The American fascination with game shows can be traced back to the very inception of broadcast television into our households. Those popular radio quiz shows were eagerly transformed into easily digestible television fare. Nearly every child of the “Golden Age of Television” has memories of families gathered around that warm glow and tuning in to primetime quiz shows or their parents watching their favourite panel game show.
Quiz show scandals, the inclusion of in-house celebrities, the growing popularity of game show hosts, and the ever increasing prize values have given the game show a basis of evolution that continues to this very day. The growth in popularity of the reality competition show is a network ratings wet dream. But, the proliferation of reality competition shows has created a game show void. The traditional, low-budget, audience participation programs are few and far between. Luckily, Playtime With Scorch has arrived to save the day!
Scorch The Clown, along with his faithful assistant Mistress Metal, have breathed smoke into the lungs of the game shows of old. With a distinctly crispy, adult twist! Unsuspecting audience members, wacky special guests, and games with titles like “Born To Blow”, “Satan’s Kiss”, “Balzac Bingo” , and “Puffhead Zombies”, promise to make Playtime With Scorch your new favourite game show.
Scorch has been extremely busy with the game show and all the other mayhem he stirs up around town- with the Dinner with Scorch (served at Cariba Charlie’s- 4835 S Rainbow Las Vegas once a month on a Sunday afternoon) at Freakshow Wrestling, Punk Rock Bingo- and though Halloween may seem like an eon away, even that is under consideration. Scorch ( and when he lets him out, Warren) is really a very busy clown, er man, er evil clown, er… you get the gist- the list goes on and on but the thing right now he is busiest with is his show, Playtime With Scorch. We got to sit down with good ol’ Scorch to find out how he came to be, how this show came to be, and what we can expect in the future.
ZR: So, how did Scorch come into existence?
Scorch: I used to dress up as this clown that was named Syphilis, and although he was pretty wicked, there came a time when he just wasn’t around. When auditioning for Freakling Bros. Haunted Houses, I broke out the clown makeup and out came Scorch.
ZR: How was your audition for Freakling Bros.?
Scorch: (with a chuckle) I auditioned twice. The first time, I went in as Warren. I was respectful, humble, explained why I was qualified, all the good stuff. When I walked out of my audition, I knew I did not have the gig. I decided to go back as Scorch. I went in, fully done up in my costume, and I actually did my application in crayon with letters written backwards and such. I was rude, I was disgusting, I was wicked, and I was threatening. They seemed a little concerned about the risks of a fire breathing clown, but I got the gig, and although sometimes Scorch gets in trouble, every year is great fun.
ZR: How did you get into breathing fire?
Scorch: I grew up as a huge KISS, and Gene Simmons** fan. I had met this guy who breathed fire when I was about 12, and I begged him to teach me. After annoying the dude enough, he told me if I could raise up like, 200 bucks, which was a lot of money back then, he would give me lessons. I was a KID. So, he thought he had outsmarted me. Well, I started taking up mowing lawns and such, saved up the money, and bussed it to this guy up at Circus Circus clear from Boulder Hwy. Shocked, he called me mother and asked for her permission. Of course she said no, but that didn’t stop me ( Scorch’s Mom finally relented because both she and the firebreather thought he would give up when he realized how hot and dangerous it was- he didn’t) . So, we go forward with the lessons, and the first time I was about to breathe the fire, he shows me and tells me what to do, and he says to me “You will catch fire your first time, it happens to everyone.” So, I did my thing, and he was ready to douse me in water, and instead he was just standing there in shock. I had blown fire for the first time, and I had not caught fire. Since then I just keep in practice. I of course perform at Freakling Bros. Circus of Horrors and also do weddings and shit like that. Scorch is a beloved character.
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ZR: So, how did you come up with the idea for Playtime with Scorch?
Scorch: As a kid I watched Bozo’s Circus, and the games were always so easy, and it was always cool prizes. BUT there was always that idiot kid who couldn’t win the easiest fucking game, and it would make me so mad because these were SIMPLE games. So, I got to thinking, let’s do a game like Double Dare, where people go up against each other doing awesome activities. If they lose though, let’s punish them. Hence the Double Dare meets Saw description. Winners win, and losers get punished, but everyone has a great time tuning in. We have many awesome supporters of this, and I am excited to see what happens with it.
There you have it, folks! A sit down with the most metal clown in Vegas, and quite possibly the most metal clown on the West Coast. ZRockR is very proud to support Scorch, and we hope you will tune in to the show by participating in a taping at Joker of Clubs Hookah Lounge (3555 South Ft. Apache in Las Vegas) – next taping is on August 18 at 7:30pm PST- or- If you can’t make that then definitely tune in to YouTube by going to http://www.youtube.com/playtimewithscorch !
If you want a Playtime with Scorch shirt ( only 20 bucks plus shipping, comes in all sizes up to 2 or 3x if we remember correctly and has the logo with Scorch’s face on it! Get it! ) or if you want to look for more updates or send a message to Scorch you can do so by going to http://www.facebook.com/playtimewithscorch , and don’t forget to look for more updates about the show from all of us here at ZRockR!
~Lu Frith and Stephy Hayward
*** It should be noted that die hard KISS fan Scorch has indeed met Gene Simmons! Scorch had called into KOMP when Gene and Paul were there taking calls from fans and it was Gene who actually took care of Scorch and his family at the KISS Convention at the Sahara Hotel upon finding out Scorch was a new Dad and as such had to give up his chance to go due to being a good dad and making sure the baby had all the baby things needed which didn’t leave money for a ticket! Gene and Paul were most accommodating and wonderful we understand*** ~Editor
Photo Credits:
Scorchcirca2009 courtesy of Stephy Hayward- All Rights Reserved
Scorch/Freakling Brothers Circus of Horror originally published by ThemeParkAdventures.com-All Rights Reserved
Firebreathing Ribs courtesy of Scorch- All Rights Reserved
All other photos by Lu Frith and Stephy Hayward ©2013 ZRockR Magazine
Photo cleanup/treatments by LisaKay Allen © 2013 ZRockR Magazine
Playtime with Scorch logo and Scorch Avatar courtesy of Scorch and Plan_That! All Rights Reserved