April in Atlanta brings sprouting trees, allergens galore and big-name comedy stars.
From a sitcom star (Jerry Seinfeld) to a “Last Comic Standing” star (Rod Man) to a Comedy Central star (Hannibal Buress) to a bona fide movie star (Billy Crystal), the month provides a wide variety of humor for all ages and styles.
Then there are three Blue Collar Comedy tour veterans hosting shows three weeks apart: part-time Suwanee resident Ron White at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre April 8 and the reunion of Alpharetta’s Jeff Foxworthy with Larry the Cable Guy (who went to college in Decatur) at the Fox Theatre April 29.
White — a man known for his predilection for drink and cigars — no longer tours with the other guys because he is simply too blue. But he is forever grateful for Foxworthy, who helped elevate his fame so he could headline theaters on a regular basis.
Foxworthy, in a recent Netflix special with Larry the Cable Guy, even threw in an affectionate White joke: “If a cable or satellite company promises you something for free, in six months, you’re going to get a bill that resembles Ron White’s bar tab.”
Here are highlights from interviews with White and Larry the Cable Guy (real name: Daniel Lawrence Whitney).
From White:
Why he avoids politics in his shows: "Every talk show on TV has 20 writers staring at the television. My shows have never been political. Even during the election, I chose to stay out of it. I thought people could use a laugh, which is what they pay me to do. I just go up there and gut 'em. That's what they need. I don't want applause. I want gut-level laughter."
Stage addiction: White hits 110 different cities a year, and even on his off days, he works on material at local clubs in Los Angeles, including the Laugh Factory and the Comedy Store. (He will go to the Punchline or the Laughing Skull when staying in Suwanee.) "Most of it is my love for the art form. It's fun to do to go to these clubs, to be me. My favorite thing about my career at this point is I'm respected by my peers. I haven't taken any shortcuts, so I don't have to hide."
The challenges of testing jokes in small clubs: "You need to throw yourself in uncomfortable situations. In clubs, 70 percent of them have no idea who I am, so they cut me no breaks, especially at the Comedy Store. The lineup is usually so good, you can't go up and piddle. Theaters (packed with his fans) are easy and fun. I just get to go in and wallow in it."
His drinking options: Once an inveterate scotch drinker, he is now an advocate of tequila, mostly his own brand Number Juan Tequila. And surprise! "I drink a lot of red wine. I'm a little more versatile than my fans think."
Cleaning up his act? "My ex-wife came out to a show three weeks ago. I hadn't seen her in 10 years. I talked to her afterwards. She said she was surprised how clean it was. I don't write dirty for dirty's sake or clean for clean's sake. I guess I'm a little cleaner, but I still wouldn't recommend bringing your Christian grandma."
No retirement in sight: At age 60, White is not ready to slow down. "My fans are basically baby boomers. As long as they're interested in what I have to say, I'll keep doing it. I don't know what else I'd do anyway, I have friends who have retired. They've sold their companies, made a lot of money. They live at the Suwanee River Club. They drink themselves into a hole. They spend all day with their wives and they're miserable!"
Ron White. 7 and 10 p.m. April 8. $55-$68. Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway, Atlanta. 770-916-2800, www.cobbenergycentre.com.
From Larry the Cable Guy:
His take on politics in his show: "If I do something political, if I think it's funny, I do it in 10 seconds or less. I'm a one-liner comedian. Generally most of my act is nothing but nonsensical one-liners and goofy stuff."
Cutting back: In the late 2000s, Larry the Cable Guy earned tens of millions a year as one of the biggest touring acts in the world. He was ranked among the Forbes highest-earning entertainers. Once his kids started growing up, he deliberately cut back his schedule. He turned down a raft of acting and game show hosting gigs. He even quit his successful History Channel show "Only in America" in 2013 because it ate up too much time. He now does just 30 or 40 dates a year while doing "Cars"-related audio work on the side. "My priorities changed," he said.
Two fans who said to his face "Git-R-Done": Janet Jackson and Denzel Washington, both spontaneously uttering his catchphrase when they saw him. During Kelly Ripa's talk show, for instance, Washington ambled down the hallway and before Larry had a chance to open his mouth, Washington said, "Ahh … Larry the Cable Guy! Git-R-Done, my brother!"
On the Jeff and Larry comedy channel on Sirius/XM: "It was originally the Blue Collar Comedy channel. We revamped it. We try to keep it PG-13. If you can't do it on 'The Tonight Show,' you can't do it here. Jeff does an interview show on Mondays. I do a show on Fridays called 'Larry's Weekly Roundup.' It's a hodgepodge. There's no real format."
Ad man: In 2005, he was a spokesman for Nutrisystem. He then went on to promote Prilosec for six years. "I'm sure I'm the only person to go from a diet program to heartburn medicine. It's so ridiculous!"
Workout/junk food combo: He spends more than two hours a day working out in his Nebraska home using a Cardioglide, a treadmill and a Peloton bike, plus weights. But then he gorges on caramel popcorn and Ho Ho's or whatever else his kids haven't consumed in the kitchen. The result: He's 40 pounds overweight, but there's plenty of muscle hidden underneath the fat.
Jeff Foxworthy and Larry the Cable Guy. 5 and 8 p.m. April 29. $75.60. Fox Theatre, 660 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta. 404-881-2100, www.foxtheatre.org.
OTHER COMEDY SHOWS IN APRIL
Festival of Laughs
Featuring Bruce Bruce, Mike Epps, Sommore, Arnez J and Felipe Esparza.
8 p.m. April 7. $52-$125. Philips Arena, 1 Philips Drive, Atlanta. 404-878-3000, www.philipsarena.com.
Jerry Seinfeld
7 and 10 p.m. April 7. $46.50-$171.50. Fox Theatre, 660 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta. 404-881-2100, www.foxtheatre.org.
Rod Man
7:30 p.m. April 15. $32.50-$50. Buckhead Theatre, 3110 Roswell Road, Atlanta. 404-891-6168, www.ticketmaster.com.
Hannibal Buress
8 p.m. April 19. $32. Masquerade, 75 MLK Jr. Drive S.W., Atlanta. www.ticketmaster.com.
Billy Crystal
8 p.m. April 27. $59-$175. Fox Theatre, 660 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta. 404-881-2100, www.foxtheatre.org.
