LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KATV) — Known for his iconic roles in comedies like “Martin” and “The Cosby Show,” Carl Payne is bringing his comedic talents to Arkansas this weekend with several performances at The Nut House.
Payne shared a humorous encounter upon his arrival in Little Rock.
“I pulled up to a restaurant, a guy, I can’t say his name, because he might be on the run, but he had some products in his car, and I don’t know if they were all, you know, obtained legally, but he was trying to sell me some stuff out his car,” Payne said.
Payne’s shows this weekend will feature a mix of his experiences in Little Rock and his journey in comedy.
“My first 30 minutes tonight is going to be about my experience here in Little Rock,” he said.
“This weekend is me cultivating a lot of this stuff that you’ll see on the special.”
Payne, who has been transitioning from acting to stand-up comedy, explained his motivation.
“What inspired me was it scared me. It scared me. It scared me to death,” he said.
“You’re on stage naked by yourself as a comedian, you know what I mean. And there’s no script except for yours.”
Returning to The Nut House for the third time, Payne praised the venue’s owner, Nate Williams, for creating a space for comedians to thrive.
“Here’s a guy who started his own Comedy Club, right? He took matters into his own hand,” Payne said.
“He was a comedian, is a comedian, and didn’t want to have to deal with gatekeeps and all that stuff. He also provided a way for other people to come through, not only his hometown, but, you know, to a place for other talent to grow and nurture as well.”
For those eager to catch Payne’s interactive and unpredictable show, tickets are available on Eventbrite under “Carl Payne and Friends.”
The performances promise a unique experience, with Payne saying, “It’s not the same show every single time where I’m just doing the same jokes. It’s interactive now, and it’s very you know you’re involved, and you might, I might have you on stage, you never know.”