Comedian And Entrepreneur Gabriel Iglesias Talks ‘Mr. Iglesias’ And His 2020 Plan B

Acclaimed comedian Gabriel ‘Fluffy’ Iglesias is in the midst of what is often referred to as a “moment.” While, like for so many others, 2020 threatened to derail that, he has not let the grass grow under his feet.

“This was going to be the year of years for me,” he lamented. “We had the biggest comedy tour planned. We had three tour buses and four semi trucks. It was like WWE meets the Food Network. It was epic. We got a huge stage production, and every single arena we were hitting it looked like I was taping a new special. We spent a lot of money to get this thing going, and they pull the plug on us. Right when we were about to break even on all the money that we put into the tour, it got pulled. We were going to go anywhere and everywhere and had a nice two-year run set out.”

Iglesias returns to screens with the third installment of his Netflix
NFLX
sitcom, Mr. Iglesias. The show, which often tackles key issues, lands on Netflix on Tuesday, December 8, 2020.

“We wrapped, we threw a big wrap party the week afterward, and then the week after that the world went to s**t,” he recalled. “We never once had the opportunity to address anything to do with the coronavirus. It is unfortunate because they definitely would have talked about all of what we have been going through. We’re really good about staying on top of things, but you couldn’t plan for that one, and Netflix wasn’t sure when they were going to release it.”

“The other problem was that the way the storyline was, there was no way to fit it in. Every season ends with a cap, so there was no way to go back and do even a one-off. Also, Netflix is doing this thing where they are splitting up a season and calling it parts versus seasons. Part two dropped in the first half of this year, so this is part three.”

So, where does this leave the future of Mr. Iglesias?

“It’s never up to me, but if it was, we’d had a nice run. I’ve done shows in the past, and I’ve always been lucky to do three seasons,” Iglesias explained. “Three is a really nice number for people to have a chance to enjoy it and they don’t have time to get tired of it. It ends on a high note. If I could do three, that’d be great. If we can get more out of Netflix, that’s great. It’s not because we can’t find something else to do, but I want to make sure that they get a good show and it doesn’t get stale. There is a lot to talk about on the show. If we go back into the writing room, with everything that has happened, there is so much on the table for us to talk about.”

“If things weren’t the way that they are now, I want to say we would already be in production. This time last year, we were already underway. Every week the rules are changing as the situation changes. It’s really, really hard. Little by little, so many things are getting pushed back. Realistically, if the show comes back again, it will probably be in production around March of next year.”

The comedian and multimillionaire entrepreneur, who ranked sixth in Forbes’ top ten of the highest-earning stand-up comedians in 2019, has worked hard to find a silver lining in the cloud that is 2020.

“When we knew that the tour was off, I had to go into Plan B and see what other projects we would work on right now, things that I haven’t been able to put more time into, and one of them was my online store,” Iglesias revealed. “I’ve been able to give 100% attention to that now because I’ve had the time. Every week we’re cranking out new products, new merchandise, trying to be like Kylie Jenner but without the makeup. It’s doing very well. We’re doing collaborations with different companies to release toys and clothing, and I’ve got two Funko Pops.”

As Iglesias recounted the ‘Fluffy’ Funko Pop genesis, it was a perfect example of the comedian’s skill as a businessman.

“I had approached Funko a few years back, and basically I was like, ‘I would very much like to see if you guys were interested in doing a thing together as I noticed that you guys don’t have a Funko Pops for comedians.’ They were working with television icons, and personalities and movie stars and rock stars, and they didn’t see comedians the same way,” he said. “I showed them my social media numbers, all the specials, and my other stuff, but they weren’t feeling it. They respectfully said they were going to pass. A couple of years go by, and I reached out again to see what would happen.”

“Once again, it wasn’t something they wanted to license and carry, but they said they would produce the product for us and we could sell it. However, we had to order a certain number of units and buy them upfront. It was enough units to fill up a semi truck. Next thing you know, I got a semi full of Funkos here, and between selling them online and selling them at the shows, we sold out every single one in less than a year.”

Iglesias continued, “Because I was the first comedian to do it, I got the number one on the box. Then I said, ‘Hey, let’s do a second one.’ At this point, they asked if we’d like them to license the product and sell it, but I’m was like, ‘I’m good. I like the contract and the deal that we’ve got now.’ I have full control of it. That’s the beauty of it. Now, a couple of other comedians have done it. Jeff Dunham did one, and Jo Koy did one, but I love the fact that I was able to break that mold. Now they’re accepting comedians, which I think is awesome.”

Whether you know his work and are a fan or not, there is no way anyone can dispute the funnyman’s evolution as a brand. As Iglesias rattled off other projects that he is working on, it is evident that he has no intention of slowing down or limiting his avenues of growth or streams of revenue. He’s all about the hustle.

“During the pandemic, I’ve had the chance to do some voiceovers for some animated projects, one of which is the new Space Jam movie with LeBron that is coming out next year. Every week something new comes up,” he enthused. “I just did an audition in my bedroom, which sounds weird, but that’s how the auditions have got to happen now. I got no problem with auditioning. If it was for a stand-up show and they were like, ‘Hey, we need somebody to be a comedian,’ then no, you better not make me audition. I just left four semi trucks that were meant to be carrying my rig for a two-year tour, so I’m not going to play your game.”

“I still feel like I have a lot of dues to pay as an actor. I don’t consider myself a seasoned veteran of acting. I do consider myself that as a comic. Acting is a different world, and I know that I still have to go through the process.”

Professionally, Iglesias has more than proved himself to be a very successful wearer of many hats. However, how would he like to be defined? 

“I’m still trying to get on board with the whole Latinx thing, and that’s one of the topics that we covered on the show. What’s the new title? What’s the new message? What’s the new meaning of what’s going on?” he mused. “In the beginning, when I was born in 1976, there was no option of Latinx or Latino or Hispanic. You were either Caucasian, Afro-American, or Other. So when I was born, I was Other, or if there was no Other option, then I was white. Then, of course, it was Mexican, Mexican American, there was a Chicano Hispanic, Latino, Latina, and it was Latino forever. Then there’s the Latinx one, which took me some time to get used to. I’ve never felt so out of touch and so old. I was that stubborn guy saying, ‘What are you talking about? It’s been this way forever, and I don’t want to change.’ When you understand that it’s to include everyone and not exclude, it’s like, ‘Okay, I get it. I understand. I’ll try to be a grown-up.’ It took a little bit more work for me.”

“I’ve never liked titles, though, to be honest, which is why I never liked being referred to as a Hispanic comedian or Mexican comedian. It makes it sound like I could only perform for that group of people. When you talk about Jerry Seinfeld, no one says Jewish comedian Jerry Seinfeld. They just say Jerry Seinfeld. You talk about Eddie Murphy, and you don’t say African American comedian Eddie Murphy. No, he’s just Eddie Murphy. You know who he is, and you know his identity.”

Iglesias concluded. “I’m not shying away from anything. I’m a brown dude, and my last name is Iglesias, you already know. I’m not trying to throw it in people’s faces. I find it strange when sometimes it’s like I’m ‘the guy.’ Let me be part of the bigger picture. It’s only in America that they want to put a title on me, my race. In the rest of the world, I’m referred to as an American comedian, which I think is funny.”

Mr. Iglesias returns to Netflix with new episodes on Tuesday, December 8, 2020.