There's a case to be made that Scott “Carrot Top” Thompson is the Nickelback of comedy. He's easily one of the most recognizable acts in the biz, having parlayed his prop-powered antics and distinctive look into loads of TV and movie appearances, a lucrative residency at the Luxor Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas and a net worth that's been estimated at $75 million.
But he's also one of pop's biggest punching bags. From celebrity roasts to “South Park,” few comics get slammed quite like Carrot Top, the main attraction at the Emerald Queen Casino on Saturday, Dec. 14. Earlier this week, he checked in to discuss his divisive image and a recent change in his appearance.
Tacoma Weekly: It's been a minute since we did an interview, so long ago that I don't think you were so buff then. What happened? Did you …
Carrot Top: Actually, now I'm not buff again. I guess I went through a phase for a year or so where I got really big. I'm back to my normal size now. I still work out and stay in shape, but I don't have that mass on me any more.
TW: Oh, really? I was gonna ask if you'd been exposed to gamma radiation or something. Did you notice a difference in the amount of hecklers when you were so pumped up?
Carrot Top: That's funny. No, I've never really had hecklers my whole career, thank God. (There were) comments and people on the Internet and that kind of stuff. People were like, “Oh my God, have you seen Carrot Top? Holy (crap), he's huge.”
I just did Craig Ferguson's show, and I came around the corner to get ready to go on. He goes, “Oh my God! What happened to you?” I went, “What do you mean?” He was like, “You lost so much weight? Are you OK?” I'm like, “Yeah.” It took him for a shock for a second. I'd say I lost it for a role, but it didn't (fly.) I was up against Matthew McConaughey, so I lost it to see if I could get in a movie.
TW: You're one of those entertainers that's really successful, but you have a lot of haters.
Carrot Top: If you walk with me through the airport or a mall or whatever … you don't hear any haters. I'm very lucky. But if you go on the Internet and look at stuff you're gonna get so much crap. … That comes with the job. But I do have those people, the lovers and haters. I kind of zone all that out.
TW: What's the meanest thing you've ever heard or read about yourself?
Carrot Top: Well, the meanest thing I saw – which actually became more of an urban myth or whatever – is that I've had face work done, plastic surgery. That's the most retarded thing I've ever heard in my life, because I've never had anything done. So I do a joke in my act. I go, “Goddamn, wouldn't I look better if I had a (freakin') facelift?”
TW: I have seen one of those videos on YouTube asking, “Did he have work done?” So, for the record, none of that.
Carrot Top: No, in fact I would say the meanest thing that anyone ever said to me was on a roast. I want to say it was Greg Giraldo, who I think passed away. Giraldo just came up and said, “Jesus Christ! Will you stop with all the (freakin') facelifts already?” And people thought (it was) literally true. From that day on, that's been one of those things they say: Carrot Top, plastic surgery. No, it was just a comic making a joke. But, oh well. It's kind of silly.
TW: What's maybe the most surprising thing people don't know about you based on your image?
Carrot Top: Wow, probably that I'm just the opposite of that. I'm a skinny, mellow dude. ... There'll be a perception of me just being this beast, but I'm actually teeny.
TW: Of course, you're known for doing the props; and I'm trying to picture your house.
Carrot Top: I just did a whole thing on Oprah. They came to my house, and that was one of the things we discussed. “Oh my God, your house is so normal.” There's not anything wacky or crazy at all. My backstage at the show in Vegas is kind of fun and full of crazy stuff and props.
TW: So you do have a laboratory where you come up with that stuff.
Carrot Top: Well, I have a warehouse that's near the Luxor where I can go and build all the stuff. Then backstage there's a little workshop because I might come up with something day of, or a minute before the show. But my house is completely normal; just my little dog sittin' there lookin' at me.
TW: I've read that you sometimes don't use the props at all.
Carrot Top: I don't ever do a show without the props at all unless I'm doing a talk show or something. The live show, I usually do my share of 'em, but I don't do as many as I used to do. There's more stories and stuff that I tell. The Vegas show is probably 50-50. The road show might be a little different.
TW: Do you have any big plans for 2014?
Carrot Top: Well, there was a movie that's still coming out. They haven't given us a release date yet. Tom Green and I, we play ourselves. It's a stretch. It's called “The SwearNet,” and it's based in Canada. It's, basically, the “Trailer Park Boys.” I don't know if you've heard of them.
TW: Oh yeah, I love that show (a “mockumentary” series that aired on Canada's Showcase network from 2001 to 2007).
Carrot Top: They go through all these crazy things to get their show back; and me and Tom Green are celebrities that they bring in from L.A. for this big road race they have.
TW: Is this a documentary?
Carrot Top: No, it's an actual movie. They're not playing their characters, though. They're playing themselves. So they're not Bubbles. There's (actor) Mike (Smith.)
TW: It's maybe like that movie, “This Is the End,” where people are playing fictional versions of themselves.
Carrot Top: Yeah, indeed. Except James Franco's not in ours.
TW: Well, he's in everything else.
Carrot Top: I know. Jesus, honestly, he's in every movie.
Carrot Top in concert8 p.m. Dec. 14
Emerald Queen Casino, 2024 E. 29th St., Tacoma
$25 to $65