George Wallace interview for Punchline shows Nov. 27-28

He came to Atlanta this week for four shows at the Punchline Friday, November 27 and Saturday, November 28.  With three of four of those shows sold out, the indefatigable 62 year old added two more at 11 p.m. each night. (Tickets available here.)

"I want to do material in a small place," Wallace said at lunch earlier this week at Cafe Bistro at Nordstrom's, a block from a penthouse apartment he owns in Buckhead."I want to do Cobb Energy Center in a year. I've heard good things about it."

Here are some varied topics we discussed over 80 minutes:

Jerry! Wallace is best friends with Jerry Seinfeld. They met at Catch a Rising Star in New York City as young, up-and-coming standups in the mid-1970s and became buddies immediately, rooming together for a time.

Wallace and Seinfeld both attended last weekend's Phillips Arena

Stevie Wonder

concert. "Best concert I've ever seen. It was music from the 'Songs in the Key of Life." When Jerry and I were roommates, we used to listen to that over and over. There was a lot of reminiscing and many tears at the concert. Stevie was great. He sounds just as good as he did in 1976. People were in awe."

Credit: Rodney Ho

Credit: Rodney Ho

Credit: Rodney Ho

Credit: Rodney Ho

Why the Flamingo gig was so good: He owned the show and got to do whatever he wanted in a room that could fit 750 guests. He could do 70 minutes. He could do 90 minutes. He could bring guests up like Chris Tucker, Aretha Franklin, Tom Jones, Diana Ross, Jennifer Holliday and (of course) Seinfeld. He even had a Sly and the Family Stone reunion. He got to meet people from all over the world. "I lived in the hotel. Everything was free. I could eat at any of the 11 Caesar properties. They gave me a $2,500 a week allowance for food. I'd send audience members to dinner with that money. I gave away all sorts of stuffs, dinners, shows, $500 purses to ladies. I was trying to be like Oprah. I always wanted to be a rich black lady!"

Hustler: He hustled while he was there, competing against multiple Cirque du Soleils, Bette Midler and Elton John. The Flamingo even opened its own comedy club which effectively competed against him. Names with TV shows attached to them vied for attention. He'd walk the strip and make nice with the concierges and ticket brokers. He paid for marketing and billboards. "That's how I made it work," he said.

Why did he end it after 10 years? Seinfeld convinced him to get out of the Vegas bubble and start traveling again, give "other parts of the world a chance to see me. I thought he was right. He closed his show at the pinnacle." Wallace didn't want to be forced to leave but depart on his own accord. Plus, he realized a whole generation of people who hadn't visited Vegas missed him. "I need to recreate my brand," he said. In Atlanta, at least, people recognize him frequently. He said at Lenox on Saturday, more people came up to him than Seinfeld. "Everyone knows you in Atlanta, Seinfeld said. "This is my town," Wallace said.

Happiness is a warm blanket: "It's easy to be happy for me. Some comics are angry. I can't do that. It's easier to be nice to people." Of course, he said, he's not bothered nearly as often as Seinfeld outside of Atlanta.

Why the road? "It's good to get back on the road. I don't have to do the road again. I'm so blessed. I am the most successful entertainer you've never met. It's not how much money you make. It's how you enjoy life. I can do anything. I can travel around the world."

Requisite Cosby comment: "I don't know him well. I met him years ago when I was starting. He was the man. He is still the man. He's had an impact on every comedian's career. God bless him... Fifteen ladies [accusing him of various levels of sexual assault] is a lot of ladies. I just have to say the truth is the truth. If it's true, it's wrong."

No slots for Wallace: Despite his love for Vegas, he gambles exactly zero dollars of his earnings. "Why should I gamble?"

Credit: Rodney Ho

Credit: Rodney Ho

A joke he did on the Steve Harvey show: "Arthur Blank is selling the Falcons to Chick fil A. They are both closed on Sundays!" He was glad the Falcons lost Sunday for pure comedy. "That enhances the joke, the longevity of that joke." He is always seeking localized jokes, too and he has ones about the Atlanta Public Schools cheating scandal and Nancy Grace that you might here at the Punchline.

Family reunion plans: "I have a lot of family here. We have a reunion that will bring in 650 attendees. I know about 90 percent of them."

Don't ask: He won't lend money to friends and family. "I don't do that anymore. I can't afford to lose any more friendships. Money and friendships don't mix." For him, it's a respect issue. Sure, Wallace may not need the money back but if someone promises to pay it, do so. He'd rather just give away stuff to strangers, no strings attached.

Stand-up is better than... "sex and drugs. We are different. We love what we do. It's a small fraternity."

Credit: Rodney Ho

Credit: Rodney Ho

Random connection: His cousin is funeral director Willie Watkins, seen on occasion mentoring Phaedra Parks on "Real Housewives of Atlanta."

What is Johnsontown? Wallace spent his first 16 years of his life in Johnsontown, a black neighborhood in Brookhaven in the 1950s and 60s. He was there when Lenox Square opened in 1959 as an open-air mall. Believe it or not, he owns the home he grew up in but plans to sell it now that the market has strengthened again.

Suggestion to Kasim Reed: He said he recently met the Atlanta mayor and said the city should create more interesting lights on the buildings and do it year around, make the city more distinctive. And he thinks the Lenox tree is kind of lame now that it's fake.