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American comedian Bill Engvall has aged gracefully in his 30 years of doing stand-up comedy.
“I do a lot of jokes about being an empty nester,” noted Engvall, phoning from California an hour earlier than scheduled due to a golf game.
“I’ve developed some selective hearing. We’re getting older and she wants to go on a diet. So I have to go on a diet too because she says, ‘I think we’re going on a diet because I don’t like the way we look.’ And I say, ‘We think I look good,’” he laughed.
He gained notoriety for his “Here’s Your Sign” routine but is now known for his jokes and stories involving exploring interesting anecdotes about family, children and dogs, with which everybody can identify. He performs at the Enmax Centre with Larry the Cable Guy and Reno Collier on Jan. 13.
“Reno will do 15 minutes. I’ll do 35 minutes and Larry the Cable Guy will be doing 35,” he said.
“It will be three completely different perspectives. I’m a storyteller. I’ll talk about my family. Reno is a storyteller, too, but not as extensive as me, and Larry is more of a one-liner guy. Joke, joke, joke.”
Engvall was born in Galveston, Texas and now calls Los Angeles home.
He has appeared on TV on several different shows including “The Jeff Foxworthy Show” and “Blue Collar Comedy” which also starred Foxworthy and Larry The Cable Guy.
Engvall makes a concerted attempt to keep his routine clean, even if it means a little extra work.
“After 30 years doing stand-up comedy, I know what will work and what won’t,” he said.
“It’s a lot more difficult to write a clean joke than it is to just curse,” he said.
Keeping his routine new and fresh is a priority.
“Stand-up comedy isn’t like going to see Van Halen or Aerosmith when you want to hear the same songs over, over and over. With comedy, when you tell a joke, that’s it,” he said.
He added that he will bring back variations of popular routines of “here’s your sign” and other popular bits.
In addition to performing between 80-90 comedy shows this year, he will also be working on a drama for TNT in which he will co-write and star.
Tickets for the show that begins at 8 p.m. at the Enmax Centre are $75.50. Phone 403-329-SEAT.
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