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 REX:
ROUND 2
Comedian Rex Navarrete
By Dennis A. Amith, AsianConnections.com Dennis: Has the success of your first album changed you in any way?
Rex: I think it has given me a greater sense of pride and satisfaction I would say. I am still the same guy, just now I have that CD plus a new one out on the racks. It's really weird to go into Tower Records and see your name on a divider in the same section as
say, Eddie Murphy and Richard Pryor.
Dennis: What are the questions that people ask you the most?
Rex: People usually don't ask me a lot of questions. It's strange since I do have a lot to talk about more than just comedy. Usually stuff like, "when did I start out or where will I perform again?" Dennis: Hmm�Do you get a lot of weird fan mail?
Rex: I never get weird fan mail. Just from people really happy to share their stories of what the CDs did for them, friends and family. No one is stalking me yet. At least I hope not.
Dennis: Can you share with us some embarrassing moments that have happened
to you on stage?
Rex: Well, the most embarrassing moment has got to be the incident that took place at a national Filipino empowerment conference last year when the wife of the ambassador to the United States threw a dinner roll at me while I was doing my set. She didn't like my joke about the Philippine president, so she decided to throw bread at me and then cause a near riot in the ballroom. I'm alive and more notorious thanks to her.
Dennis: So, you've been to Fresno State once. How was the experience?
Rex: I did have a good show at Fresno State. I did a double bill with my comedian buddy, Dennis Gaxiola, and we tore up the room. I wish I saw more Filipinos that night, but maybe wrestling was on. Dennis: When you were growing up, who did you enjoy watching on television? Rex: Geez...that would have to be Wonder Woman played by Linda Carter. I was about to go into puberty. The rest is up to you.
Dennis: Is it true that comedians have comedy club groupies? Rex:
Do we have groupies? I would say that I might. There are some die-hard fans of mine who come out to support me. I really love those folks. They keep me real and disciplined.
Dennis: So, Rex�Do you prefer to date only Pinays?
Rex: I knew you were going to ask me this one. I do love Filipina women. There's just something about them. I am always surprised at how diverse they can be. I have also
dated women of other ethnicity's not just Filipina. A good woman is good enough for me, but she better like lechon (roast pork).
Dennis: What do your parents say to you after attending a show especially when you did a joke involving them. Rex: They don't bother to talk about my material; they just like the attention they get. They understand that I get a lot of material from the family.
Dennis: So, what do you think about Britney Spears and groups like N'Sync and Backstreet Boys? Rex:
I would have to say, hell, if you like music and dancing and all that, then by all means go out and do it. Otherwise, my taste in music is more of the musician-based variety. I like groups that can actually play their own instruments. Dennis: Let's talk about stereotypes of Asians and certain issues. Let me know how you feel about these stereotypical issues. First question, Are Asians bad drivers?
Rex: Curiously, some Asians are bad. I live here in San Francisco and nine times out of ten, when a car does a stupid move, there's an Asian at the wheel.
Dennis: Are too many Asians in California getting into gangs?
Rex:
Maybe there are too many getting in for the wrong reasons. Some of it is all about status not really survival.
Dennis: Asian guys don't cry and they keep everything inside.
Rex: To all the ladies....Rex cries. Really I do.
Dennis: Asians are model minorities-smart, successful, good at science and math.
Rex:
Only the ones who don't give a shit about the simple things in life. This is a bogus claim anyway, since we don't hold the real political power in this country.
Dennis: Your feelings on affirmative action.
Rex: Don't dismantle it just now.
Dennis: Your feelings on Filipinos who say they aren't Filipinos but they are of Spanish descent.
Rex:
Send their sorry @$$e$ back to Madrid! Freeloading maggots! Dennis: Do you prefer to use the word Filipino or Pilipino?
Rex: hmmm..?Do I also prefer Hitler or Hittler?
Dennis: What's the most messed up thing a non-Asian has said to you (that dealt with you being a Filipino)? Rex: Nothing yet. It's the Filipinos who can't respect my material that bother me more. Dennis: What's the most bizarre thing you have seen in your industry? Rex: It would have to be all the drug abuse behind the scenes. Really, comics can be some of the most miserable people around. Dennis: As a child, did you bully your sister or did she bully you?
Rex:
I think we bullied each other equally. She is smarter than me in most cases. Dennis: If you had a chance to go out with any of the following women, who would it be and why: Jennifer Lopez, Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell or
Margaret Cho.
Rex: Sorry, it has to be Jennifer Lopez. You would be stupid to not go out with her. She seems to be the only one who can dance.
Dennis: Did you have a relaxed childhood or were your parents very strict?
Rex: I had a very busy one. My parents made me do a lot of chores and work for
the family store. I never had a lot of goof off time. I never had the time to become a breaker or a DJ like my other friends.
Dennis: What do you like and dislike the most about living in the bay area?
Rex: I love the weather and the diversity. I will not move for any reason. My friends and family are here too. What I dislike is that too many non-locals are driving the rent up too high for us natives.
Dennis: Did you like eating milk fish (bangos)? Did you ever get those damn bones stuck in your throat?
Rex: I love it. Just had some today. Bangsilog platter for dinner. I'm a pro at taking out those tinik (Tagalog for fish bones) bones. That's what the edge of the plate is for. Dennis: What do you like to eat with rice?
Rex: Hot chicken or pork adobo over cold rice.
Dennis: Let's talk about your latest comedy CD, "Husky Boy." Was this the complete show that you did at San Francisco State? Rex:
Yes and no. This is a compilation of the best bits from that evening; a whole lot of stuff in progress has to wait for the next CD. I am still getting used to the material on the CD. There are bits I don't want to record yet. Dennis: What were your goals when making this album? Rex: I wanted this one to be an album you can sit straight through for an hour and feel like you were there at the show. No music breaks, just stand-up the way it should be. This album reveals more of me. I am a lot braver and that is a good thing. Dennis: How did you come up with the idea of your "bonus track."
Rex: It was actually a song I've had in my head since college. I would just sing the title chorus with my buddy, Clysly and just have a great laugh. It was my answer to the whole thing of OPM music in the Philippines.
Dennis: What final words do you have for your fans in the Central Valley?
Rex: Thanks to all of you and your families for giving me more reason to do what I do.
Follow in the tradition when you can in whatever you do and bring me out there more.
Check out Rex Navarrete's second comedy album, "Husky Boy" which is available from Classified Records (http://www.crworld.com) through mail order or from your local record store's comedy section.
Check out our first interview with Rex (Asian Pacific Review - Vol. 3, Issue No. 1) by clicking here. Thank you to AsianConnections correspondent Dennis A. Amith. This interview by
Dennis originally appeared in Asian Pacific Review - Vol. 5, Issue No. 3 --------------------
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