Carrot Top, “The King of Props”. Comedy in Las Vegas 2.0
In this edition dedicated to Las Vegas personalities, we present the story of one of Las Vegas’ longest-running comedians: Carrot Top. Born in 1965 in Rockledge, Florida, Carrot Top—whose real name is Scott Thompson—made his debut on the Las Vegas stage in the 1990s, armed with an arsenal of bizarre and ever-changing props and a shocking orange hairstyle. Over the course of his nearly 40-year career, the comedian has created an original brand of humor full of self-deprecation, physical comedy, and crazy inventions that have made him a legend on the Strip.
Carrot Top
Early years
Scott attended high school in Cocoa, Florida. He was a funny guy who loved to play the drums. Many people wonder how he got the nickname that made him famous. Well, the nickname “Carrot Top” was given to him by a local swimming coach, referring to his red hair, which would become one of his distinctive features throughout his life. After high school, he attended Florida Atlantic University, where he began dabbling in stand-up comedy in his freshman year. Although his performance was not appreciated by his classmates, he did not lose hope and instead prepared well for his second appearance. Soon after, he quit his regular job to pursue a career in comedy.
Entering the world of comedy
Carrot Top rose to fame in 1991 when he appeared on Comic Strip Live. During that time, he also appeared on the television show Star Search. He then made appearances in various films, which increased his visibility and popularity.
Las Vegas at Carrot Top’s feet
Since 2005, Carrot Top has been headlining at MGM Resorts International in Las Vegas. Since late 2005, he has had a permanent comedy show at the Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas. What people liked and found very original was that his comedy routine usually includes dozens of props stored in large trunks on stage, and his jokes usually consist of taking out a prop, describing it in a single sentence, and throwing it away. He usually ends his show with a musical montage synchronized with his lip movements.
The originality of his shows caught on with audiences, who filled the theaters. The “King of Props” comedy show perfectly blends pop culture, music, and current events into an ever-evolving, laugh-filled show. Audiences can be sure they won’t see the same show twice.
From his humble beginnings on the comedy circuit to his star-studded appearances on “The Tonight Show,” Carrot Top’s journey has been truly extraordinary. “When I started touring early in my career, I had two trunks and a strobe light,” Carrot Top says on his website, carrottop.com. “Things got pretty crazy pretty fast, and before I knew it, I had a crew touring the country in an 18-wheeler with 35 trunks full of props.”
TV appearances and talk shows
Over the years, he has appeared on numerous talk shows and comedy series, including Larry the Cable Guy’s Christmas Spectacular, Criss Angel Mindfreak, Scrubs, Politically Incorrect, Reno 911!, and many others. In addition, he has starred in various films, including Chairman of the Board, The Weakest Link, The Aristocrats, Family Guy, and The Hangover.
Carrot Top
Epilogue
In the world of comedy, making people laugh with jokes and funny stories is commonplace, but doing the same thing using props is unconventional. Carrot Top not only excelled in this art, but was also an unparalleled stand-up comedian in this genre. All of his shows feature extravagant props used with such perfection that it only takes a few seconds for the audience to burst into laughter.
After decades in the business, Carrot Top continues to draw crowds at the Luxor Hotel and Casino, proving that the city’s audience still appreciates Vegas’s irreverent and unique brand of laughter.
Sources: bestoflasvegas.com, wikipedia, the famous people.com, carrottop.com
