Our series of interviews with this year’s Undisputed Champions of Comedy continues! Today’s comic is Rachel Aflleje, who was born and raised in Tacoma.
While Aflleje doesn’t rely on life in the Pacific Northwest quite as much as Scott Losse does for her material, it’s still very Washington-coded. She has jokes that involve Enumclaw’s reputation and the not uncommon occurrence of being flirted with via chicken strip at a rural dive bar. (Anyone who’s ever been to Granite Falls knows.)
Of course, as a fellow PNW native, I had to ask her about her Taco Time order, and, because she’s opened for some celebrity comics over the years, I tried to get a little gossip, too.
Describe your comedy in five words.
Sassy, gassy, big old lassie.
Now that you’ve been declared an Undisputed Champion of Comedy, is there anyone in your life who said you wouldn’t make it, and you would now like to take this opportunity to rub it in their stupid face?
Absolutely. I’d like to rub this in the face of my preschool boyfriend who told me I wasn’t funny. Suck it, Jacob!
You’re from Tacoma, a city that has a pretty vibrant comedy scene of its own. Who has better audiences: Seattle or Tacoma?
Seattle audiences and Tacoma audiences are both better than Portland audiences, and that’s all that matters to me.
Speaking of the Pacific Northwest, I feel like I can ask you this very specific Northwest-related question: What is your go-to Taco Time order?
Fish tacos, a crisp beef burrito, and a crisp Diet Coke.
Do you remember your first time doing stand-up? Were you hooked right away?
My first time doing standup was in the back bar of an Italian restaurant in Olympia, WA. I lasted two minutes, hated every second, and haven’t been able to stop since.
On top of your own headlining gigs, you’ve also opened for some really big names in comedy! Tim Meadows, Michael Ian Black, Bob the Drag Queen—do you have any good celebrity gossip?
Ooooooooh girl. I heard that Madonna is very much an old white lady. And Tim Meadows purposely buys cheap bikes because they keep getting stolen in LA.
See Rachel Aflleje perform at The Stranger’s Undisputable Champions of Comedy at Washington Hall on April 4, 7:30 pm, 21+. Tickets available here.
