Paul Rodriguez

Comic Paul Rodriguez does time on stage in one of America's toughest prisons, Marin County's San Quentin, for his Fox special tonight, "Paul Rodriguez: Behind Bars." The one-hour docu-comedy mixes prison yard interviews with footage from a stand-up concert performed for the inmates, and featuring Rodriguez, rapper Ice-T and comedian James Stephens III. "Paul Rodriguez: Behind Bars" marks the comedian's second visit to San Quentin.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger wasn't the only Hollywood celebrity shaping legislation in the state Capitol this past year. Jennifer Aniston, Paul Rodriguez and Sean Penn were among the A-listers who took on starring roles in crafting or promoting new laws. When state lawmakers enacted a measure cracking down on the paparazzi, Aniston played a key part in shaping the legislation. Landmark legislation to improve the state's water supply was pushed through under pressure from a group of Latino farmers led by actor and comedian Rodriguez.

All Paul Rodriguez wanted was a little respect. So when he was given a mere $500,000 to make his directorial debut, with a movie that conventional wisdom said at best should have been a TV film, he turned it around into a nationwide theatrical release with a star-studded cast. "The budget was so low, it was probably barely enough to cater a Steven Seagal movie," said the Chicano actor and comedian, who is probably best known for his roles in the series "a.k.a.

The skateboard street competition Thursday afternoon at the X Games had more obstacles than just rails, ramps and benches. The nine competitors also had to withstand heat that scorched the course outside Staples Center. Paul Rodriguez Jr. of Chatsworth, the event's defending champion, didn't wilt from the heat or pressure. Rodriguez, 20, performed a variety of tricks on the challenging layout to average 92.50 points and defeat Greg Lutzka of Huntington Beach (85.

Cruising down the freeway from his home in Pasadena to his production office in Hollywood, comedian Paul Rodriguez was talking about the crossroads he has encountered in his professional and personal life. "I'm doing less and less stand-up because I've been trying to get into producing and basically writing because, to be honest, I'm 38 years old and being the young, hip comic ain't going to last too much longer," he said by car phone last week.

"In my spare time I sell Tupperware. That's where I really make my money." Paul Rodriguez is only joking. Then again, given the veteran comedian's indefatigable and ambitious nature, it wouldn't come as a huge surprise if he was peddling food containers besides pursuing his many other projects. Stand-up comedian, movie producer, director, actor, talk- and game-show host, public speaker, boxing analyst (for a pay-per-view telecast of the recent De la Hoya-Chavez bout) and tireless self-promoter.

"I just got a Mexican Barbie. She comes with her own papers." "My parents left me at home and told me not to do anything they wouldn't do. So I didn't go out and get a job." Get it? Mexicans are typically illegal immigrants too lazy to hold a job. Or, if they do work, they're crammed into a pickup truck, nine-strong, puttering down the freeway in what one comic calls "the beaner lane," on the way to their next gardening job.

Comedian Paul Rodriguez's lightning wit is paralyzed. He sips a margarita at Lucy's El Adobe and ponders the quandary he's in. Not in his most farfetched stand-up routine could he have invented a tale in which a city would seize on him as a symbol of equality. Yet in the desert town of El Centro, a group of residents wants to name a street for him. The idea was meant as a gesture of gratitude for Rodriguez's years of free shows and donations.

Set Piece: Los Angeles artist George Yepes is suing Latino comedian Paul Rodriguez and his I Was Framed Productions Inc. over the sets for the "Paul Rodriguez: Crossing Gang Lines" special that aired Sunday night on Fox. Yepes claims in his Municipal Court suit that Rodriguez breached a verbal agreement to pay $12,000 for the artwork and set designs, including a 20x36-foot painting in three panels, then later attempted to pay him only $2,500.

Rodriguez Goes Late: Actor-comedian Paul Rodriguez will host a new prime-time entertainment talk show on Spanish language station KMEX, Channel 34 starting Friday. The show will air Fridays from 10-11 p.m. and feature interviews with celebrities, a house band and a host of crazy antics. Guests on the first show include actor Esai Morales, actress Liz Torres and and singer Suzy Gonzalez. "El Show de Paul Rodriguez" will be taped in Los Angeles before an audience.

