July 24, 2013

EXCLUSIVE: Q&A with comedian James Gregory

STAFF REPORTS

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James Gregory, the Georgia comedian who bills himself as the “Funniest Man in America,” called in to The Post last week for a one-on-one interview.

Gregory answered a few questions in advance of his concert on Saturday, July 27 at the Cherokee Arena in Centre. The show, staged by Paul Davis Restoration, is being billed as the “First Annual First Responder Appreciation Day” and will be free for all first responders.

General admission tickets for everyone else are $10 in advance ($12 at the door) and are available at Paul Davis on the Chesnut Bypass and at the Chamber of Commerce on the Gadsden State Cherokee campus in Centre.


Q: Have you ever been to Cherokee County before?
A: I've been to just about every place in Alabama, it's like a second home to me. I've been to Birmingham, Huntsville, Montgomery, Decatur, Athens, Muscle Shoals, Anniston, Phenix City. I think, once a long time ago, I performed at the country club in Centre for a man who put on a show for his employees' Christmas party. It was a long time ago. I've been in comedy for 30 years, this is my 30th year.


Q: Cherokee County is probably best known for Weiss Lake and its crappie fishing. Do you like to fish?
A: Most of the time when I'm on the road I'm only in a place for one night, then I head back home. So I don't have a lot of time to enjoy the scenery.


Q: The event promoters offered to put you up in a lakeside resort in Leesburg, but you told them all you needed was a motel room and a pot of coffee. Is it fair to say you are a man of simple pleasures?
A: Well, I knew I wasn't going to be in the room for very long so there was no reason for anyone to go to a bunch of trouble. But I've never turned down any offers of really good food, so please pass that along.


Q: Please tell the people out there who are not familiar with you exactly what kind of show they can expect Saturday night.
A: I don't want to sound like I'm bragging but I have been doing this for 30 years and I can tell you my act is the funniest, most family-friendly show in comedy. It's down home stuff. Really, it's just funny. I tell everyone that my show is the kind that when you leave, you're glad you came.


Q: How is it that you have been able to be successful and connect to such a wide audience throughout your career?
A: I perform at very few clubs anymore. Most of my shows – probably 90 percent of them – are at performing arts-type places. So there are no age restrictions like there would be at a comedy club. That means my act has to be appropriate whether you're 8, 18 or 80 years old. I was performing recently and there were three generations of the same family, all sitting in the front row. There were the grandparents, the parents and the grandchildren—one was 12 years old, the other was 15. They were all laughing and having a good time. All of them.