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4 Carrot Top In concert. Humor i America's newest funny man is coming to Columbia and we've got the dirt. BEN PILLOW Asst. Fetures Editor From his days as a marketing major at Florida Atlantic University to features in Rolling Stone and People magazine, comedian Carrot Top says he comes up with new material in the simplest way he knows? visiting fabric stores ("They have material, it's easy"). America's favorite Wendy's girl look-alike will be performing at the Township Auditorium this Friday night at 8 p.m. If his live show is anything like his telephone interview act, it will become a continuing smorgasbord of rambunctious observations and plays off words, finding humor in questions as cut and dry as "How do you come up with new material?" Whether a natural gift or Carrot Top's admission to his interviewer that he had been drinking remains trivial. A quick tongue and knack for turning even the most common everyday occurrences into hilarious episodes enhanced with self-conjured props have established Carrot Top, or Scott Thompson, as one of today's most sought-after comedians. Thompson describes his entertaining thought process as observational. 1 try to make it topical enough to relate to a lot of people's lives," Thompson said. "Say a dog humps your leg, right, everyone has had a dog try and hump their leg. Well Fll come up with a pair of jeans with some handlebars on the waist so the dog has something to hold on to." Current events, likewise, play a big part in Thompson's act Take for dal. Thompson describes a possible prop of a briefcase with a hand coming out of it so the senator could cop a quick feel as he walks by a female co-worker. A native of Cocoa Beach, Fla., Thompson said his biggest break came four years ago on "Fox Network's Comic Strip Live," followed by his appearance on "The Tonight Show," which "let me get to the entire world." From there the shocking red hair and Thompson's reputation only grew, as he filled spots on the "Live With Regis and Kathie Lee," MTVs "Half Hour Comedy Hour" and "Spring Break Special," Comedy Central's "Politically Incorrect," thel994 Jerry Lewis Telethon, A&Fs "Evening at the Improv" and "Comedy on the Road." While Thompson said his mane has always had something to do with his act, he has never intended it to take centerstage. "I think my good looks have always been the center of my act," Thompson said. "No, my hair has Wm I Jpj -f# n a box always been a basic part of it, but I don't like to rely on it..ifs just a part < of me. "A lot of comics who are overweight do fat jokes, but I don't do a lot on my hair," Thompson said. The travel, over 200 days a year _ according to Thompson, is at once the most fun and most difficult aspect of his profession. "I get to see a lot of different things, a lot of different places and a lot of people laugh," Thompson said. "I work in a very happy environment and thafs pretty cool." But, at the same time it can also be very taxing. "It's fun, but it kills you. That and the fact that people confuse me with Brad Pitt all the time," Thompson said. And is he surprised at the magnitude of his own success? "Every day," Thompson said. "Tm surprised I'm not digging a ditch somewhere." ^ Friday's show will be Thompson's third appearance at Township, ^ after having recently performed in ^ Columbia September 5 during a ben- a' efit at the Comedy House. & As for Thompson's influences ^ (other than marijuana), he named Jonathan Winter, George Carlin ^ and Gary Shandling. But, Thomp- ^ son says he never wanted to imitate anyone. ^ "If s more of a combination of all ^ the people," Thompson said. "Every- n one was doing the same thing and o I just tried to do something differ- n ent.' n That "something different" in- s] eludes numerous travel trunks full w of absurd props, which Thompson . V normally construct himself, that t< it card machine attached for O.J. b Simpson's lawyers to slippers with ej bumpers for those nighttime excursions. n One important key to Thompson's act is that it really is not an I' act at all. P "Tm pretty much the same on- ^ stage as off" Thompson said. "That works for me. I'm just a lot sexier * onstage. Tm better looking from far away." When he's not coming up with new jokes and inventions for his a show, Thompson said he likes Us tening to music, snowboarding in the winter and throwing rocks at rollerbladers (1 hate rollerbladers," Thompson