Yo quiero comedy

Famous past students of this university include Tom Hanks, Joan Lunden and Bobby McFerrin, but they pale vocally in comparison to the well-known voice of the Taco Bell chihuahua who once pounded the pavement at good ol’ CSUS!

Even better, he (the person who does the voice, not the actual chihuahua) will perform a free show in the Outdoor Theatre. Thursday at 7:30 p.m., comedian Carlos Alazraqui will headline with additional funny men Brian Copeland, and Mike Lee and (his guide dog) the Fabulous Filbert.

Alazraqui, 36, began his stand-up comedy career during the mid-1980s when he was a CSUS student. He worked in the Bay Area and won the 1993 San Francisco International Standup Comedy Competition. Raised in Concord by Argentine-born parents, Alazraqui used the culture clash between his parents and himself for comedy material.

“It was like being raised by Charro and Ghandi,” he said.

Alazraqui also said his parents didn’t encourage him to speak Spanish because they wanted him and his siblings to assimilate into American society.

“They were afraid it would slow us down and give us accents and people would make fun of us.” All the same, Alazraqui sure knows how to say “Yo quiero Taco Bell.”

When he first auditioned for the Taco Bell commercial, he didn’t expect much to come of it. When everyone else had been trying to imitate Speedy Gonzales, Alazraqui lowered his own voice for the reading, and the rest is history.

Alazraqui can hardly believe that he’s making so much money just saying four small words. (He won’t say how much he’s making, but industry estimates are about $100,000 per year.)

“It’s stupid money, but I don’t mind spending it,” he said.

In addition to being one of America’s most famous voices, Alazraqui also invented the character of Rocko for Nickelodeon’s “Rocko’s Modern Life,” and provides voice-overs for the show.

While nobody recognizes him on sight, Alazraqui appreciates the fact that he’s a national celebrity, but only when he chooses to speak.

Now he brings to CSUS what he does best – stand-up comedy. Students will be treated to his unique brand of comedy featuring voice impressions and dialects. Come and enjoy the “Stars Under the Stars” for free this Thursday – and maybe students will hear him utter those four famous words.