Sometimes one Bruce just isn’t enough. “My name is Bruce, and I’m a big guy,” says comedian Bruce Bruce. “I don’t want to go by Big Bruce, Large Bruce or Fat Bruce.” So, naturally, he goes by Bruce Bruce.
Bruce has made appearances in The Wash and the upcoming Beauty Shop, and garnered the highest ratings ever as the host of BET’s Comic View. There’s no doubt that Bruce is very big right now. And he’s not about to be humble about any of it, including his improv skills. “When it comes down to freestylin’ improv, I’m like the king of it. I can make it happen. If my material’s not working, believe me: The improv will.”
Most comedians don’t like it when you ask them to be funny on the spot, but surely the king of improv wouldn’t have a problem busting out a few quips on the fly. “People try to get me to do that in the airport, or wherever they see me,” he says. “And then, when it’s time for showtime, they don’t come see me. So I always make ’em come see me.”
Okay, so even the king of improv doesn’t like to be funny on the spotย or does he? “You see,” he continues, “the one thing about black people is they think that support is that they’ll come and see you — when you give them tickets. White people know support is to buy a ticket and come enjoy it and have fun. That’s support.”
Comments about cultural differences might be part of his act, but that doesn’t mean Bruce tempers his comedy based upon the color of his audience. “Most comedians these days have certain jokes that they do just for black people,” he says. “I feel like it doesn’t matter. Funny is funny. My comedy has no color. I can do it in front of any audience.” Funny is funny, and Bruce just might be funny enough for two Bruces.
This article appears in Apr 29 โ May 5, 2004.