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RODNEY BENGSTON "The Comic Who Was Born To Behave" As a reporter and editor for Sun Newspapers and winner of three Cleveland Press Club awards for public service reporting, Rodney Bengston has come to the conclusion that he can now best serve the public by making them laugh. But what does a nice, middle class guy who has always listened to his mother have to say? That was decided when he started to talk about his nice, middle class family, who happens to be nuts! In a nice way, of course... "In junior high, my sister made doubly sure that she did her sewing project right," he says. "She made so doubly sure that her pants had two crotches in them. That's either the start of a comedy routine or therapy, and comedy is much cheaper. Besides, I have an extreme fear of leather couches." As a reporter, columnist and editor, Rodney has seen it all. His interview subjects have ranged from a former astronaut and top government officials to a 100-year-old woman. By the way, the 100-year-old woman offered some sage advice when he asked her how one gets to be 100. "Don't get married," she said which put a smile on his mother's face. So why did Rodney choose comedy as a career rather than rubbing shoulders with politicians? "Hey, I like to say and do funny things, but in the political arena the competition is too tough. Besides, a former Oklahoma official once said that ‘Politics is show business for ugly people.' And I'm a looker! OK, maybe I'm not, but whoever said they wanted to go out with an ugly guy?" A recent police blotter item that Rodney was investigating had a DUI suspect having this exchange with an officer: "Sir, have been drinking tonight?" "Officer. I've had more to drink tonight than you've had in your life." "Obviously, this guy was no Einstein," Rodney says. "I don't think Clarence Darrow would be able to get this guy off. Just think what trouble he would be in if aggravated stupidity was a charge. That's just a short sampling of the stuff Rodney has seen while working as a journalist, but don't expect to hear about too many BIG sins of Rodney: "How can I get crazy?" he asks. "I'm being stalked by my parents. Remember, I'm the comic who was born to behave." So what is Rodney doing to achieve his comedy dreams? "Hey, I'll perform anywhere," he brags. "Besides comedy clubs, I performed at a convention, libraries, a sheep barn , restaurants and conference rooms. In the future, I'm hoping to perform at numerous places with all kinds of wild women. Just don't tell my Mom, OK?" |