Bahram Mark Sobhani | 210SA Contributor Catch Willie Barcena while he’s in San Antonio so you can say ‘I saw him when ..... ’ when his ‘Deal with It’ show airs on Comedy Central in February.

San Antonio could be the next target for stand-up comedian Willie Barcena. The L.A.-based comedian will rule Rivercenter Comedy Club’s Comedy Quinceañera this week. Though he’s mostly coming to town to help the comedy club celebrate its 15 years of making people laugh, he also has plans to enjoy the S.A. lifestyle by chowing down on a few fresh tortillas.

Bruce Barshop, co-owner of the Comedy Club, said that in addition to celebrating the past 15 years, he plans to double S.A.’s fun by opening another club in the Park North development along N.W. Loop 410 at the former Central Park Mall site. Barshop expects the club to be open by late 2009 and seat about 400 laugh-seekers.

Barshop said Comedy Quinceañera headliner Barcena is “very intelligent with his comedy, and he’s very expressive and theatrical. He’s not as well known as Carlos Mencia or George Lopez or some of these other guys, but I think he’s every bit as funny as they are.” 210SA caught up with Barcena before he made it to town. You can catch Barcena in person, July 30 through Aug. 3 before his one-hour special hits Comedy Central in February.

You’ve been a frequent visitor to the Rivercenter Comedy Club. What’s the draw?

I love the city. I always gain 5 pounds when I go there. I’m always eating the tortillas. You guys make the best flour tortillas in the world. They’re puffy, not like tortillas here. Here, it’s like somebody stepped on them.

You tour the U.S., Canada, all over the place. Do you play to different crowds in different areas?
My routine varies. I always try to grow. And by growing, you’re always trying new things. It’s almost like when you buy a pair of shoes and you wear them for a while. ..... And after awhile, you want to buy a new pair.

We heard while you were making your rounds, you managed to visit “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” 10 times! Have you gotten to drive any of his cars yet?

No, are you kidding me? I don’t think he’d let anybody (drive his cars). ..... I haven’t been on with Jay for a while now. I kind of didn’t want to go back until I had something new. Now, I’ve got the (Comedy Central) special. Jay is like my tío, my Uncle Jay.

Jay invited you to perform for the troops in Afghanistan a few years back, right? What was that like?

It was great because the servicemen were really happy to see someone from the states. You perform all over for all types of people, but I think there’s nothing like performing for the troops. You really feel proud of performing for them.

You also spent awhile on a top-ranked morning radio show in Sacramento, Calif. How different is radio from stand-up?

For 2/.1/2 years, I was the morning guy in Sacramento, but I did it out of my house. I connected the system in my basement. ..... But stand-up is my love (because of the) freedom, because when you do stand-up you’re free to express yourself, the emotions, whatever you think about religion, whatever you think about politics. When you do radio, you don’t want to offend the listeners. ..... I offended a lot of people. It’s hard because you’re on the air. It’s fun, but it wasn’t for me. I give those jocks a lot of credit. It’s a job I think you have to be born with, much like stand-up.

You’ve got two sons, right? How has fatherhood changed your comedy routines?

I actually have three. ..... I have a 13, 11 and 4. They’re all boys. ..... They’re all good kids, ’cause I’m a real old-school dad. ..... It’s funny. I’m a dictator at home with emphasis on “dic” ..... They’re going to do things wrong. I just don’t like them bulls**tting me. Just tell me the truth. ..... It’s when they hide it. It’s like, “Oh, my God.” It just eats at me. ..... I’m not a really good writer, but I have a great memory. So my stand-up is me, my friends, my career, my wife, my children, my beliefs and religion, politics. And somehow I make it funny.

Is it hard to keep from offending your family and friends in your routines?

I don’t give a crap. I don’t care. It’s like being a painter and having somebody say, “Oh, don’t paint that.” Somebody might as well give me a canvas that has numbers on it. ..... Nothing is sacred. Nothing.

So what’s next for you?

After the special, I’m going to blow up and be really f**king famous and just do movies, do shows ..... and spend a lot of time with my kids and buy that pool I’ve been promising them. ..... A big-ass pool, a pimp-daddy pool.

Jennifer Lloyd | 210SA