conceded). The Cartoon Network has just \ signed the "endearing mass of orange curls and hyperactivity," ac- ' cording to the Montreal Gazette, as host of a new morning show, Carrot Top's A.M. Mayhem, that will de- 4but Oct. 9 from 7-9 a.m. A book and movie are also in the works. ETC. m CHRIS DIXON Assistant Features Editor many exism is alive and well, just ask any may ^ ^ woman who has had to pay more are^f than a man for a haircut or dry cleaning. According to Elizabeth wome L McAlhany, president of the Women's P?w?r ^ Student Association, sexism can be ^ found in everything from simple ^ oversights such as cat-calling and ^ a 1 i men calling women "girls", to more a ot 0 ^ serious subjects such as women's fle!vai health issues and sexual assault. table. "Women's health issues get ignored," she said. "Not Ac aough money is allotted for research strictly for women's _ ealth problems. Sexual assault is looked over by law B J nforcement and the medical world. It's not a priori- II f to end it. Other crimes are focused on more. The Ml ates aren't decreasing and nothing seems to be done bout it. Sexual assault can take away a woman's selfsteem. If s physically dangerous and emotionally dan- [f3VI erous. It's repulsive that it's looked over." Men are not the only ones with sexist views. Women 3S H rho are still tied to the 1950's idea of the nuclear famy can also perpetrate sexism. tlliy "Women who are still tied to traditional gender roles md to have a lot of resentment towards feminism," IcAlhany said. "That's dangerous towards the move- fifm lent. If one group is trying to move forward and anther group is trying to hold them back, then no one if y? lakes any ground. If they are happy being home- J lakers that's fine, but don't push it on me. Women bould have the choice to do what they want. If they MU rant to stay home and be a homemaker, that's fine. Whatever makes a woman happy." ) the workforce may find opportunities for success, ut success for working women doesn't come all too , jsfly. ened< "Women have almost the same opportunities as rms(??r len," McAlhany said. "Women may have to work a as ^ cimroi ny bit harder, but the opportunities are there. m sure there are situations where there is unequal * ( ay, but if you see it happening, you have to do some- s^e sa ling about it." about All women need to be successful in the workforce "J?11re drive and ambition, two qualities in women that about ave been frowned upon in the past. wai^J "When women are aggressive and go into the work>rce it is looked down upon," McAlhany said. "There JPf3 ? ren't always the same opportunities, but there are & ^ p AMY HAZELWOOO L/?vf\rrc ^uscCom li Jl I 1 wl gift from a group of ^ W CD and McKissick Mi a free concert "Sis f norfnrm nf TTSfl's 1 f" 1^ Thursday, Septem 1IC OVJUUL1 ;svt/s?I^e part of the South "Sisters of the South," a four member female a capeUa grou p, show8 that .eSincoajunctii Southern History is all In Folk Crafts in Sou the way that it's sung fe,m the Atlanta) "We really wai of the South' here lation to the Hani Deanna Kerrigar seum Director at 1 seum. The touring sir -r I Anita I I- ; I The Gamecock HlOlfll ASSM women who become successful. Some women natural duty e afraid to push and to be aggressive. Women Teopled raid to speak up and say This is what I want'." they are ass Alhany said politics is another area where more the idea thai n need to get involved. If more women were in should have ful political positions, then more attention would and they doi en to women's issues. With all < omen need equal representation," she said. "There hany said be ot of men who do care about women's rights and vantage, f women who don't. If women had more repre- "It'sdiscc ion, then more women's issues would get on the gret being a you get out ii cording to McAlhany, many people are fright- as Fm telling field of worn MM MM WL hesitant abo UllMrN you^r I mm W organization ' MM W W ualAssault e almost the same opportunities lien. Women may have to work a discuss worn bit harder, but the opportunities It's not excli xu > XX. u they don't w uicre. i in sure uicre are si ma- give it a cha s where there is unequal pay, but w?m^ )u see it happening, you have to al?ngway> ?rr ? women are i i something about it. "Everyone ? m :l * I !1 AIMI: MI k'BI SlSSfto PRESIDENT OF THE WOMEN'S STUDENT ASSOCIATION m iway from the women's movement because of t^e onportu iceptions of feminism, including stereotypes such feminists hate men and all feminists are female ^ ^.n mists. Accordini sncourage people to think about women's roles," ... wv>^ id. "Don't let a word scare you off from learning ^ wc women's roles. I try to be fair. I don't dislike 8m?A 1 * f, When women make universal generalizations , d "V men, it hurts everyone. My approach is that I f esai ' , equality, not female superiority." 