NUWU Sessions: Gabe Lopez to host first ever 'Smoke & Joke Event' in the Vegas Tasting Room
Welcome to NuWu Sessions, where we invite guests to enjoy one of our top-shelf table packages in Las Vegas' first and only cannabis consumption lounge: The Vegas Tasting Room. In today's episode, we've invited stand-up comedian Gabe Lopez to come by and get high. Read on as we discuss how Gabe started in comedy. As well as how Gabe and Ralphie May opened up "The Dirty at 12:30" comedy show and Gabe's upcoming stand-up special 'Smoke & Joke' hosted in our Vegas Tasting Room on Friday, October 14. Read through to the end to find out how to purchase tickets for the Smoke & Joke Event so you can enjoy the first-ever canna-comedy night in Las Vegas, Nevada. It's only here on NuWu Sessions, so let's get into it!
About Gabe Lopez
Gabe Lopez is a stand-up comedian who has been in the industry for over 20 years. He joined Pez Squared Entertainment in 2002 and has performed with headliners such as Charlie Murphy, Ralphie May, and John Pinnette. Since then, Gabe has settled in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he and Ralphie May opened up their own comedy show, "The Dirty at 12:30," in the South Point Casino. Gabe Lopez has also completed 14 tours in 34 different countries throughout his tenure as a comedian. Read on as we talk about how Gabe Lopez got started in comedy, what he's learned along the way, and his new comedy special, 'Joke & Smoke,' that will be hosted in our cannabis consumption lounge on Friday, October 14, 2022.
How did you get started with stand-up?
Gabe Lopez's passion for comedy was ignited when he started watching the late-night show "Comic Strip Night" on the Fox network when he was only 10 years old. The show was filmed at the Laugh Factory, where Gabe learned about comedy icons such as Jeff Dunham and George Lopez. Gabe fell in love with comedy but never imagined that he would become a performing comedian. Now 20 years later, he's still in the comedy industry, influencing new comedians and regularly giving the spotlight to icons.
Did you have a favorite stand-up special? Any influences?
As he began learning from different comedians, Gabe Lopez's most significant comedy influence was Eddie Murphy. Gabe first watched Eddie Murphy's stand-up specials called "Raw" and later on "Delirious," both solidifying him as a fan of Eddie Murphy's for life. As a child, Gabe would memorize every line from Eddie Murphy's stand-ups and recite the lines to his little sister, which would shock his parents. Gabe attributed Eddie Murphy as his reason for loving comedy. He noted that Eddie Murphy became so famous that he stopped doing stand-up after 23 years old after becoming a Hollywood sensation.
"Any comic today has an influence. The older generation has the Richard Prior and George Carlin influence, and the next generation of comics, like me, have Eddie Murphy, who is everything!" - Gabe Lopez.
Gabe also considered himself fortunate to have been able to tour with Charlie Murphy (Eddie Murphy's brother). Although he never met Eddie Murphy, he still finds it an honor to have worked with Charlie. Charlie Murphy was not only a fantastic comedian but also a "monster smoker," as Gabe Lopez jokingly puts it. Charlie Murphy and the late Ralphie May were comedy legends in their own right, and they took Gabe under their wing and showed him the ropes of the comedy industry. Gabe Lopez went on tour with both of these comedians, who taught him how to consume cannabis along the way.
Cannabis & the comedy scene
Are you an avid cannabis user yourself?
Gabe Lopez is an avid cannabis smoker but doesn't consider himself an aggressive cannasseur. Instead, for him, consuming cannabis is "take it or leave it." Gabe Lopez is more of a circumstantial cannabis consumer. Depending on who's handing him the blunt, he may say yes or no. And circumstantially, the first three comedians who handed him cannabis were Charlie Murphy, Ralphie May, and Ron White.
Gabe Lopez did mention that though he consumes circumstantially, during COVID, everything changed for him. Since the world had shut down, he and his friends would spend their time in his backyard, smoking cannabis constantly because there was nothing else to do for almost 15 months.
Gabe Lopez brought his parents to NuWu Cannabis Marketplace long before their partnership for the Smoke & Joke comedy night. Gabe's father has arthritis and often buys topical lotions to soothe his pain. Gabe also noted that the cannabis industry moves fast since now there are even products for pets. A few years ago, it was rare to find any cannabis outside what the local dealers would sell, which was limited to edibles and flower.
