Alex Valdez "Audience of One" Show #15

Alex Valdez is a terrific comic with a couple things going for him...First, he had great success as part of the "O'Brian & Valdez" Comedy team...TV, Concerts, etc. What makes him unique is that Alex is the only Blind comic with such a stellar career. On this Audience of one, Alex shares some material i know you will enjoy.

Hosted by: R. Scott Edwards

Transcript

Jill Edwards: 0:02

Stand up comedy, your host and emcee presents, comedy appetizers, a podcast where you will find short comedy sets, stories and funny bits from the famous. Not so famous. Here's your host and emcee Scott sky Edwards, ladies

Scott Edwards: 0:22

and gentlemen, welcome to this week's special bonus podcast an audience of one where I'm the audience for one of my comedy friends. And today we have somebody very special all the way from Indiana. It's Alex Valdez. Valdez. Ladies and gentlemen. For those that don't know, Alex was part of a great comedy team O'Brien and Valdez. And yes, he is the one and only blind stand up comic in the business. Alex, thanks for joining us today.

Alex Valdez: 0:55

Thank you, Scott. It's good to be here. It's a pleasure as always, and you know, a lot of people when they see me for the very first time they say, Alex, why no sunglasses? And well, you know, I don't I don't see Deaf people wearing earmuffs.

Scott Edwards: 1:12

That's so true. You never wear the sunglasses. And no, I never thought about it. You're like the only blind guy that does it. Right.

Alex Valdez: 1:20

Yeah, exactly. Yeah, everyone's sunglasses. Yeah. And you know, being blind. You know, there's a lot of stuff that you know, like I said, I don't know if you knew this, but about about 10 years ago, the state of Michigan passed a law allowing blind people to hunt. Unbelievable. They, they allow blind people to hunt. And I figured out who voted for it. It was the deer.

Scott Edwards: 1:46

Yeah, they feel pretty safe. People hunt that's amazing.

Alex Valdez: 1:52

Well, you have to supposedly have to have a spotter with you. But you know, I don't know how that works. But you know, you know, being blind. I've traveled all over the country. You know, I was I live now here in Indiana. And I remember last summer my wife and I, we took our two nephews, Nick and Noah, we took them to the Indianapolis Zoo. And I've got to say, Scott, what a rip off$20 To smell kangaroo Kaka.

Scott Edwards: 2:23

That doesn't seem quite fair, does it?

Alex Valdez: 2:26

No, not at all. Not at all. But I remember one time stuck. You know, I'm a guide dog user. Now. Also, when you first newbie, I was traveling everywhere with my cane. And I remember one time traveling with my guide dog. And we were traveling from LA from Southern California to Washington DC for an engagement. And we had a layover in Denver in Denver, this huge, huge airport. And this was before 911. So I remember I got to my gate and I was getting ready for my next flight. And I said to the gate agent, I said, Listen, I said, you know, the next leg of our trip, here's kind of long. Rocha needs to get out side and relieve herself. Is there any way? You know, you could get someone to take us outside? So I can relieve row gun? And she'll feel better? I'll feel better. Everybody on the plane will feel better. Is there any way we can do that in the gate agent said, Mr. Valdez. I'm so very sorry. You know, I wish we could but we really don't have time and I sit down and listen. I said, really? I really need to get my dog out. She hasn't been out in a while. Really need to really give her the opportunity. Mr. Valdez, I'm so sorry. Your plane is here at the date. We can't help you. That's it. Okay. All right. So I'm turning away from the gate agent at the counter there. And then the gentleman walked up to me, this man walked up and he said, Oh, and he said, excuse me said, Mr. Valdez. He said I overheard your conversation. And he said I would be more than happy to get your dog out. He said, I've raised labs all my life. I love Labradors. He said, Let me take your dog out. And I'll make sure that she has the opportunity to relieve herself. And I said, Gosh, I said, that's really kind of you. I appreciate this. I said, But you know, we don't have time. And he says, Trust me. We have plenty of time on your pilot. And I said, really? And he said, find Mike on your pilot. He said, This plane is going nowhere without me. Let me take your dog. So I handed him rope this leash, and I handed him a bag to pick up after her. And I sat down. And then I started laughing. Because I had realized that I left rochas harness on so she was in All Hornets. And I thought to myself, I wonder what people are thinking when they see a united pilots in full uniform, running down the concourse with a guide dog.

Scott Edwards: 5:14

That's great. Oh, that paid such a great image. That's fine, Alex,

Alex Valdez: 5:20

I can only imagine that people were looking and doing double takes and going. Did you see? Oh, thank God, you went past our gate.

Scott Edwards: 5:31

What a great story. And what a nice guy. That's funny. Well, thanks so much for sharing that story, Alex.

Unknown: 5:39

You're very welcome, Scott. Thank you. Thanks for keeping the laugh going. All right.

Scott Edwards: 5:44

Well, ladies and gentlemen, that was our short bit of funny from Alex Valdez and Indiana. Thanks for listening in to our special audience of one podcast.

Jill Edwards: 5:53

Thanks for listening to this week's episode of comedy appetizers. Be sure to share with family and friends and we will see you this Sunday for our regular podcast, your host and emcee. And again next Friday for another episode of comedy appetizers by