If you see a pink RV driving through Michigan sometime around May 21 – the day out comedians Shann Carr and her sidekick Ken Cypert stop at Stiletto's – then please, keep going.
"It's overwhelming the amount of smiles and nods and stares and thumbs up that we are getting on the road," says Carr. "There is always a slowdown around us. A gangster at a bus stop yesterday yelled, 'Your ride is slammin', baby!' Ken curtsied."
The pair is shooting a reality series, "Out for Laughs: The Land Cruise," about working the gay entertainment circuit. During their 90-day expedition, they'll post short webisodes at http://www.shanncarr.com and then pitch a six-episode pilot series to the big gay three: Bravo, here! and Logo. We caught up with Carr for a quick chat about their weird road-trip, which so far has included a haunted hotel room, Elvis and lots of Walmarts.
What's been the most wild stop so far?
We've only made one stop so far and that was Vegas Gay Pride. We met two Elvises, one nice and one sort of creepy, lecherous Elvis. The creepy Elvis kept touching me inappropriately while explaining erectile dysfunction and the benefits of Viagra. Like I care.
Tell me your best story from the road.
When the hotel room we'd had comped in Vegas wouldn't take our dog we were immediately met with the kindness of strangers. Within minutes, someone had offered us bedrooms and somewhere to park the RV. As we entered the house they mentioned that the ghost of grandpa, who killed himself recently, and grandma, who had died in the house right after that, had been exorcised by a coven of witches the week before. They assured us there was no reason to be afraid … anymore.
Within the hour, Sandra, our camera girl, had accused the resident ghosts of stealing and then later replacing her gear. At 2 a.m. Ken awoke to the loud chanting of "the power of Christ compels you" over and over again. He bolted from his bed, tore off his bedazzled sleep mask and listened intently until he figured out that the hearing impaired resident was watching "The Exorcist" at 50 decibels. We figured they'd exorcised the ghosts and now they were trying to get rid of the comedians!
What's the intention of this reality show?
We are making a show about what it is really like out on the road for people working on the gay entertainment circuit. It's truly unlike any other entertainer's experience. There are obstacles and benefits that are entirely specific to this niche. My favorite benefit is that no matter where you arrive, you are already part of that community at a visceral level as another 'mo. For that reason alone, the way you get to experience the places you pass through is so remarkably intimate.
How does this trip compare to the gay cruises you've done?
The first big difference is that instead of getting paid, I'm paying for everything. There is no buffet. The women outnumber the men, which neither Ken nor I are used to. There is no room service. There are fewer Walmarts on a gay cruise, and this RV makes my ship cabin look spacious!
What's your relationship with Ken like?
We clicked immediately. We met on a gay cruise when he was a guest and we felt easy around each other right away. We are both the kind of people who deal with stress by laughing harder the weirder things get. And let's just say we've been laughing a lot.
Who's easier to travel with: the gay guy or the dog, Beckham?
That's tough. The dog does what I tell him, but I don't have to walk Ken.
Shann Carr's Summer Comedy Tour
11 p.m. May 21
Stiletto's
1641 Middlebelt Road, Inkster
http://www.shanncarr.com
$10
