Originally posted September 22, 2005 by RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com

VINCE VAUGHN is fast approaching A-list status after his massive summer hit "Wedding Crashers." And now he's rumored to be canoodling with true A-lister Jennifer Aniston after the pair filmed "The Break Up" over the summer.

But instead of kicking back and enjoying his fame Chris Tucker-style, he's storming the country with four up-and-coming comics in a whirlwind 30-day, 30-city tour dubbed "Vince Vaughn's Wild West Comedy Show." We learn that the motormouth actor talks as fast on the phone as he does in the movies:

Q: Why are you hosting this?

Vaughn: I love performing live in front of an audience. There's something thrilling about it that's different from doing a movie.

Q: But a 30-day bus trip sounds pretty rough.

Vaughn: For me, it's a chance to go to places I haven't been before. I've only been to Atlanta once for the Super Bowl. I haven't had a chance to spend any time there.

Q: You'll barely have time this time around. . . . So why these particular comics?

Vaughn: I like these stand-up comedians. They hang out at the world-famous Comedy Store [L.A. comedy shop partly owned by Pauly Shore]. They've done Comedy Central and "The Tonight Show" but haven't quite broken it big. I get to MC and do sketches with the comedians.

Q: Will this be like the "Kings of Comedy" or "Blue Collar Comedy Tour"?

Vaughn: I never thought of it that way. It's more of an old-school, Rat Pack variety show.

Q: So how much did you bribe Jennifer Aniston to wear a T-shirt promoting your show [seen recently in various tabloids]?

Vaughn: I heard about that picture. I haven't seen it. We're selling those shirts online. People are buying them up.

Q: Let's cut to the chase: Are you and Aniston an item?

Vaughn: We're just good friends [chuckle].

> THE 411: Vince Vaughn's Wild West Comedy Show, featuring Brett "Captain America" Ernst, John "The Ohio Player" Caparulo, Ahmed "The Egyptian Lover" Ahmed and Sebastian "The Hit Man" Maniscalco. 7 p.m. Wednesday. Earthlink Live, 1374 West Peachtree St., Midtown. 404-249-6400, www.earthlinklive.com.

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