Coming Home

Comedian Thai Rivera will use shows in Scottsdale as material for his first DVD.

By Alexis Getscher

Photo by Jerome Duchange

Native Son

Comedian Thai Rivera returns to Arizona for shows that will be part of his first DVD

It's his love for Arizona that keeps Los Angeles-based comedian Thai Rivera coming back to his home state.

It's also why he selected his upcoming shows in Scottsdale as the place where he will be recorded for his first DVD.

Rivera will perform Jan. 27 and 28 at Stand Up Scotttsdale.

"Not to sound cheesy, but I love Arizona and am very proud to be from Arizona," the out comedian said during a telephone interview. "So, of course, that's where I'd want my first DVD to be shot. It's home."

Although the state gets bad press for its conservative politics, Rivera said he selected Arizona for the filming because he believes there are plenty of "progressive, open minded thinkers trying to make a difference. And that's part of who, throughout my career, I want to represent."

Rivera has made a name for himself performing on Logo TV's One Night Stand Up, appearing in the movie Dirty Jokes and regularly performing at The Laugh Factory in Hollywood.

Rivera moved with his family from Casa Grande to Phoenix, where he attended Trevor Browne High School, but he dropped out after his freshman year. "It just wasn't for me, I got tired of it," he said.

Rivera moved to Las Vegas, then back to Arizona. One night he said he was being silly with friends and making them laugh. He said he thought to himself, "Ya know, maybe I should do this for a living." He went to an open mic night and has been doing stand-up ever since.

Photo courtesy of ThaiRivera.com

Rivera said much of his routine comes from everyday life. He also addresses things he gets asked about, especially in some of the places he called "redneck rooms" where he's worked.

"Some places I go, even Arizona people just stare at me, so I usually try to think to myself like, ‘OK what do these people probably want to know, what would they ask me if they were to come up to me?' Rivera said. "So I just try to answer those questions."

Rivera said his sexuality hasn't caused any issues, but he sometimes feels that the gay community doesn't understand him and considers him as self-hating or too harsh.

"That's one of the things I notice," he said. "Like sometimes I think if you're a little bit too honest about what goes on in the gay community, it almost makes gay people uncomfortable because they feel like you're airing out dirty laundry."

Rivera said when he returns to Arizona he enjoys eating Mexican food and Indian fry bread or frequenting Pete's Fish and Chips.

But most of all he returns to the state because many of his friends and family members are here.

"I came out in Arizona, so some of the people that were there at the beginning when I was a scared little boy ... are still my friends to this day and it's nice to sometimes be around people who know you that well and for that long," Rivera said.

"And as far as missing my family goes, I have what would probably be the most supportive and loving family anybody could wish for and they are all absolutely hilarious, so I can't really go more than a couple of months without being close to them," he said.

Rivera said he eventually would like to get married, move back to Arizona and start a family.

"Right now, I don't really have time for that because of the amount of time and focus starting a career in show business requires, but eventually that's what I'd like to concentrate on," he said. -E

VITAL STATISTICS

Thai Rivera
7 and 9 p.m. Jan. 27 and 28
Stand Up Scottsdale
6820 E. Fifth Ave., Scottsdale
Tickets: $15
standupscottsdale.com