Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country
Founded 05-05-05

January 25, 2007 issue

America’s Funniest Man Comes To Farthing Saturday, February 3

Story by David Brewer

Get ready to laugh out loud when hilarious storyteller and nationally touring comedian James Gregory performs on Saturday, February 3, at Farthing Auditorium. The show will start at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $30 for adults, $25 for seniors and $15 for students.

Originally from Lithonia, Ga., a small town about 20 miles east of Atlanta, Gregory began his comedy career in 1982 by performing at an open mic night at Atlanta’s Punchline comedy club. Before long, Gregory soon became immersed in telling his easy-to-relate-to stories to growing audiences, earning his reputation as “America’s funniest man.”

“My act is based on real life,” said Gregory. “I think that’s the reason that the act has remained popular.”

Though not as big a household name as some of his contemporaries, Gregory’s comedy has been featured on several nationally syndicated radio shows including “Bob and Tom,” “Rick and Bubba,” “John Boy and Billy,” and “Steve and DC.”

Gregory has also opened for a slew of country superstars including George Jones, Randy Travis, The Judds, Kenny Chesney, Ricky Skaggs and several others.

Spending 45 weeks of the year on the road working clubs, theaters and corporate shows, Gregory shows no signs of slowing down, unless, according to the comedian, he wins the lottery.

“I think I’ll always enjoy being on stage,” said Gregory. “I only go where I want to go.”

Gregory’s act is a sometimes-politically-incorrect slice of life that touches on a number of phenomena including the strange correlation between covered dishes and death and the ongoing conspiracy among the media to make tornado victims look like idiots.

Though there’s no mistaking Gregory for anything but native Southerner with his thick Georgia accent, the comic is quick to point out that his act is not based on the South and that he doesn’t want to be pigeonholed as such.

“Some words that I’ve never used in my act include south, southern, yankee, grits and rifle rack,” said Gregory. “I could go on stage with my Southern accent and talk about nuclear proliferation in the Middle East and people would call it Southern humor.”

While not railing about rednecks or life in the South, other parties subject to ridicule in Gregory’s humorous act include animal rights activists, health nuts and people who are enslaved by technology.

“I’ve never touched an ATM,” said Gregory. “I can’t imagine grown people leaving the house without $5 of their own money.”

While he’s not afraid to push a few buttons, Gregory doesn’t use any profanity in his act.

Florida-based comic Vinnie Coppola will open the show with a 15-minute set.

To preview Gregory’s comedy, click to www.funniestman.com. For more info about the show, call Farthing Auditorium at 828-262-4046.

 

Want To Go?

Date: Saturday, February 3

Time: 8:00 p.m.

Location: Farthing Auditorium

Cost: $30 for adults/$25 for seniors/$15 for students