Fluffy Returns to Phoenix

Wednesday, 10 February 2010 21:30

Thousands of fans wearing t-shirts reading “I am not fat … I am fluffy", “Fridge Raiders” and “Gordo Squad" waited in line for a comedian most know as Fluffy, Gabriel Iglesias.

On February 6, Iglesias performed at the sold out Dodge Theater in Phoenix. with “The Fluffy Shop Tour".

Wearing his trademark Hawaiian shirt, Iglesias’ first order of business was to walk back and forth on the stage to train the light crew.

“I know you’re thinking that I am a fluffy guy who is just going to stand in the middle of the stage,” said Iglesias. "But I move a lot.”

Iglesias has the ability to tell jokes that relate to everyone no matter your ethnicity, but he does bank on the premise that he is an overweight Hispanic male.

“There will be some times in this show where I speak Spanish,” said Iglesias. “Don’t worry I will translate.”

What is truly remarkable about Iglesias’ routine is he never sounds like he is trying to tell a joke.

“I don’t write my own jokes,” he said. “What I do is tell true stories and have fun.”

Iglesias tells jokes like a storyteller. His stories are sometimes long - and at times far-fetched - but his punch lines never fail to deliver.

Iglesias talks to his audience like he is talking to 4,500 of his closest friends. His routine includes a story about an awkward encounter with George Lopez, Iglesias’ trouble with family, a pregnancy scare with his girlfriend and being pulled over by Border Patrol because one the comedians had medical marijuana on Iglesias’ tour bus.

“This is the Border Patrol agent that was the fan,” said Iglesias, showing a picture of a Border Patrol agent. The next picture he shows is of him and everyone on the bus placing both hands on the vehicle and spreading their legs. “That’s what [we] did when they were searching the bus.”

The most amazing thing that Iglesias achieves with his routines are his impressions. Whether it is a sound effect of a police siren, dogs or a car, his noises sound real. What makes most of the audiences convulse with laughter are his impersonations of people. He can sound like the perfect 20-year-old woman, George Lopez, a black man and his son.

The routine lacks a theme. Iglesias bounces through different stories that don’t seem to have a repeating premise or any particular order. His stories are random, but funny.

What Iglesias doesn’t lack is loyal fans that bake cakes for him, and someone even bought him a big bottle of tequila. Iglesias is surprised and very humbled by his fame.

“This has to be my 13^th year coming out here and I swear you guys make the shows,” said Iglesias. “You sold out this show, not me.”

Written by Allana Erickson You are reading Fluffy Returns to Phoenix articles