainment Theater at Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino in Chandler. Tickets cost $10. Call 877-840-0457 or visit wingilariver.com for more information.