After a two-hour street-course blitz in which he made some of the most difficult maneuvers look easy, showing up some of the world's best skateboarders in the process, Paul Rodriguez said he had a good feeling inside. "But on the outside, physically, I feel like I want to go lay down or something," he added, while surrounded by autograph-seekers outside Staples Center. Then came the announcement most knew was coming.

In the June 29 edition of The Times we read about four Anglo teens from an upscale neighborhood in San Diego beating five elderly Mexican workers with clubs, robbing them of $2 and then, when on trial, being "truly sorry," apologizing and being jailed for 90 to 120 days of a possible 12 years after their lawyer did what the elderly innocents probably did--begged for mercy. In the same edition we read of a local hero, comedian Paul Rodriguez, giving freely of himself--his time, his money, his attention--to kids from El Centro, not many miles from San Diego.

Comedian Paul Rodriguez's lightning wit is paralyzed. He sips a margarita at Lucy's El Adobe and ponders the quandary he's in. Not in his most farfetched stand-up routine could he have invented a tale in which a city would seize on him as a symbol of equality. Yet in the desert town of El Centro, a group of residents wants to name a street for him. The idea was meant as a gesture of gratitude for Rodriguez's years of free shows and donations.

Antonio Banderas, John Leguizamo, Freddy Fender and Ricky Martin received special honors Saturday night at the National Council of La Raza's 2002 ALMA Awards. "Pinero" was named best movie, and "Amores Perros" took foreign language film honors in festivities at the Shrine Auditorium. Among other American Latino Media Arts Awards, Robert Rodriguez was named best director for "Spy Kids."

Pasadena 26, Glendale 13--Dustin Nersesyan rushed for 88 yards in 17 carries for Glendale at Pasadena City College. Glendale (0-9, 0-4) took a 7-6 lead into halftime when Paul Rodriguez recovered a fumble and returned it 24 yards for a touchdown with four seconds to play in the second quarter. Pasadena went ahead, 12-7, on a 28-yard pass from Kenneth McDaniels to William Stokes in the third quarter.

"I just got a Mexican Barbie. She comes with her own papers." "My parents left me at home and told me not to do anything they wouldn't do. So I didn't go out and get a job." Get it? Mexicans are typically illegal immigrants too lazy to hold a job. Or, if they do work, they're crammed into a pickup truck, nine-strong, puttering down the freeway in what one comic calls "the beaner lane," on the way to their next gardening job.

Pasadena 26, Glendale 13--Dustin Nersesyan rushed for 88 yards in 17 carries for Glendale at Pasadena City College. Glendale (0-9, 0-4) took a 7-6 lead into halftime when Paul Rodriguez recovered a fumble and returned it 24 yards for a touchdown with four seconds to play in the second quarter. Pasadena went ahead, 12-7, on a 28-yard pass from Kenneth McDaniels to William Stokes in the third quarter.

Good thing Jane Fonda's still in terrific shape: Don't know if she would even consider reprising her 1967 role--or be asked to--but Dino De Laurentiis has just registered "Barbarella II" with the MPAA! . . . NBC's "The Comedy Store 15th Year Class Reunion," now scheduled for Nov. 23, originally was set for Oct. 13--before the election. So it's being re-edited. Among the cut gags was this from Paul Rodriguez: "Dukakis speaks Spanish. It's wonderful!

Paul Rodriguez is the headliner of Knott's Funny Farm, a park-wide comedy celebration this weekend at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park in which the park is transformed into a comedy zone with improv, stand-up showcases and live music. Rodriguez performs two shows daily, at 8 and 10 p.m., in Calico Square.

"In my spare time I sell Tupperware. That's where I really make my money." Paul Rodriguez is only joking. Then again, given the veteran comedian's indefatigable and ambitious nature, it wouldn't come as a huge surprise if he was peddling food containers besides pursuing his many other projects. Stand-up comedian, movie producer, director, actor, talk- and game-show host, public speaker, boxing analyst (for a pay-per-view telecast of the recent De la Hoya-Chavez bout) and tireless self-promoter.