Carrington’s work is laughing matter

The comedian is working on a movie script with country singer Toby Keith.

By JOHN BENSON

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

Watch out Dane Cook, comedian Rodney Carrington is hot on your trail.

“I started 18 years ago and I ain’t stopped,” said Carrington, calling from his Tulsa, Okla., home. “I’ve done a little bit of everything — comedy records and tours and TV and books. Now I’m working on a movie, so it’s just one thing after another. I’m just having fun. That’s all I’m doing.”

Aside from most recently releasing his seventh album, “King of the Mountains,” his first DVD, “Rodney Carrington: Live at the Majestic” and his new book, “Coming Clean,” the funnyman and comic country musician, who starred in his own short-lived ABC-TV sitcom “Rodney,” said he’s currently working on a script with none other than Toby Keith.

Tentatively titled “Beer for my Horses,” the film is scheduled to go into production this winter with Keith as its main star and Carrington as the sidekick. Oh yeah, Ted Nugent has also signed on.

“It’s a police movie, but it’s funny,” said Carrington. “It’s more along the lines of a modern day ‘Smokey and the Bandit.’”

In addition to his side projects, Carrington remains focused on his stand-up career, which famously includes funny — and oftentimes adult-based — songs. New in his act are “I’m the Best You’ll Do Tonight” and “White Shirts in Rain.” Concerning the latter track, Carrington laughs, “You can do the math on that one.”

More comedy

Even though the 38-year-old comedian — who can often be heard contributing to the Bob and Tom Show (airing locally weekday mornings on WNCD-FM 93.3) — has so many things happening, the nature of his business requires him to always look forward. This means more work for Carrington but good news for fans.

“The ‘King of the Mountains’ record came out in April, and I’ve added a whole lot to it since then,” Carrington said. “I’m constantly adding to rid myself of what I did on the record. We do things a little bit backwards in comedy. We create the record and then do everything we can to distance ourselves from it.

“I want people to buy a piece of product, come out and see something new and then say, ‘Oh, he’s got new stuff already.’ There’s nothing fun about being a comedian and telling somebody something that’s not a surprise.”

Carrington fans will have plenty of new material to look forward to when the Sooner native comes back to Youngstown for a Sept. 28 date at Stambaugh Auditorium.

It’s no secret that Carrington’s appeal stems from his everyman persona as just another hard working guy doing his job.

“I don’t know what drives a particular person other than they just relate to the things I’m talking about and singing about,” Carrington said. “I talk about my personal life, and somehow I’m hitting a nerve with people that apparently they’re getting into.

“I’m no Toby Keith selling 50 million records, but I’m happy with where I’m at. All I really do is try to make people laugh. There’s no message. If you learn anything from anything I’m doing, it’s purely by accident.”