He's known as America's sit-down comic. Chris Fonseca has cerebral palsy and depends on a wheelchair to get around.
Recently, he was headlining a show downtown at The Enchilada Warehouse when one of his worst nightmares came true.
As he was being helped on stage, the crowd heard a loud noise. It was the back support beam breaking off his wheelchair. Fonseca fell to the ground.
Organizer Roy Lopez Jr. said despite the mishap, Fonseca went on with the show.
"As a professional performer, Chris, even though he was obviously hurt, went on to do his set without skipping a beat and without even referencing his aching back and head," Lopez said.
The next day, Roy Lopez and Action United for Entertainers and Diverse Artists (AUEDA) started raising money for a new wheelchair. They managed to collect $500.
The wheelchair was presented at Jimmy's Pizza at 226 E. Fest Street, where more people showed up to give. Always trying to make people laugh, Fonseca tried on the new wheelchair. "Does this make my butt look bigger?" Fonseca asked.
Fonseca knows how to have fun and how to keep people talking. During a subsequent show at The Enchilada Warehouse, Fonseca wore a pink dress on stage. The only reason given: he lost a bet.
That night, local comedians Hollywood Perez, Robert Lowe and Lydia Barling donated their earnings to the Fonseca wheelchair fund.
Word spread fast, and it was quickly turned into comedic material.
When comedian Mike Robles heard about the incident, he thought it was a joke.
"I mean, it happened in San Antonio, and no Wayne Wright to the rescue?" Robles joked. "Being the professional that he is, Chris got back on the horse only to fall off again on the way out. I'm happy he got a new ride. It means we'll be seeing a lot more of this great comedian. Chris Fonseca is a legend."
To learn more about A Slice of Comedy, e-mail asliceofcomedy@gmail.com
To learn more about Mike Robles, go to www.mikerobles.com
This month, A Slice of Comedy guests can take a toy to the show and get a discount at the door. The toys will be donated to kids who are less fortunate. This year, toys will go to Blue Santa, the Medina Children's Home and The Salvation Army.
The next show will be Dec. 26 at 8:30 p.m. at The Enchilada Warehouse, 2106 N. St. Mary's.