Who are some of your favorite local comedians?
Gabe mentions many comedians who should be significant headliners but haven't received their acclaim yet. He says the L.A. comedy scene is phenomenal despite the assumption that New York has the best comedy spots. Gabe noted that his favorite local comedians are Chris Porter, Greg Wilson, Cory & Chag, & D.J. Cooch. He mentions that they are all fantastic entertainers who will be great headliners when the time comes. Brad Williams is another comedian that, according to Gabe, "Should be a rockstar, and he's getting there, but he should be so much bigger than he is."
How does it make you feel to have so much loyalty in the comedy industry?
Gabe Lopez has gained the loyalty and following of renowned comedians by being a man of his word. He knows he's following the right path so long as he doesn't cheat or mislead anyone. For example, even when it comes to a show not performing as well as Gabe thought it would. He will still pay the performers precisely what he promised, and he is willing to accept the struggles that may come with those choices.
Gabe Lopez takes great pride in maintaining his reputation as an honorable comedian. He understood that he needed to uphold his reputation when he first decided to stop touring across the country and settle down in Las Vegas.
"I live by this; I believe good people attract good people, just do your part." - Gabe Lopez.
After touring for so long, he was exhausted. He soon started to disdain staying in hotel rooms, traveling constantly, and never staying in a city for long. He was trying to figure out, "Where can I go where I can have a show, where the world comes to me, and I can still get to sleep in my bed?" and his answer was Las Vegas, the entertainment capital of the world.
The Dirty at 12:30
Origins of The Dirty at 12:30
"The Dirty at 12:30" is a weekly late-night stand-up comedy show on Friday nights at the South Point Hotel and Casino. The show is hosted and produced by Gabe Lopez, who features comedians from around the world. The show has been around for 10 years (which is rare to see any show last that long in Las Vegas), and Gabe personally considers it a blessing.
"The Dirty at 12:30" show has an excellent reputation within the comedy world. Many comedians have gone to do a set at The Dirty, such as Joe Rogan, Roy Wood JR., Carlos Mencia, Chris D'elia, and Christopher Titus. Gabe notes that comedians from other casinos often collect their pay and do a set at the Dirty at midnight.
Gabe Lopez takes great pride in the shows he produces, even the opening acts, arguably one of the most brutal acts to perform in comedy shows. He will make sure to place the strongest opening acts he can find.
Gabe Lopez considers his openers "headliners that you haven't heard of yet." He says that they should be famous and are ridiculously talented. Still, they have not made it yet, and Gabe provides them the opportunity to keep putting the work in.
Before reaching the 10th anniversary with The Dirty at 12:30, how did you get to where you are now?
Gabe Lopez worked for the U.S.O. long before The Dirty was a concept. The U.S.O. is a private organization that provides services to boost morale for those enlisted in the military. Through the U.S.O., Gabe Lopez completed 14 tours in 34 countries, which broadened his views on comedy as he traveled worldwide to dangerous and beautiful places. After touring globally and learning from audiences of all walks of life, Gabe Lopez honed his comedic skills. But he soon grew tired of constant travel, which led to his decision to stay planted and expand his network in Las Vegas.
How did you get Dirty at 12:30? Did you bring the idea to the table?
Over 10 years ago, Gabe Lopez struggled as a comedian and was preparing himself to retire from the industry. He couldn't find any gigs, he wasn't getting booked at any shows, and many headliners already had openers or didn't want a challenging opener. At the time, Gabe Lopez was transitioning to more vigorous comedy routines. He struggled to get acts, so he lost hope and was ready to retire. Then a mutual friend of his and Ralphie May went to Ralphie and mentioned that Gabe was getting ready to retire, and Ralphie was the one who prevented it. The Dirty at 12:30 was the blessing that saved Gabe Lopez's career.
Ralphie May then planned a meeting with the representatives from South Point Casino. He pitched the idea to create a stand-up show with Gabe Lopez as the host that would have a Vegas vibe. It would be called "The Dirty at 12:30," with a 3-month trial period to see if it will work. Ralphie believed in the concept so much that he attached his name to the venture for credibility. Ralphie May pitched the show as " a way to liberate fellow comedians who are really 'dirty' and created an audience of "Dirty Birds" who wanted to see the dark side of comedy." Now, 10 years later, the show is proving to be a massive success!
