Believe it: It’s been 15 years since Scott Thompson, aka Carrot Top, secured a residency at Luxor in 2005, becoming the longest-running comedy act MGM Resorts International has ever signed.
One could surmise that Thompson’s success is due to brand recognition (because that curly mop of ginger hair is recognizable anywhere), or, simply, because he’s funny. But that’s all low-hanging fruit. Carrot Top has been successful in Vegas because he’s essentially taken a page from Vegas’ own playbook: In order to stay relevant, one must adapt. So, much like the town that constantly adjusts when tastes in style and entertainment change, Thompson, like any great comic, takes notes on pop culture and gets to work in his garage, consistently pumping out timely material in the form of new props—it’s prop culture, if you will.
His act still contains some of his greatest hits, like a pair of slippers with bumpers attached to the front (so you don’t stub your toe in the middle of the night) and a food tray with a secret emptying slot (so you don’t offend grandma by not eating her dreaded potato salad), but Thompson is sure to regularly introduce new inventions to his audiences. It keeps the show fresh, and keeps audiences coming back. Oh, and the shots of Crown Royal that he passes out to the crowd doesn’t hurt, either.
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