On this day in comedy on June 13, 1962 Comedian, Actor, Voice-Over Artist, Alonzo Bodden was born in Queens, New York.
Prior to achieving any type of comedy notoriety, Bodden worked on the assembly line at Lockheed and McDonnell Douglas moving heavy equipment. This was big man work; which is probably why little has ever been said about Alonzo Bodden and hecklers. He was just another working comedian with day job experience and a few films under his belt (8 Guys, Bringing Down the House, The Girl Next Door) when he got his national break.
Last Comic Standing, the NBC ratings darling was entering its third season. Bodden had been a runner up on Season 2 and 3 was billed as the “Battle of the Best” with top contestants from seasons 1 & 2 competing. When the 2004 competition was done Alonzo Bodden had won out over Geoff Brown, Corey Holcomb, Rich Vos, Tammy Pescatelli, Gary Gulman, Ralphie May, Tess, Jay London, Todd Glass, Tere Joyce, Rob Cantrell, ANT, Jessica Kirson, Sean Kent, Dat Phan, Cory Kahaney, Dave Mordal, John Heffron and Kathleen Madigan. The prize was $250,000 (not the talent contract and televised special awarded to the previous two season’s winners). The winning episode also wasn’t broadcast with the hoopla of the previous two seasons.
Regardless, Bodden made the most of it. He released his comedy DVD Tall, Dark and Funny in 2005. That same year he returned to Last Comic Standing as a celebrity host along with Kathleen Madigan and ANT. He made more films (Scary Movie 4, National Lampoon’s Totally Baked A Potumentary and Why We Ride); appeared on all available late night shows (The Tonight Show with jay Leno, The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn, Late Night with Conan O’Brien) stand up showcases (It’s Showtime at the Apollo, Make Me Laugh, Comedy Central Presents) and guest starring ops (Angel, Californication). As a car and motorcycle enthusiast, Bodden was a natural to host several automotive driven shows: Speed TV’s 101 Cars You Must Drive and America’s Worst Driver. Alonzo Bodden has been a panelist on BBC America and Game Show Network, a co-host on WGN America, a recurring guest on NPR and The Adam Carolla Show and done voice-overs on Power Rangers: Lightspeed Rescue, Masked Rider and O’Grady.
By Darryl “D’Militant” Littleton
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