‘Having Money is Nothing Special’

No one, including host Tukul Arwana himself, could have forseen the overnight success of talk show 4 Mata (literally “4 Eyes” but meaning eye-to-eye) when it debuted last year. After playing in low-budget sitcoms for years, the quirky-faced comedian is out front on his own and lapping up the limelight. Viewers tune in to watch him garble questions from his laptop and hear his standard shtick about his looks and the “provincial” studio audience. It’s anyone’s  guess how long he can ride the commercial wave (he has stopped from giving female guests a peck on the cheek after it caused protests), but the 43-year-old son of a tailor from Semarang, Central Java, will likely roll with life’s punches.

I like people who are ...

Honest, and who are on time and disciplined.

I don’t like ...

Dishonesty, and people who blame others for their failures, for being poor, those who use cliched reasons as excuses for their incompetence. We should take responsibility when we make mistakes. I always try to be positive.

I am bored when ...

Like I just said, I’m bored by people asking for help all the time. People have to be motivated and willing to work hard.

I smile when ...

People are funny, and when they work hard and become successful.

I am sad when ...

People have tried but have not succeeded over a long period of time, and they tell me their story.

I am happy ...

When performing; I don’t think about my fee, but I am just happy to be on stage. And when my family is a success, meaning they have work and can support themselves. I don’t like them calling me asking for help; they should have the right attitude in facing their problems.

I am embarrassed when ...

Things go wrong with a performance, like when the set or sound system is not right.

You are always making fun of your looks; would you ever consider cosmetic enhancement?

No. I’m thankful for what God has given me, and I can be big like this. Maybe if I was handsome I wouldn’t have achieved this success.

What’s unforgivable?

I’m a forgiving person if someone wants to ask for forgiveness. Even if they don’t, I try to be good to them and give them a way out. And if that does not work, then it means that me and the person do not have synergy.

When I have uncooperative guests, I ...

Try to stay positive. From the 156 episodes so far, maybe there have been four [guests] who were no good. Perhaps they thought they were more clever, more experienced, more knowledgeable than me. But I try to be positive and keep an upbeat atmosphere regardless.

In school I was ...

Dreaming of going on to Diponegoro University’s technical department but I didn’t have the money ... I wanted to be a college graduate, build a nice house, but life takes mysterious turns, and I ended up being a cover boy! (chuckles)

I wish I could ...

Speak English well, so I could go everywhere. 

My favorite foods are ...

Fried eggs – the yolk must be hard --, petai, chili sauce and free-range chicken.

I find it difficult to accept ...

People who just want everything handed to them. That’s hard for me, I don’t like it. I don’t want to give handouts. You have to work to get something in return.

My philosophy of life is ...

We must respect others and help them reach their potential. Don’t look at how small a person is, but how you can help them grow.

You have been poor and now you are rich, so what’s the meaning of money?

Good question. After I have known what it’s like to have money, it turns out that it’s nothing special. It’s actually a test to have a lot of money. We have to learn to control ourselves with it, to stop us doing things that will be to our detriment. Whether we are rich or poor, sugar still tastes sweet.

My personal idols are ...

My wife and daughter.

The meaning of life and death is ...

We return to what is good, and leave what is wrong when we die. So do good things in life; why should we live to do bad things?  

+ Bruce Emond

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