One On One With Carrot Top…And His Shrunken Head
“A prop comic, a weatherman, and a massage therapist walk into a Tiki Bar”…
Oh, you’ve heard that one before? Alright, smarty-pants, where does the shrunken head fit in? Well, if you caught our piece on Carrot Top’s pre-Halloween unveiling at Golden Tiki Lounge last Thursday, you already know that part of the story.
Our “Vegas On Two Wheels” correspondent Greg Bennett (the weatherman from ABC Channel 13’s “Good Morning Las Vegas”) and I (“Sammasseur” – the massage therapist of this triad) were there for the wild, weird reveal of Carrot Top’s mini cranium in all its eerie glory.
Golden Tiki managing partner Branden Powers unveiled the hand-crafted creation to the press last Thursday, October 29th. He and Carrot Top mugged for the cameras at the Chinatown fun spot, drawing puzzled gazes from patrons who were enjoying a few Happy Hour specials.
Afterward, Greg and I hunkered down with America’s favorite prop comic for a little VegasBright power interview. The Florida native chatted with Greg (a fellow Floridian) while I took down detailed notes (er, sipped my cocktail and listened in). C.T. gave us a little insight into his life…and why he loves calling Las Vegas his home.
Q: How long have you been here in Las Vegas?
A: I have been in Vegas, gosh, over 20 years now and have done my show at several properties on the Strip…Bally’s for a year, MGM Grand for ten, and now Luxor for ten. Yeah, 21 years!
[Editor’s note – Carrot Top revealed that he’s about to announce a five-year extension, but since he hasn’t done so yet, we won’t tell you either. Ahem…]
Q: Has your show changed over the years?
A: No, absolutely not…..no, totally joking! Oh yeah, that’s what I love about comedy. New material can pop up every day for me. It can be stand-up material or another way I can add a prop to my show. I try to stay relevant because I constantly watch the news and follow social media.
Q: Are you comfortable with being the King of Prop Comedy, or is that something you are trying to get away from?
A: Oh no, no, no. I love and embrace the fact that I made my name using props. I still use them today and love it. Now I do the usual stand-up comedy scene, too, but prop comedy is a part of my life. It makes me…me.
Q: What else are you working on?
A: Well, I have my show here and just finished up filming a movie. Also just finished a video with Tosh.O, too. That was wild…ridiculous. You’ve gotta check it out. (It’s on YouTube here).
Q: Have you been involved with the Las Vegas community in any way?
A: Oh, yeah, of course! I’m on the board for the Ronald McDonald House here in town. Just finished a local run/fundraiser. So yeah, I am constantly involved with the local community.
Q: How do you feel about a shrunken head being made for you?
A: Oh man, its one of the weirdest things I have ever received! But it’s really cool. I’m just glad it’s not actually my head, haha.
Q: Anything you want to add?
A: Yeah, I just want to thank the Golden Tiki for this wild gift. It’s probably going to make it into my show material. And I want to thank the Las Vegas community too. They have really embraced me since day one here and have been kind ever since. I love being a part of Vegas and don’t expect to take off any time soon.
The Golden Tiki is located at 3939 Spring Mountain Road. It is open 24 hours a day.
Carrot Top performs nightly at 8 pm (dark Tuesdays) at Luxor Hotel. Tickets are available here. Tickets start at $49.95 (plus taxes/fees), but we found a Travelzoo.com offer for $29.97 through December 30th.
Images: [Sammasseur and Golden Tiki]
A fitness buff and Vegas fan. Sam enjoys shows, bargains, and cheap healthy eats.
2 thoughts on “One On One With Carrot Top…And His Shrunken Head”
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His hair knows no bounds!
I’ve never been to a CT show in Vegas, but I saw him in Minnesota when he performed at a major casino 13-14 years ago, and enjoyed his show. It was very entertaining.