8 hen women achieve power, whether it be in pol- , on* J r in the workforce, they are seen in a negative * _ e . tecause they are thought to be going against their sa^and Staff Writer ditional gospel, bluegrass, and Ap ? - - nolopViian mnnntain music. The gTOUD nunity win receive a ? Southern folk singers is made up of four different ensembles: lseum in the form of a four-member gospel a capella group ters of the South" will named DVine, a five-member bluegrass Longstreet Theater band called The New Coon Creek Girls, iber 21 at 7 p.m. and a story-teller and Appalachian balSouth" performs as ladeer named Sheila Kay Adams, ern Arts Fedration, D'Vine, a group which originated in ifferent Southern Cul- Atlanta, relates the history of African The USC concert at American slavery through songs origied by McKissick Mu- nally sung by slaves, and explains how mi with "Handed On: the songs pertained to slave life. The a thern Life" exhibition capella group began their singing in Sistory Center. church choirs, and their style depicts ited to bring "Sisters traditional African American gospel. i because of their re- The New Coon Creek Girls, estabied On' exhibit," said lished in 1979, is one of the only female i, the Assistant Mu- bluegrass bands heard today. The group JSCs McKissick Mu- plays bluegrass much like their predecessors, The Coon Creek Girls, who pertgers will perform tra- formed in the 1930s throughout Ohio Thursday, September 21,1995 you've heard about Hill and Clarence is, but how much u really know about EOT r. on't understand powerful women because ertiveMcAlhany said. "It goes against t women should be nurturers and women maternal instinct. They don't understand l't know how to deal with it." )f the forces of sexism hard at work, McAl ling a woman does not put her at a disadluraging sometimes," she said. "I don't rewoman. I know things are different once lto the real world. I hope I can be as strong r everyone else to be. I want to go into the en's studies and a lot of universities are ut that. When you believe in something, it. Get involved with forces of change." done a good job dealing with sexism through is such as Women Student Services, SexPrograms, and Women's Student Associding to McAlhany, Women's Student Aslot extremely radical or politically driven, ice where women can come together and en's issues," she said. "Men are welcome, isive. A lot of women are put off because rant to be feminist. I wish people would nee and stop by. It's just a place where ;ome together and learn." iv said the women's movement has come but equality will not be achieved until v ecognized as equals in the workforce and e has to realize that men and women should 3 equals," she said. "Women should have do whatever thev want. All npnnle Hpsptvp ization to get women upset and to protest ley don't understand. I want them to have nity to learn things and formulate their 3 about the way things should be. People k about what their stand is going to be." I to McAlhany, sexism will never go away men and men acknowledge there is a probwomen fail to acknowledge the problem," ftien they acknowledge it, they accept it it's the way it's always been. Don't get Stand up for yourself. Men shouldn't act jlem doesn't exist. Be aware of what you n if what you do is sexist. Think of what do. Don't ignore the problem." and Kentucky. The New Coon Creek Girls play unusual instruments such as the slawhammer banjo and the stringed Spanish dobro. Together they create exuberant bluegrass music with a country sound. Sheila Kay Adams, a seventh-generation singer from Sodom, N.C., sings ballads and tells stories cf the Appalachian Mountains, both talents she learned from her great aunt. Adams'vocal style is strong and unadorned, and she also nlowa a flvo o+i-incr hnnin with fl Hrnn JS1UJ0 U "?V WV* " **? ? ? "f thumb style known as "clawhammer." She can be seen playing in the 1992 feature film release "Last of the Mohicans." For more information regarding "Sisters of the South" or the "Handed On" exhibit, contact McKissick Museum, at i 803-777-7251.