2008 Woodie Awards
Mencia shares unique gift:
a narrative
Terri Wright
Issue date: 8/25/08 Section: Online Headlines
Carlos Mencia came to Fort Campbell, Ky. to perform a show August 15 to show his support for the soldiers. There were free tickets given away to whoever wanted them. I was told that they ran out of tickets within hours of posting the bulletin for the tickets.
While Mencia was here, he paid a special visit to the Air Assault School, which knew about his visit before anyone else did. Others did not find out until a day before he was to arrive.
On the day of his arrival everyone was excited. He was expected at nine in the morning. Everyone was buzzing around looking for him. However, events beyond our control delayed his arrival. We were told he wasn't going to arrive until noon. I started to wonder if he was going to show at all. He finally arrived around one in the afternoon.
I thought we were going to have a typical celebrity on our hands. I couldn't have been more wrong. "He was so down to earth he could be your neighbor!" said 1st Sgt. Bryon Johnson.
Needless to say, emotions in the office were mixed. Some people didn't even know who he was and therefore did not care. One person complained that he got called in early for nothing.
Then there were those who knew of him, but didn't care for his comedy. Lastly there were people like me who watched and loved his show. We were really stoked about a real celebrity coming to visit the Air Assault School and 101st Airborne Division of Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
First Sgt. Johnson and Staff Sgt. Dorothy Robinson agreed, "He is really funny. His comedy is raw but he does a lot for the troops. He's very patriotic."
During the tour of the grounds which included going through a challenging obstacle course, learning about the division's history and ending it with a rappel off the 34 foot tower, First Sgt. Johnson said "I kinda expected someone a little more high maintenance and demanding. He was very receptive to what we had to say." First Sgt. Johnson was also amazed at how Mencia was in as much awe over the soldiers and what they did as the soldiers were in awe of him and of what he did.
Even though I was not able to physically talk or take a picture with him due to a last minute emergency, I did have a chance to talk first hand with someone who did. When asked if she knew of or liked Mencia before he arrived at the Air Assault School, Sgt. Laura Barefoot answered, "I knew of him and I watch him on Comedy Central on the weekends. He's a lot thinner and taller than I thought."
Despite being a wealthy celebrity, Mencia appeared to be an ordinary man with an extraordinary gift - creating laughter. This gift he used to help support the troops. His performance will air on September 7, 2008. Check your local listings for details.
While Mencia was here, he paid a special visit to the Air Assault School, which knew about his visit before anyone else did. Others did not find out until a day before he was to arrive.
On the day of his arrival everyone was excited. He was expected at nine in the morning. Everyone was buzzing around looking for him. However, events beyond our control delayed his arrival. We were told he wasn't going to arrive until noon. I started to wonder if he was going to show at all. He finally arrived around one in the afternoon.
I thought we were going to have a typical celebrity on our hands. I couldn't have been more wrong. "He was so down to earth he could be your neighbor!" said 1st Sgt. Bryon Johnson.
Needless to say, emotions in the office were mixed. Some people didn't even know who he was and therefore did not care. One person complained that he got called in early for nothing.
Then there were those who knew of him, but didn't care for his comedy. Lastly there were people like me who watched and loved his show. We were really stoked about a real celebrity coming to visit the Air Assault School and 101st Airborne Division of Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
First Sgt. Johnson and Staff Sgt. Dorothy Robinson agreed, "He is really funny. His comedy is raw but he does a lot for the troops. He's very patriotic."
During the tour of the grounds which included going through a challenging obstacle course, learning about the division's history and ending it with a rappel off the 34 foot tower, First Sgt. Johnson said "I kinda expected someone a little more high maintenance and demanding. He was very receptive to what we had to say." First Sgt. Johnson was also amazed at how Mencia was in as much awe over the soldiers and what they did as the soldiers were in awe of him and of what he did.
Even though I was not able to physically talk or take a picture with him due to a last minute emergency, I did have a chance to talk first hand with someone who did. When asked if she knew of or liked Mencia before he arrived at the Air Assault School, Sgt. Laura Barefoot answered, "I knew of him and I watch him on Comedy Central on the weekends. He's a lot thinner and taller than I thought."
Despite being a wealthy celebrity, Mencia appeared to be an ordinary man with an extraordinary gift - creating laughter. This gift he used to help support the troops. His performance will air on September 7, 2008. Check your local listings for details.
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