Sometimes it seems that new Twitter followers come a dime a dozen. Use a particular hashtag, and gain 10 twitter followers who are probably trying to sell you something. So when a few weeks ago I received notification that I had a new Twitter follower named Alex Cambert, my first thought was, “Eh.” But his name sounded familiar, and when I saw his profile HE looked familiar. I checked out his video and immediately knew that I had to talk to him.
Just a few days later, Alex and I were on the phone chatting away like old friends about everything under the sun. What I learned about him was that he’s gracious, intelligent, concerned about Latino issues, fully aware of his “you look so familiar status,” and yes, very funny.
See for yourself…
You look really familiar to me. Where and how do I know you?
I get that ALOT. Let’s see, gringos usually know me from Good Morning America, The Golden Globes and Emmy Awards pre-shows, Animal Planet or my appearances on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
Latinos recognize me from when I had my own late night talk show, Mas Vale Tarde con Alex Cambert or from when I hosted just about everything on Telemundo and now from a new show on Utilsima called Hogar Express.
I’ve also been on a bunch of other shows that were so small they weren’t even carried on Direct TV, they were on In-Direct TV.
OH…and you might also know me from when I was in the tabloids after I slept with Tiger Woods…but I don’t like talking about that.
We ‘met’ on Twitter. What do you think of this whole social media thing?
I LOVE IT. I think it’s fun. I’m just not sure how “social” it’s really made us. I’m hoping that all this social media hasn’t made us forget about human contact and building face to face relationships. How many times have you been out to dinner and people are on their phones TumblTweetInstaFaceFlickBeboKaboodleLinking?
I do, however, think it’s a GREAT way for younger artists to get their material out there, develop a fan base and hopefully get discovered.
For me, I’m using social media to connect with people in a different way. It’s a lot more personal, immediate and interactive than just watching me on TV.
I’m definitely using Twitter and Facebook as a way to make people laugh. I think that we could all use that these days, so I usually tweet a couple of topical jokes every day. http://twitter.com/#!/thealexcambert
Here are some of the most recent tweets.
Condoleezza Rice fires back @ Dick Cheney’s memoir saying it attacks her integrity. The rumors must be true, she never did like Dick.
Britney Spears credits her Dad for her epic comeback. By Dad she means “Zoloft”.
Scientists claim to have found the world’s oldest fossil. She was selling jewelry on QVC.
Bert & Ernie aren’t gay…they’re lesbians. C’mon they’ve worn the same outfits for 25 years.
William Levy is being called “The Cuban Brad Pitt.” They call me “The Cuban Arm Pit”
Kentucky doctor amputates man’s penis during circumcision. All the guy said was “keep the tip”.
Many Latinos nowadays don’t feel the need to know Spanish. You’re fully bilingual. Why is that important to you?
If I weren’t bilingual it would have deprived me of having a meaningful relationship with my grandparents. They would’ve just been some old people that I lived with who made spicy food, drank Cuban coffee and gave me an envelope with twenty bucks every Christmas.
On a professional level, I love the fact that I’m not limited by language. I choose the projects I like based on their relative merits and not language.
Right now for example, I’m proud of that fact that I have two shows on the air – one in English AND one in Spanish. In English, I’m one of the judges on nuvoTV’s Model Latina and in Spanish I’m on Hogar Express for Utilisima.
You are really funny! Many people ‘think’ they’re funny. When and how did you realize you had the talent it takes to pursue comedy?
Thanks. There wasn’t an epiphany that made me realize I’m funny, it was a gradual process. Like many children of immigrants, I started out with the dreams my parents had for me until I realized that those weren’t my dreams.
I was in college and I helped start an improv troupe and I REALLY liked it. It was fun. I felt like I was being “me” up on stage and not trying to live up to my parents expectations. Finally, there came a point, when I knew this was my path and it was right for me. I’ve never once regretted it.
That’s right people, I can get all Deepak Chopra on your ass!
Many Latinos are upset about Katt Williams’ comments about Mexicans. What, if anything, is too much when it comes to comedy?
I think we can pretty much rule out that he’ll be hosting the ALMA Awards anytime soon. Listen, his comments were insensitive and insulting. You also have to consider the source. I mean, my smartphone is smarter than he is. He got heckled, he overreacted and went off on the guy. Then, the media takes hold of the story and we’re off to the races. It’ll be in the news until one of the Kardashians farts and then we’ll all be obsessed with that.
When will we see you host a network talk show?
You’re guess is as good as mine. It’s really not up to me, you’ve got to ask the networks that question. The first order of business is convincing the networks that there’s an audience out there for what I do. So, I just ask people to watch this clip.
If you like it, post a comment and join me on Facebook and Twitter. I think if enough people do that, then eventually the networks will take notice and have to provide programming that speaks to all audiences.
What does Being Latino mean to you?
I once heard someone say that being Latino was looking in the mirror and seeing all those that came before them. Ok, if I look in a mirror and see all those people, I know I’m either dead, starring in a M Night Shyamalan movie or I’m at my cousin Maria’s house (She freaks me out. Don’t ask).
Seriously, being latino is hard to describe in words. I definitely know I’m Latino when I hear the rhythms of a guaganco and my hips start shaking like a Cuisinart set on “puree” or when I smell ropa vieja and my stomach starts grumbling like Mt St Helens.
Quite simply, it’s something intangible that’s inextricably linked to the deepest part of who I am.
About Libby Juliá-Vázquez