If you go
› What: Rod Man› Where: The Comedy Catch, 1400 Market St.› When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Feb. 14-17; 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday› Admission: $25› Phone: 423-629-2233
Rod ManYou might think that after winning "Last Comic Standing," as Rod Man did on Season 8 four years ago, that the hard work might have been behind him.
Not so, he says in a telephone interview.
"It's work, work, work. I'm just out here working, trying to get better," he says.
"It's a journey that never stops."
Since his win, Rod Man has been a regular at the Comedy Catch at the Chattanooga Choo Choo, and he is bringing his "Truth Be Told" show there this weekend.
"It will set you free," he says. "I'm bringing the funny."
Rod Man began his career in Atlanta, and says his show is very Southern in its approach.
"We are all just sittin'. That's what we do. It's like we are just sittin' around talkin' on the porch with somebody cooking some meat on the grill and somebody else brings the peach cobbler.
"I bring the funny."
Work for Rod Man means traveling, doing his shows wherever he is asked, taking a few acting classes and auditioning for TV pilots. He says he recently parted ways with some of his team, likening it to a manager shuffling his starting lineup.
"I saw a quote today from Will Smith on Instagram who said 'You are either throwing logs on the fire or you are [urinating] on the fire.' I need people around me who are fanning the flames."
Rod Man has worked Caesar's Palace, The Gibson Amphitheater and The Apollo Theater, and he is currently the host of his own YouTube shows called "Time Out with Rod Man" and "That Good Funny."
He has appeared on "The Bad Boys of Comedy" for HBO, Martin Lawrence's "First Amendment" for Starz, Nick Cannon's "Wild 'N Out" for MTV, "One Mic Stand" for BET, "The Funny Spot" for TV One and "The World Stands Up" for BBC America.
His acting credits include roles in "Funny People" (2009) with Adam Sandler and Seth Rogen, "The Big Black Comedy Show, Vol. 2" (2005), and "The Chocolate Sundaes Comedy Show" (2013).
"It's all about the work and being funny," he says.
Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354.