Since you've been hosting Dirty at 12:30 for 10 years, do you keep yourself refreshed? How do you keep the show entertaining?
Gabe Lopez attributes the success of "The Dirty at 12:30" to his fan's loyalty. At the show's beginning, Gabe Lopez will shout, "Dirty Birds." The casino will then erupt with applause because the audience knows they're in for a great time. Gabe mentions that he now has fans that come to visit from around the world, like Australia and Europe. Those fans will make it a yearly tradition to go back and catch a show at "The Dirty;" that loyalty fuels Gabe Lopez.
The show's success also comes from how Gabe Lopez can maneuver the legalities of not offending people while making the audience laugh and keep the show going. He mentions that at the beginning of The Dirty, attorneys had to get involved and create a disclaimer that would prevent anyone wealthy and sensitive from potentially suing or shutting down "The Dirty." Gabe Lopez turned the mandatory disclaimer into a performance in which the audience would be involved.
The show is recorded, and at the beginning, when Gabe Lopez says, "If you're easily offended, then…" the fans are encouraged to shout, "Get the F*** out of here!" That routine allows Gabe Lopez to keep his show running while also setting the expectation that audiences will get to hear the raunchiest, dirtiest jokes.
What inspires you to keep doing it 10 years later?
Gabe Lopez's only answer is "the crowds." So long as they're excited and filling seats because they want to see Gabe Lopez, there's no turning back. As well as supporting other comedians as they rise through the ranks like Jo Koi filling up T-Mobile Arena, Bill Burr filling up Fenway Park, and Gabriel Iglesias performing at the Dodgers Stadium. He mentions that several comedians like Jo Koi and Russel Peters have golden reputations. They're always trying to help other comedians in whatever way they can.
What are the future goals for Dirty at 12:30?
Taping and producing specials is the next stage of growth for The Dirty at 12:30. Gabe Lopez now has between 30-40 comedians under his label. His goal is to produce a series of specials that gives these new comedians a chance to perform. Gabe plans to create a line-up of comedians based on their talents and give them enough show time to showcase their best work in comedy.
Over the years, Gabe Lopez has gained many connections to creative personalities. Gabe now has access to sound technicians, film directors, lighting producers, and videographers. Now they can help create content that can evolve into the new social media generation.
The Future of Comedy
Advice for the next generation of stand-up comics?
Gabe Lopez encourages all comics to perform at his show, particularly the new and local comedians, to hang out and learn at his show. He mentions that because there aren't any 'comedy schools,' young comedians should instead go to the comedy arena and learn from the professionals who perform.
"My job is not to create a comedy show. My job is to create fans of comedy." - Gabe Lopez.
Gabe considers it his job to introduce the new generation of comedians beyond the acclaimed Joe Rogan & Dave Chapelle comedians. His goal is to help lift and support the new comedians so that they can get the opportunity to prove themselves.
Gabe also mentions that if you have peers in your industry, support them and don't bring them down. He believes that we should always help one another in any industry. And he states that "the biggest problem in any industry is there's always someone trying to bring you down!"
First-ever “Smoke & Joke” comedy night event
Now, the moment we've been waiting for! Let's go over the details of the first-ever cannabis comedy night, "Smoke & Joke," hosted in the Vegas Tasting Room on October 14. Gabe Lopez promises that the show will be uncensored, and audiences are encouraged to be open-minded as comedians bring their darkest material to the stage.
The headliner for the first show is Trixx. He is a Canadian comedian who just won the Boston Comedy Festival and only recently moved to Las Vegas. Gabe Lopez knows that Trixx has the talent to be at the level of Dave Chapelle in the upcoming years.
This will be the first game-changing show where comedians and the audience can legally and freely consume cannabis while the show is happening! The tickets will only be $40, and you must purchase at least 2 cannabis products to enjoy the show. After all, what's a cannabis comedy night without cannabis?
Conclusion
To conclude, Gabe Lopez is an extraordinary veteran in the comedy scene, and he highlights the best talent in the industry. If you're interested in catching a show at "The Dirty at 12:30," just click on the link for more details.
Don't forget to purchase your tickets for the Smoke & Joke event, and we can't wait to laugh with you on October 14. We'll see you then!
