Oliver: Can you tell the readers a little about your background Erick?
Erick: I'm born and bred in Chicago. Huge sports fan. Cubs. Bulls. Bears. Boxing of course. I started acting professionally in 1997. I'm married to a wonderful supportive wife named Meredith. We have two dogs Pogi and Daisy. I currently live in Reseda CA.
Oliver:How did you come up with the idea of creating The Minny Pacquiao Show?
Erick: I grew up watching Tim Conway on the Carol Burnette Show. I always thought that Midget Golfer sketch was one of his best. And then I saw Martin Lawrence and that Roscoe the Snot Nose Kid. Minny Pacquiao is my Filipino-American homage to those hilarious characters and comedians.
Oliver: You’ve been featured in Balitang America and other Filipino shows. Are you surprised by the rapid success of the show?
Erick: I am very surprised. This started out as a one time sketch idea and it's because of the response we continued to produced episodes. That said I'm not naive, the rapid success of the show is I'm sure paralleled by Manny's meteoric rise to the top.
Oliver: Manny Pacquiao is now considered by most as the best boxer in the world. But what do you think is his most important contribution in the Filipino community?
Erick: He has provided Filipinos with our Champion. Our Joe Louis. Our Ali. He gives us a symbol of pride and strength, while blazing a trail for others to follow. I think he is just the beginning for Pinoys on the World stage.
Oliver: Filipinos are the second largest asian group in the U.S., yet probably the least represented in the mainstream media. You’ve mentioned before that you’ve played many characters as an actor, but few as a Filipino. Do you think Pacquiao’s success has helped many open their eyes and become aware of the untapped Filipino market?
Erick: I think like how Joe Louis, and Mohamed Ali's achievements open the eyes of ignorance, I think Pacquiao's success will open eyes and doors.
Oliver: After Pacquiao retires, do you plan to create another Youtube show for the Filipinos or do you plan to rename the show to ‘Manny Pacquiao: The Politican’?
Erick: One of my main goals with the Minny Pacquiao Show is to one day shoot "Minny meets Manny." Once I get that episode and Manny retires from boxing I think Minny Pacquiao will also retire.
Oliver: You have another show called ‘A Fight Club For One’. Can you tell us more about the show and how you came up with it?
Erick: Ever since I started acting I wanted to do a one man show. I've been writing this script for at least as long. A Fight Club for One is the result of that long process. This is my story growing up one of the only Filipinos on the Northwest-side of Chicago and all the fights I got into. I was very inspired by the book Fight Club and the idea of learning about yourself through the conflicts in your life, whether those conflicts are internal or external. I just try to deal with these struggles in a funny way.
Oliver: You recently performed your show in Chicago. When and where can your fans expect to see your show again?
Erick: We are still currently in pre-production for the show, but A Fight Club for One will be up and running in L.A. this February. We are also planning a return to Chicago in May and also hopeful to schedule performances in Indianapolis in March, and Seattle in July.
Oliver: Thanks Erick for the interview. Do you have anything else to say to your fans?
Erick: Just a huge thank you for the support for Minny Pacquiao, and A Fight Club for One in Chicago. I only hope I can keep you watching and laughing. Keep your eyes out for the Minny Pacquiao's Epsiode 13: Mayweather Returns. We have Kareem Grimes back as Mayweather and we will be introducing Buboy Maliit! It's going to be a little crazy.
Erick: We are still currently in pre-production for the show, but A Fight Club for One will be up and running in L.A. this February. We are also planning a return to Chicago in May and also hopeful to schedule performances in Indianapolis in March, and Seattle in July.
Oliver: Thanks Erick for the interview. Do you have anything else to say to your fans?
Erick: Just a huge thank you for the support for Minny Pacquiao, and A Fight Club for One in Chicago. I only hope I can keep you watching and laughing. Keep your eyes out for the Minny Pacquiao's Epsiode 13: Mayweather Returns. We have Kareem Grimes back as Mayweather and we will be introducing Buboy Maliit! It's going to be a little crazy.
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