He can be a tad acerbic at times, he excels at spontaneity and wit all the time and he’s never ever boring.
He’s Tyrus, a championship wrestler, former rapper Snoop Dogg bodyguard and “anchor” on the wildly popular “Gutfeld” on Fox News, a show that draws the largest overall late-night audiences nationwide, far larger than those on ABC, CBS or NBC late-night shows.
Tyrus will be doing an hour and a half of stand-up comedy at the Rochester Opera House Saturday night at 7:30 p.m.
Tyrus is known for his blunt commentary and persona when it comes to politics, American culture and life, and much of that will likely be on display on Saturday.
“The show is strictly stand-up, but if someone has something to say they may pay the price,” he told The Rochester Voice on Monday during a phone interview..
Tyrus has continued to hone his comedic style over several years on “Gutfeld,” where he is always the last panel member to speak on controversial subjects like trans issues, immigration and politics, as well as some light-hearted and silly issues sprinkled into the mix.
When it’s time for him to speak, it’s not from cue cards, he says. It comes from the heart.
“I don’t speak from notes, that’s not the way I think,” he said. “I do some research and wait to hear what everybody else says. I’m always the last to speak. I’m the anchor, and I just say what I feel.”
Tyrus spent decades in WWE wrestling before he retired from the sport, but says there are comparisons with doing “Gutfeld.”
“it’s about the same as wrestling,” he said. “You play with the audience, same thing in wrestling. Then you pull their string, get ‘em going and send them away happy. The only thing different is your body’s not sore afterward like with wrestling.”
Tyrus Murdoch was born in Exeter, N.H., and grew up in Lynn, Mass., where he developed a great love for the Boston Red Sox and the New England Patriots.
He said it was a huge mistake when they pulled Red Sox pitching ace Sonny Gray so early in Game 2.
“I mean he gets tougher and tougher in the middle innings,” he said. “It was just 1-0 New York when they pulled him. That was just dumb.”
He also fumed that it was ridiculous that any team in any two out of three playoff doesn’t get one game on their home field.
On the bright spot, he said the Pats are looking up after their win at Buffalo on Sunday.
“They have a lot of guys that are hurt and a lot of guys that are new, but if they can stay around .500 deep into the season they got a good chance at the playoffs.
Tyrus has been a bouncer, a bodyguard and a longtime championship wrestler, but when it comes to the art of pugilism, he says the toughest form is definitely boxing.
“I would say it’s always boxing, that you’re in the ring taking punches for 12 rounds is incredible, it’s definitely the most grueling,” he said. “Bare knuckle fighting could be even tougher.”
Now that his wrestling career is over, Tyrus says he stays in shape with about an hour and a half of exercise daily.
“I ride the bike daily and maybe do 500 reps with light weights,” he said. “I mean I can still press 600 pounds, but I’m sore for a week, so I don’t do that much anymore. After I’ve done the weights and the bike, I’ll go hit the heavy bag hard, sort of have a feud with it.”
To get tickets for Tyrus from his website click here
You can also get tickets directly from the Rochestester Opera House by clicking here