Bobcat Goldthwait does not like doing standup comedy much anymore. He says it feels too much like boxing.
”It`s the hecklers,” Goldthwait explained. ”I think people really expect homophobic, women-bashing, flag-waving, rhetoric-spewing comics.”
As an alternative, the veteran comedian has been making movies. Recently he wrapped up ”Shakes the Clown,” an IRS Media production that Goldthwait describes as ”the finest alcoholic-clown movie ever made.” Goldthwait wrote and directed ”Shakes” and has the title role. Ann Luly, ”my better half,” as Goldthwait calls her, produced it.
The synopsis reflects Goldthwait`s wonderfully twisted mentality.
”All these birthday party clowns hang out in a bar in Palookaville called the Twisted Balloon,” he said. ”They talk shop and complain about how they hate kids, and they wish they were on TV.”
Other comedians in the cast include Tom Kenny, Jack Gallagher, Jeremy Kramer, Kathy Griffin (a member of the Groundlings), Dan Spencer and Paul Kozlowski. All were in ”The Making of Bikini School III,” Goldthwait`s first film.
Greg Travis and Bruce Baum play rodeo clowns in ”Shakes.”
”Birthday party clowns don`t hang out with rodeo clowns,” Goldthwait said. ”And no one hangs out with the mimes. Clowns really hate the mimes.”
Florence Henderson makes a cameo appearance as a clown`s ”one-night stand,” and Julie Brown of MTV is Shakes` love interest, an aspiring professional bowler.
”She was great,” Goldthwait said. ”We had her tied to a wheel for eight hours.”
