Carrot Top is doing just fine, thank you, and will perform at the Sunrise Theatre
Carrot Top has been throwing around props and one-liners for three decades and he is far from finished.
In fact, the ginger-haired comic, who performs Friday at The Sunrise Theatre in Fort Pierce, just extended his full-time residency at the Luxor Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. The five-year extension will make a total of 16 years in the entertainment capital of the world, a gig that is the envy of almost every road-weary entertainer out there.
But when Scott Thompson was first offered the deal at the Luxor 12 years ago, he turned it down.
“I’m a road guy and I didn’t want to live in Las Vegas full time,” the 52-year-old said.
Thompson came to his senses shortly after, signed on and has adjusted quite nicely to living in Las Vegas. Thompson has homes in Las Vegas and in Orlando.
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The self-proclaimed workaholic with the manic, comedic style calls himself “kind of boring." A typical off-day has him running three or four miles in the morning, going out to lunch or dinner or a drink. He snowboards when he can and enjoys hanging out with an eclectic group of celebrity friends, including Nicholas Cage, Shania Twain, Britney Spears and Dog the Bounty Hunter.
“The friends I hang out with are all over the place,” he said.
He works four weeks on and one week off. During his off time, he often can be found at his lakefront home in Orlando, tooling around on his boat or his Vespa.
“I’m a Florida guy," he said. "I’ve always considered it home.”
Thompson grew up in Cocoa Beach and recalls visiting his grandparents in Port St. Lucie.
“I have tons of memories of that area. We used to put pennies on the train tracks," he said with a hint of nostalgia in his voice.
Thompson graduated from Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, although his first choice was the University of Florida.
“My dad wanted me to go to a community college and join him working at NASA but I wanted to grow and spread my wings a little," he said. "When I was a kid, I wanted to be a Gator but it wasn't affordable at the time.”
Thompson worked three jobs to finance his college years at FAU. He cleaned offices, delivered bread and worked at a bank. During his freshman year, a roommate prodded him to try stand-up for the first time.
To say that worked out pretty well is a bit of an understatement.
“I often wonder what would have happened if I made a different choice,” Thompson said, musing on his choice of college. “Everything happens in life for a reason.”
More recognizable than just about any celebrity you can think of, Thompson never wears a disguise or even a hat to hide his wild mop of hair. After almost 30 years, he still relishes interacting with fans. The morning of our interview, a driver spotted him on the road and the comedian pulled over his Vespa and posed for a photo.
“I don’t mind the attention at all. People are so nice,” he said. “If I make people happy, that’s awesome. It’s why I do what I do.”
It's a long way from working three jobs to a long term lucrative contract at the Luxor and although he could be laughing all the way to the bank, Thompson hesitates to say he's made it.
“I don’t look at it like that. I still look at it as if I’m trying to make it," he said. "To stay current. To stay relevant and to have people come to the show.”
#TCPalmSocial columnist Ginny Beagan writes about art and entertainment on the Treasure Coast. Contact her at ginny.beagan@tcpalm.com, at 772-223-4732 or follow her on Twitter @GinnyBeagan.
ABOUT THE SHOW
Who: Carrot Top
When: 8 p.m. Friday
Where: The Sunrise Theatre, 117 S. Second St., Fort Pierce
Tickets: $45-$49
Online: www.sunrisetheatre.com
Box office: 772-461-4775