2008 Woodie Awards
The Mosaic Interview: Carlos Alazraqui
The man of many voices discusses his rising career as comedian and actor
by Adam Asher
Issue date: 5/13/08 Section: Mosaic
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As Deputy James Garcia on Comedy Central's hit show "Reno 911!" Alazraqui patrols the streets of Reno, stops speeding cars, deals with domestic disputes - and that's pretty much it. Some fans of the faux-crime show may think this is their first taste of the fake-mustache-donning actor, but many may remember him as Rocko from Nickelodeon's "Rocko's Modern Life," the late Mr. Weed from "Family Guy" or the Taco Bell chihuahua.
Alazraqui recently took some time to talk to The Review about his past and present characters on the big and small screen, as well as the new season of "Reno 911!"
What inspired you to design your "Reno 911" character the way you did?
I think it originally came from an amalgam of all the characters that were always the pricks in your life, whether it be cops or security guards - just those guys with an attitude. Then you layer in a Napoleonic complex, a culturally self-denying kind of guy that doesn't get it. You add a tinge of Marty Fife in there, a guy that thinks he's tough on the outside but on the inside is a sad, little scared man. So kind of a mixture of all of those things. Basically, when you put on that fake mustache and get a haircut and put on those aviators, it puts you halfway toward that type of character - for me it does.
How does the rest of the cast add to that character development process?
We literally all went home and created our own characters and on the first day they had 20 questions. They said, "Oh what's your name? Where are you from? Why do you like being a cop? What do you hate about being a cop? Who do you like on the force? Who do you hate on the force? What does a cop mean to you? What's your favorite pastry?" So they asked these questions and through improv, that helped shape our characters. It was a pretty smart idea.
What is your favorite quirk that Garcia has?
I think it's that he gets sad easily. He really wants a friendship with his partner Jones, who's black, and I'm racist, but I really would like him to be my best friend and I think he's not. So he can be very angry and then at the drop of a hat he can be really sad. He's quick to anger - I like that too because it lets me use my natural rage in life and funnel it into my character. So I like those things about him. He's a pretty real-life character. He's sad, he's happy, he's angry, he's trying, he's proper, he's improper. But I think my favorite thing is that he's quick to sadness and anger.
How do you use your Latino heritage in your life as an entertainer?
When I came to L.A., I started to use more of my heritage. I basically grew up in a white suburb, in Concord, California. We assimilated, we were American. My mom still had her thick Argentinean accent, my dad didn't have his. He went to British school in Argentina. I grew up this all-American kid with characters around me and then the Latino part came when I moved to L.A. [someone said], "Hey your name is Carlos, want to do comedy?" and I said, "Yeah I've got some [stuff] on my mom. She's from Argentina - I'll put that into my act." So I started to embrace more of the Latino stuff when I moved to L.A., but I never really got Latino parts and that's what Garcia was all about. I did "Rocko's Modern Life" and all these cartoons before I ever got the Taco Bell chihuahua, and then it was like, "Oh, this guy can do Latin voiceovers, his name is Carlos." So I started getting all these Latino roles. So it all fell into place after I started to embrace the fact that I can do a Latino dialect.
How did you get into the voiceover work in the first place?
It came out of stand-up comedy. I had done some stuff on stage, there was a local audition in San Francisco and I didn't have an agent. I made a tape in a kitchen in Sacramento, I brought my eight-by-10 to the thing and I brought the tape and I happened to do the voice of Rocko. Originally, they didn't want an Australian or a Cockney, so they gave it to Nickelodeon. Nickelodeon liked it and we made this little pilot called "Rocko's Modern Life" and off I went. Opened up the flood gates.
Between stand-up, acting and voice work, what kind of work do you enjoy most?
There are some really fun days on "Reno" when you're kickin' it and doing great stuff or other days where you're not involved and you're just sitting in the trailer, just waiting for things to happen and it's hot and you're in a bad location. Otherwise, you could be working on a cartoon with great friends. I do like being on a set - that is fun. I have to say that that's the most excitement I get. When I get to ride around in a cop car with Kenny Rogers in the front seat and make up dialogue, it's hard to beat that. It's hard to beat that when Cedric and I are in the car and we've got some chemistry going and we're just cracking up and getting paid for it. Shooting a fake gun, watching things blow up - that's also fun.
What was different about doing the film "Reno 911: Miami" vs. doing "Reno: 911!" the show?
Location, location, location. As opposed to being in Sun Valley in July, we were in Miami Beach. Our trailers literally had sand coming into them. We also had real mustaches instead of fake ones. It was a bigger, broader production. Different uniforms, Mustangs, high-definition cameras, we blew up a whale - the budget was bigger. Things on the set didn't change - we're on location for "Reno" anyway so it's like being on a movie set.
Do you prefer working with scripted or improv comedy?
The improv stuff gives you so much freedom. Ryan Stiles is going to be in the second half of Season 5. He plays a cop who is trying to teach us how to act so we can go under cover. Just working with him and making up dialogue with him was fantastic. It's so fun to improv.
The following answers are not from Carlos Alazraqui. For a brief period, The Review was able to speak to his character - Deputy Garcia himself.
Who are you going to vote for in the upcoming election?
I like small men with power. I know John [McCain], he's been to hell and back. I know he went to the bad place over there in Viethurang, or whatever you call it. I go to the bad place every day in Reno so I know he shares my feelings. I'd definitely vote for John McCain.
How would you feel if Barack Obama won the election?
Well, he is half white so I'm OK with it, I guess.
And Hillary Clinton?
Hillary? Well, I'm used to women with power. Clementine Johnson, in bed, when we got together she always took the top so I don't really mind too much a woman with power.
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