Cue the laugh trek

Deirdre Newman

While most people are staying away from China because of Severe Acute

Respiratory Syndrome, Scott Day is anxiously awaiting his planned

trip to Beijing.

And he’s not even packing a face mask.

“Do you think I got where I am today by listening to the U.S.

State Department?” Day asked sardonically.

The intrepid stand-up comedian is anticipating leaving May 7 for a

trip around the world to film a documentary, using comedy to bridge

the gap between various languages and cultures.

He has already given up the tangible trappings of day-to-day life

-- his Costa Mesa apartment and his cell phone -- and is spending the

remaining days with friends in Newport Beach. Before he leaves, he

will also sell his car and give away most of his clothes.

He is taking the trip because he knows that life in other parts of

the world is vastly different from the cushy existence of Newport

Beach. He wants to immerse himself in foreign cultures, capture his

trip on film and then turn it into an expose of how people around the

world perceive Americans.

“It’s going to be educational,” Day said. “It’s going to be funny,

as well. It’s kind of like reality TV with a brain. The journey is

merely an excuse to give some social commentary -- what I learned

about myself and other people and the perception of Americans

abroad.”

And this is the opportune time to travel, he said, despite the

risks of being an American.

“I want a time capsule to see what’s going on in the world,” Day

said. “For me, personally, it’s interesting because it’s such a

fleeting thing.”

Day is like a tall Dennis the Menace with a similar mischievous

grin, tufts of hair flying every which way and currents of restless

energy that belie his 35 years. When engaged in conversation, he

riffs on whatever strikes his fancy, giving any subject a viciously

funny twist.

His opinion of Newport Beach’s ritziest shopping center?

“I would chew my leg off if I had to spend two hours in Fashion

Island.”

On driving in L.A.?

“Every time I drive down the [Santa Monica Freeway], I get cut off

right by the Museum of Tolerance sign.”

On anti-Americanism throughout the world?

“Some people aren’t thrilled to see Americans. I say ... they’re

lucky I don’t take their women.”

Day grew up in Lakeville, Minn., 20 miles south of the Twin Cities

area, and had the dubious distinction of being the only non-Catholic

in an all-Catholic military school. One of his counselors at a church

camp was Joel Hodgson, who went on to create the cult TV show

“Mystery Science Theater 3000.”

A self-proclaimed comedy addict, Day spent high school nights

watching David Letterman, another Midwesterner whose comedy provided

a passport out of the Midwest.

After graduating from high school, Day was inspired to try

stand-up by Hodgson, who is also a comic.

“I did really well the first time because it was pure adrenalin,”

Day said. “It’s an addiction. Then I put down the addiction for a

while, but something was missing.”

Like many comedians, Day culled his comic nuggets from pain.

“You have to experience pain to be a comedian,” Day said. You

can’t do that when you’re 18. You’re just doing a version of what

you’ve seen.”

He eventually made the trek out to Los Angeles where Louie

Anderson, another Lakeville success story, hooked him up with Mitzi

Shore, owner of the Comedy Store. Day said he was impressed with

Shore’s passion for comedy and interest in developing young talent.

After performing for a while, Day became the club’s talent

coordinator. He was bombarded with bizarre requests from stand-up

hopefuls.

“I got the weirdest packages,” Day said. “People would tell me,

‘I’m getting out of prison in two weeks. People tell me I’m funny.’”

He also dabbled in comedy development, but was not keen on working

for a studio. After 12 years in Hollywood, Day said he eventually got

to the point where he was making money, but wasn’t that thrilled with

his life. That’s when his wanderlust kicked in again.

He has traveled extensively in the past, mostly flying first

class, one of the benefits of being the son of a pilot. This trip

will be very different, he emphasized.

He is going on a limited budget and will try to crash at various

American embassies, he said. Once a month, he will stay at a nice

hotel and have clothes sent to him so he can give away his old

clothes.

“Kind of like the shirt off my back,” Day said. “It’s an

anti-materialism thing. I’m not defined by my clothing.”

He will film extensively using a new high-quality Sony digital

camera that he bought with the proceeds from his car. And he’s

nonchalant about any possible language barriers.

“Laughter will connect people,” Day said.

Day’s route starts with China. From there, he intends to go to

Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Thailand. From Thailand, its off to

India. On the way, he plans to have a tete-a-tete with the Dalai Lama

in Tibet and impart some advice of his own.

“I want to go tell the Dalai Lama to get away from Richard Gere

and pull him away from the throngs of Hollywood,” Day said. “I’m

going to go enlighten him.”

After India, Day’s travels will take him to Egypt, Lebanon and

other places in the Middle East. Then it’s on to South Africa and

South America, where he will work his way up the coast, culminating

in his return to the U.S. walking through Tijuana.

In addition to his camera, he is taking a Global Positioning

System. And he does have a plan for emergencies.

“I talked to my mom, and we do have a $200 ransom fund,” he said,

half-jokingly.

And what does Day’s mom think of her son’s round-the-world

odyssey?

“I’m pretty excited for him because this is something he’s wanted

to do for a really long time,” Judy Day said. “After I named him, I

found out that his name was ‘Wanderer.’ This is something that’s been

Scott’s dream for many years, and I’m totally supportive.”

Ultimately, Day said, he hopes his trip will answer the timeless

questions that have mystified humans for eons.

“It’s about spirituality -- why are we here? Why are we fighting?”

Day said.

* DEIRDRE NEWMAN covers Costa Mesa and may be reached at (949)

574-4221 or by e-mail at deirdre.newman@latimes.com.